Ollie “Ray” Beavers, Jr., 63, passed away Tuesday, February 9 at St. Francis Medical Center from complications of Covid-19. A funeral service will be held Tuesday, February 23 at 2:00 p.m. at Kilpatrick’s Funeral Home Chapel in West Monroe with Reverend Ben Pitts officiating. Visitation will be held prior to the service beginning at 1:00 p.m. Burial to follow at Pleasant Grove Cemetery. If you prefer, you may watch this service via livestream at www.kilpatrickfuneralhomes.com. At the time of the service, there will be a blue button on Ray’s page that says “watch”.
Ray lived a happy and contented life and was blessed by the unconditional love of his family, and his extraordinary mother Jo Ann, who devoted her life to his care. Ray was special, in every sense of the word. His daily joy with life’s simple pleasures deeply touched all those fortunate enough to know him. He loved time spent with his family and his friends from the GB Cooley Community. Ray was full of energy and never knew a stranger or a self-conscious moment. He loved music, but no sound was sweeter to his ears than the comforting recorded words of love from his mother’s voice that she left him prior to her own death two years ago. His life enriched us all and he will be deeply missed. Ray was preceded in death by his mother, Jo Ann Stansel and step-father Howard Hough; his father, Ollie Ray Beavers, Sr. and step-mother Beth; brother and best friend, Rickie Beavers; step-brothers, Steve Howlett and Ricky Howlett; his nanny, Catherine Thomas and grandfather, Cleve Jowers.
Ray is survived by his sister, Vanessa Keith of Baton Rouge, brother-in-law, T. Bradley Keith; step-sister, Jeri Gandy and husband Bennie of Monroe; nieces, Melissa Atkinson and husband Patrick, of Houston TX, Miranda Ponthieux and husband Craig of West Monroe; nephews, David Swanson, of Baton Rouge and Colin Keith, of New Orleans; great-nieces, Katelyn, Isabelle, Cecilia, and Aurora and great-nephews, Gabe, Brantley and Conner and his extended family at GB Cooley.
Pallbearers will be Terrance Lee, Johnathon Morris, Rick Sturdivant, T. Bradley Keith, Colin Keith and David Swanson. Honorary Pallbearers will be his friends, Ronnie Bailey, Ronald Barnett, Charles Coyle, Ronald Fatheree, Bert Lewis, Preston Marco and Michael Young.
Special thanks to the staff at GB Cooley for their love and care for Ray over the last 56 years and to the staff of St. Francis Medical Center for the care they provided in his last days.
In lieu of flowers, memorials may be made to GB Cooley, 211 N 3rd Street, Monroe, Louisiana 71201.