Alex Lafayette Myatt

Life celebration services for Alex Lafayette Myatt, age 95, will be held on Wednesday, June 1, 2022, at 10:00 a.m., with visitation Tuesday, May 31, 2022, from 4:30 – 6:30 p.m. Both will be at and under the direction of Kilpatrick Funeral Homes, West Monroe.  Brian Mercer, senior pastor at First Methodist Monroe, and Dr. Marty Black, senior pastor at New Chapel Hill Baptist Church, West Monroe, will officiate.  Interment will be at the family plot at Mount Vernon Baptist Church.

Alex was born on January 3, 1927, and went to his mansion over the hilltop on Saturday, May 28, 2022, after his battle with COPD, and with his daughter Alice and her husband Harry at his side.

Our father was preceded in death by his parents Yancy Lafayette and Annie Leona (Morgan) Myatt, his infant brothers Ralph and Frankie, his grandson Chad Everett Woods, his late-in-life love Lola Tedeton Monk, the mother of his children Doris Claudine (Stewart) Myatt, and his dachshund buddy Adolph, as well as a host of special musician friends.

He is survived by his beloved family, including daughters Bonita Ann and husband Marty Woods of Ansley, LA, Alice Faye and husband Harry Prophit of West Monroe, and Denise Lyn Dew of Homer, LA.  He also is survived by his grandsons Mark Jason Woods and wife Jennifer of Quitman, LA, and Jay Bradley Woods and wife Kasie of Ansley, LA, and his great grandchildren Lindsey Beth and Jonathon Woods of Quitman, and Bradley and Jayna Woods of Ansley.

Alex was a proud World War II veteran, a Corporal Tec-5 and radar operator, serving in the U.S. Army in the 70^th Anti-Aircraft Artillery Gun Battalion at Subic Bay in the Philippines.  He received citations for service including the Philippine Independence Ribbon, the Asiatic Pacific Campaign Medal, and the WWII Victory Medal.  It was his honor to support and defend his country, and he believed to the end that our flag, and therefore our country, should be respected and upheld. He proudly flew his flag daily.

As a young boy, Alex bought his first guitar and taught himself to play, as well as other instruments throughout his life. Over the years, he performed on stages around the region, and on radio and TV, with the Twin City Ramblers. He was the Emcee and partner in the Twin City Jamboree in West Monroe during the ‘50s and ‘60s at the old fairgrounds, where the West Monroe Convention Center now stands.  If there was a grand opening, cookout, company gathering, or special event, they probably played at it during those days.  Throughout his life, he mentored, supported, and showcased other singers and musicians, and gave them opportunities to perform on the shows.  He loved the old country music format and Southern Gospel music, and ended every show with a gospel song, and saying, “Y’all be good now, and let the good Lord hear ya. Bye now.”  His band performed live on the same show with Elvis Presley in the early years at the WMHS Auditorium when the Louisiana Hayride came to put on that show.  He was a radio disc jockey on Sunday mornings, spinning gospel music and hosting local preachers for 32 years.  He also was inducted into the LA Gospel Music Hall of Fame.   His gospel vinyl album collection was one of his prides and joys, as well as his 1950’s Gibson acoustic guitar, still beautiful in its case.

Alex had many stories, and could tell good clean jokes with the best of them.  As a practical person, he tried to tinker and fix whatever he could, and he felt discarded items even had a purpose.  His mind was as sharp as a tack throughout the years, and he believed in enduring and just getting on with it, even through the tough challenges of life and the disappointments.  Up unto the end, he was recounting many events of his life, the stories and the jokes, and making friends.  Alex appreciated all the folks who gave an aged man their time, and he looked forward to visits from his family.  He had a soft spot for animals, and treated them kindly.  He was proud of and supported his daughters living their lives to the best of their ability, and he worked hard when it wasn’t easy, sometimes more than one job, to support his family.  As a faithful son, he also nurtured his beloved mother in her later years. Daddy will be greatly missed, and his legacy of endurance will live on.

Pallbearers will be grandsons Mark and Jay Woods, Edward J. Sawyer, Danny Davison, Paul Harbour, and Gerry Dison.

The family extends gratitude to Dr. Kamm, Dr. Crook, ER RN Ben, Respiratory Therapist Michael, House Supervisor RN Kristine, the telemetry floor nurses at SFMC for their compassion at the end, to Janet Morvant, nurse practitioner, and RN Denise from the VA Home Care team, and to special friends Peggy and Paul Harbour for their neighborly love for our dad, as well as Martha Cummings and Wilford Ray for their continued friendship over the years.

Memorials may be made to First Methodist Monroe Music Program or 50+ Adult Ministries, or the 60’s+ Ministry at New Chapel Hill Baptist Church, or to the Kitchen Angels at Mt. Vernon Baptist Church.

Online condolences may be made to the family at www.kilpatrickfuneralhomes.com

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