Long-time mayor, teacher

NATCHITOCHES – Services will be Tuesday for long-time teacher, coach and mayor Joe Sampite. He died May 18 at age 81.

He was mayor of Natchitoches for five terms, retiring in 2000. He was elected in 1980 after retiring from teaching and coaching. He was a basketball and baseball coach at St. Mary’s in Natchitoches and Jesuit in Shreveport.

He was former president of the Louisiana Municipal Assn. and was a member of the La. Political Hall of Fame and the Northwestern State University Hall of Distinction.

Survivors include a son and two daughters.

Arrangements are by Blanchard-St. Denis.

Long-time minister

RINGGOLD – Services for long-time Baptist minister the Rev. J.C. Clement will be Tuesday. He died May 18 at age 90.

He served a host of churches throughout Louisiana and in Texas during 75 years as a practicing minister.

Survivors include his wire Hazel, four sons and three daughters.

Arrangements are by Rockett.

Honored professor

LAFAYETTE – Services will be Tuesday for retired professor Henry Pitchford, Jr. He died May 14 at age 82.

While on the ULL faculty, he received the Distinguished Professor Award, the Amoco Award for Excellence in Teaching and the Beacon Award for outstanding service to handicapped students.

Survivors include a sister.

Arrangements are by Delhomme.

Long-time assessor

GONZALES – Services for former assessor Gerald McCrory, Jr. will be Tuesday. He died May 18 at age 78.

He was a veteran of the Korean War and was Ascension Parish Assessor for 22 years.

Survivors include his wife Mary, a son and two daughters.

Arrangements are by Ourso.

Football player, resource manager

MONROE – Services for former ULM football player and human resources manager Arlen Gardner will be Tuesday. He died May 19 at age 78.

He played on a state championship football team at Tallulah High and then played college football at ULM. He retired from the Human Resources Department of LSU Medical Center.

Survivors include his wife Bettye and a daughter.

Arrangements are by Mulhearn.

Educator, baseball player

RUSTON – Services for educator, school administrator and college baseball player Robert Brasher were Sunday. He died May 17 at age 90.

He was a U.S. Marine Corps veteran of World War II and played four yeas of baseball for Louisiana Tech after the war. He taught school and coached in Union and Morehouse parishes. He retired as assistant superintendent of Morehouse Parish schools.

Survivors include his wife Doris and several children.

Arrangements were by Kilpatrick.

Bridge designer

PLAQUEMINE – Services will be Wednesday for state bridge designer Conway Lush. He died May 14 at age 86.

He was a U.S. Navy fighter pilot during World War II. A civil engineer, he designed bridges for the La. Dept. of Transportation and Development during a 30-year career, including the 18-mile-long twin bridges on I-10 over the Atchafalaya Basin.

Survivors include three daughters.

Arrangements are by Greenoaks.

SBC minister, official

FRANKLIN, Tenn, – Services for long-time Baptist minister and official Dr. Lee Porter ware Monday. He died May 17 at age 83.

He was pastor of churches in Louisiana, Texas, Georgia and Florida and held a number of Southern Baptist Convention posts. He was also assistant to the dean of Mercer University School of Theology in Atlanta, Ga.

Survivors include his wife Pat and two sons.

Arrangements are by Williamson Memorial.