Owen Meredith McDonnell

KEITHVILLE, LA- Owen Meredith McDonnell, former president of the Caddo Parish Police Jury and well-known retired dairy farmer, died Tuesday, June 24, 2014 from injuries suffered in a recent accident.

He and his wife, Hope McMullen McDonnell, celebrated their 60th wedding anniversary on May 2, 2014, and on May 24, 2014, his family and friends had feted him at his 82^nd birthday celebration.

A Shreveport native and lifelong Caddo Parish resident, Mr. McDonnell was the son of the late Asa and Janice McDonnell. He attended Byrd High School, graduated from Greenwood High School and attended Louisiana Tech.

During his long career as a dairyman, Mr. McDonnell won numerous agricultural awards including Farm Bureau Outstanding Young Farmer of the Year and American Forage and Grassland Council Outstanding Forage Farmer. His dairy herd won the DHHR Louisiana Mixed Herd highest producing awards for five consecutive years.

Always interested in public service, Mr. McDonnell was elected to the Caddo Parish Police Jury and served from July 1976 until 1988 when he decided not to seek re-election from what had become the Caddo Parish Commission. In 1984, he served as the last president of the Caddo Parish Police Jury before it became the Caddo Parish Commission. Mr. McDonnell, and his fellow Police Jurors Joe Lawler and the late Roy "Hoppy" Hopkins, were instrumental in establishing the Caddo Parish fire districts.

In addition, he took pleasure in supporting youngsters who participated in 4-H and he received the 1990 award for Outstanding Service to Caddo Parish 4-H and the Caddo Parish Fair. In 1993, he was honored for 15 years of service to the Caddo Parish 4-H Club Program.

He was a Past Master of Greenwood Masonic Lodge No. 409 and one of the two honorary Past Masters in the history of the Landmark Lodge No. 214.

In addition to his wife, Hope, Mr. McDonnell is survived by his son and daughter-in-law, Owen M. McDonnell Jr., and Denise of Keithville; daughter and son-in-law Joanne and Marvin Evans of Keithville; grandsons Justin McDonnell and wife Erin, and Daniel McDonnell and fiancée Michelle Whitis; and great-granddaughter Kaleigh McDonnell, all of Keithville; as well a loving extended family and friends.

Funeral services will be held at 1:00 p.m. Friday, June 27, 2014 at the Rose-Neath Funeral Home Southside Chapel with burial to follow in the First Baptist Keithville Cemetery. Rev. Mike Stowell will officiate. Visitation will be Thursday, June 26, 2014 from 5:30 p.m. until 8:00 p.m. at the funeral home.

Pallbearers will be John Terrell, Dale Walton, Kevin Chandler, Harold McMullen, Jason McMullen and Harold Bruner. Honorary Pallbearers will be Joe Lawler, Bobby Deaton and members of Caddo Fire District No. 4.

Rose-Neath Southside

2500 Southside Drive

318-687-1256