Jere Ivy Williams

KEITHVILLE, LA- Memorial Services celebrating the life of Jere Ivy Williams, 80, will be held at the First Baptist Church of Keithville at 11 a.m. on Friday, June 27, 2014. Officiating will be Rev. Mike Stowell, and Rev. Cecil Marr. Visitation with the family will be at 10 a.m. at the church before the service. Jere was born on February 9, 1934, to Margaret Ivy and Glen L. Williams and went home to be with the Lord on Tuesday, June 24, 2014 after battling cancer. He was a resident of Keithville and a lifelong member of the First Baptist Church of Keithville. Jere proudly served his country as a member of the United States Army 11^th Airborne Division, and then attended LSU. He will best be remembered by the many he served as their postman and friend for over 40 years as a U.S. Postal Service rural letter carrier until his retirement in 2001. Although Jere was a soft-spoken, slow talking, country boy from Keithville, his life experiences included driving race cars, jumping out of airplanes, and traveling to numerous European countries. He was a great storyteller and had an uncanny way of summing up situations with words of wisdom to live by. Most importantly, though, was his willingness to put the needs of others before his own. His life exemplified Christ's command "as I have loved you, you must love one another." Jere was preceded in death by his daughter, Jeri Lynn Williams Ruddell; son-in-law, Larry ("Chuck") Gibbons; grandson, Patrick ("Chuckie") Gibbons; and by his brother, Glen Williams, Jr., and sisters, Inez Williams and Betty Johnson. He is survived by his wife of 57 years, Bobbie Frye Williams; his son, Paul Sicilia and his wife Kacie of Corpus Christi, Texas; his daughter Christi Williams Breithaupt, and her husband, Justin, of Shreveport; and his daughter, Traci Williams Miguez, and her husband, John, of Alexandria; as well as his sisters and their spouses, Eleanor and William Diersing, and Dot and Leonard Lafitte. Left to cherish the unconditional love of their "Poppa" are his grandchildren: Shawn (Ellen) Sicilia; Jeremy (Heidi) McCarty; Shannon (David) Money; Clay Ruddell; Chelsi and Madison Gibbons; Colby, Jacquelyn, Juelie, and Jennifer Breithaupt; and Cameron, Mia, and Ava Miquez; and his great grandchildren: Taylor, Mason, and Devyn McCarty; Victoria, Patrick, and Trevor Money; and Lilah Barnes. In lieu of flowers, the family suggests that memorials be made to First Baptist Church of Keithville, and St. Jude Children's Research Hospital.   Rose-Neath Southside 2500 Southside Drive 318-687-1256