Clarice Enoch Koontz

Isaiah 46:3-4 “I will be your God through all your lifetime, yes, even when your hair is white with age. I will carry you along and be your saviour.”

On Sunday night, April 7, 2024, my mother, Clarice Slaughter Koontz, went to be with Jesus and with her loved ones already in heaven. She left us eleven days before her 98^th birthday. She was born an only child on April 19, 1926, in Monroe, LA. She attended high school at Coushatta, LA and then attended Northwestern University of LA. She met my father, Eugene C. Koontz, while he was in the U.S Navy during WWII. He was participating in a Naval training course at Northwestern University while my mother was there. They fell in love and married after knowing each other for only six weeks. Their union lasted for 60 years until his death. He was an only child himself, and they had only one child, Barbara Koontz Griggs Knight (Husband) Terry L. Knight). My mother finished her college degree at Louisiana State College in Monroe (Now ULM) in 1953. She worked for many years as a social worker for the Ouachita Parish Welfare Office. She completed her master’s degree in social work at LSU in 1984. She retired after working for several years as a pupil appraisal Representative for the Ouachita Parish School System.

The precious loved ones who preceded my mother’s death are, her parents, Enoch and Oma Slaughter, her husband, and her beloved grandson Mason E. Griggs. Those left to remember her so lovingly are her daughter, son-in-law, Grandson, Andy Griggs (wife Amber), and a two-year-old great grandson, Mason A Griggs. She also leaves two step grandsons, Brad Knight (wife Ginny) and Bruce Knight (wife Christianne). She left four step great grandchildren, Hannah Grace Knight Coogan, Will Knight, Landon Knight, and Micah Knight. 

My mother was an expert bridge player, loved working in the yard, rallied at social events, and had a great sense of humor which led to many boughts of laughter. She was an avid reader of library books and the newspaper, always up to date on current events. She had a gift of knowing the right thing to say when dealing with people and their situations. My mother was truly a gracious, fine, Christian, southern lady. Kindness and hospitality, and a loving heart are just a few traits that made her so special.

My mother and I were always extremely close. She and I did so very many things together. I will miss her love, her advice, and her friendship tremendously. 

My heart is comforted and at peace knowing that she was a born-again Christian, and that as we say, “There she goes from this world”, there are loved ones in heaven saying, “Here she comes”.

Pallbearers will be, Paul Knight, Herman Ledet, Mike Smith, Fred Cheeks, Sonny Standifer, and Steve Rugg.

In lieu of flowers, please donate to the charity of your choice in her memory, or to the North Monroe Baptist Church.