James Wesley Green, loving husband, father and grandfather, was born on May 22, 1935 in Morehouse Parish. He graduated from Bastrop High School in 1954. Wes was preceded in death by his parents, “Skip” and Viola Gray Green, brother, Paul Edward “Ed” Green, in laws, J.C. and Alma Thomas, wives, Janet Thomas Green and Clara Hodge Green, sister-in-law Josephine Hollis and brothers-in-law James Hollis and Rufus Morgan. He is survived by his daughter, Jennifer Green Jones and Husband Chris, grandchildren Rachel Jones, Christina Jones Cosgrove and husband Saul, Eric Jones, Anna Jones, 10 great-grandchildren, a sister, LaNell Green Middleton and husband Fred, sister-in-law Dell Thomas Morgan, brother-in-law Don Hodge, numerous nieces and nephews, and very special friends Grant L. “Buddy” and Carlon Hollis and Mike and Edie Jones. He was a member of Spencer Baptist Church.

The celebration of Wesley’s life will be at 10:00 am, Sunday, January 3, 2020 at Kilpatrick Funeral Home in Farmerville, La. A visitation will be held beginning at 9:00 am until time of service. Bro. J.R. Wells will officiate.

Wes met his first wife of 28 years, Janet Thomas, at the Drive In Theater in Sterlington and then again at the Sterlington Bank. One of his favorite stories involved an early morning outing to listen to the beagles run with Janet who stayed in the truck. As the sun rose, she noticed lots of white shapes which turned out to be tombstones. Needless to say, this was her last early morning trip to hear the dogs run. Wes became friends with Clara Tellis while working at the Marion Food Mart and they were married in 1987 until her death in 2020. They worked together making and selling leather specialty goods and attending field trials.

Wes contracted polio at age 16, but he never considered this a disability or let this make him bitter as many people would. One of his favorite sayings was “Always be nice to people, it doesn’t cost a dime.” This was not just a saying to Wes; his life truly exemplified this as is evidenced by his many friends all over the country.

Wes traveled by bus to Ft. Smith, Arkansas in 1956 to attend auctioneering school a talent he enjoyed using even at the Oak Woods Nursing Home to entertain one of the nurse’s grandchildren. He was so tickled when he learned that the children were practicing and arguing about who was the best auctioneer. He was a role model and friend to all the students that rode his bus and others at Linville High School during his employment with the Union Parish School System from 1967-1989. He learned the craft of leather working by repairing saddles and harnesses for family’s horses. The business that resulted from his talent with leather became the source of one of his proudest moments. He and his wife Clara, had handmade a dog collar for President George H.W. Bush’s dog, Millie which was the subject of a front page story in the Bastrop Enterprise in 2018. He raised and sold beagles through Wes’s Kisatchie kennels and participated in field trials throughout the south. He also worked as a butcher for many years in West Sterlington and Marion. Most of these jobs were held simultaneously to help provide a good life for his family.

Wes was a proud of his Native American heritage and spoke often of his ancestors and their involvement in the “Walk of Tears”. One of his favorite memories was a trip to the early 1950’s to the Louisiana Hayride with his friends where he saw and heard Elvis Presley for the first time. He and his friends had gone to get a coke and returned to a “lot of commotion” from the girls as he put it. He made friends wherever he went and as a result of his popularity was crowned Valentine King along with his wife, Clara for three years in a row at the nursing home. On July 8, 2013 Wes and his wife, Clara were made honorary lifetime members of the Cottonland Beagle Club because of their years of dedication service to the club. He also wrote articles for beagle magazines sharing his experience and knowledge of the breed. Wes was also instrumental part of the creation of Ten Mile Creek Hunting Club in Union Parish. James Wesley Green left behind a legacy of kindness and consideration for others that will never be forgotten.

Pallbearers will be Colby Daughtery, Caleb Daughtery, John Wayne Oliver, Mike Jones, Buddy Hollis, and Don Cranford.

Honorary Pallbearers will be Michael Bush, nephews, Thomas Hollis, Robert Morgan, Joe Morgan, Usrey Hollis, and the Linville High School students who rode Mr. Wes’s bus.

Special thanks to the Doctors and nurses at St Francis Hospital and the staff of the Oak Woods Nursing Home, Mer Rouge, Louisiana and his any friends at the Oak Woods.

Kilpatrick Funeral Home

Farmerville, LA.