Robert John Brotherton

Robert John Brotherton, Jr., more fondly known as Bob, Pops, Poppa, and Coach, to family and friends, passed away in the early morning hours on Monday, January 13, 2025, following an intense and hard-fought battle with multiple illnesses and complications that finally ended his life with kidney and congestive heart failure. Bob leaves behind the family that held his heart, wife of 53 years, Billie Jo Cryer Brotherton, from Haughton, LA; two sons, Jason Keith Brotherton and wife, Kenda, from Haughton, LA; and Jeffrey Coy Brotherton and wife, Stacey, from Bossier City, LA; sister, Gaye Brotherton Ledford, from McKinney, TX; brother, Mark Stephen Brotherton, from Indianapolis, IN; grandchildren, Kinsley Paige Brotherton, Brock Easton Brotherton, Blair Elizabeth Brotherton, and Broox Coy Brotherton; nieces, Jeni Nicole Gannon Rhodes and Casey Lynn Gannon Withers, both from McKinney, TX.

Bob was born November 4, 1951, in Shreveport, Louisiana, to Elizabeth Ann Tooke Roach and Robert John Brotherton (both deceased). Also preceding him in death was his sister, Cynthia Ann Brotherton, from Stonewall, LA. Bob moved to the Lake Bistineau area when he was in the fourth grade to live with his grandparents, Anna P. and Nixon Tooke and never left. He graduated from Haughton High School in 1970, then continued his education at Northwestern State University and Louisiana Tech University, where he completed his master’s degree and +30. His education and coaching career began in 1975 at Haughton High School and ended when he retired 33 years later in 2007. While there, Bob served as Head Track Coach, assistant football coach, classroom teacher, and driver’s education instructor. During his tenure, he was District Track Coach of the Year 10 times and the Shreveport Times All-Area Coach of the Year three times. One of Bob’s most prestigious and humbling accomplishments was being elected to the Haughton High School Football Hall of Fame, an honor he received in the Fall of 2024.

Many people find new passions when they retire; Bob was certainly one of them. Elected to his fourth term on the Bossier Parish Police Jury just last year, he had the honor of serving as Vice President and President in 2016-2017. Between 2020-2022, Bob was elected Second Vice President of the Louisiana Police Jury Association, First Vice President, and President. Even during Bob’s ongoing health battles, he made every effort to attend his meetings and serve his district constituents. In addition to his Police Jury duties, Bob served as a member of the Shreveport-Bossier Sports Commission and was past president of the Trailblazer RCD of North Louisiana. 

Bob’s love for service, community, and family was dear to his heart. His First Baptist Haughton family was faithful to walk alongside him as friends and prayer warriors as he battled cancer, back, heart, and kidney issues, and he loved to worship with them. Another of his great blessings was supporting his sons in their coaching careers and his grandchildren in their various activities and endeavors. He rarely missed their athletic competitions and performances. Truly, he was a proud father and Poppa, but he was also just as proud to be a “former coach and/or mentor” to many students during his career. Many of them returned years after graduating to say, “thank you,” visits that always gave him great pleasure. 

A “storyteller extraordinaire,” Bob had more tales to tell than most, many of them having something to do with one of his greatest passions: hunting and fishing. He not only loved the sport of both but especially loved hanging out with his buddies at “The Mallard Inn.” He was even known in some circles as the “godfather of Lake Bistineau.” Add to that, he was quite famous locally (and in Texas) for his culinary expertise in frying catfish!

The family will hold a visitation to receive friends and loved ones at First Baptist Church Haughton from 5:00-7:00 p.m. on Thursday, January 16, 2025. Funeral services will be on Friday, January 17, at 2:30 p.m. at the same location. Graveside services will be at Haughton Cemetery following the service. Dr. Gevan Spinney, pastor at First Baptist Haughton, will officiate.

Honoring Bob as pallbearers will be Ray Doughty, Jerry Lee, Rodney Guin, Ryan Stewart, Gene Couvillion, Kent Bockhaus, Buck McGee, Kim Gaspard, Warren Saucier, Glenn Benton, David Haynie, and Glenn Maynor. Honorary pallbearers are Mac Plummer, Tom Salter, Shane Simms, Hal Harlan, Butch Ford, John Stafford, Kyle Wilkerson, Kennon Gaspard, and Brian St. Andre.

The family would like to thank all of our friends and family who have loved and supported Bob and our family during these last few years. We also want to thank the medical team at Cornerstone Specialty Hospital for their compassionate care during Bob’s final days. We honor and love Bob’s sweet “angel,” Monica Grappe, who always took care of him at the Courthouse. . . and beyond!