Ray L. Coody

March 23, 1931 - August 11, 2015

Ray L. Coody, 84, of DeRidder, LA, passed from this life on Tuesday, August 11, 2015 in Lake Charles, LA.  Ray was married to Jean for 63 years.  He cherished his marriage, and his love for their 4 children.  Ray never met a stranger.  He simply made friends wherever he went.  He had a long, fruitful career at the DeRidder paper mill.  Upon retirement, Ray found himself bored with down time and proceeded to return to active work life and interaction with coworkers until a month prior to his death.

Those left to cherish his memory are his wife, Melba Jean Coody; sons, Monte Joe Coody and wife Starla of Singer, LA, and Michael Wayne Coody and wife Cheri of Hallsville, TX; daughters, Donna Rae Lungrin and husband Bobby, and Ronda Kay Blackmon and husband Troy all of DeRidder, LA; sisters, Sena Theall and husband John of Lake Charles, LA, Doris Reeves of DeRidder, LA, and Earline Coody of Dayton, TX; 16 grandchildren, and 14 great grandchildren; and countless unrelated “grandchildren” who adopted Paw Paw.  He was preceded in death by his parents, Lemuel and Lila Mae Coody; brother, Doyal Coody; and sister, Mildred Freeman.

Visitation will be held Thursday, August 13, 2015 from 11:00am until 9:00pm at Myers-Colonial Funeral Home in DeRidder. A visitation will also be held Friday, August 14, 2015 from 9:00am until 10:00am at New Life Baptist Church in DeRidder, with Funeral Service at 10:00am.  Burial will follow at Cooper Cemetery in DeRidder.  Pastor Vic Warrick and Pastor Kennis Smith will officiate.