Elizabeth Ann Caples

A Celebration of Life for Elizabeth Ann Caples will be held at 2:00 P.M. Sunday, August 18, 2024, in the chapel of Mulhearn Funeral Home, 300 McMillan Road West Monroe, LA with Pastor Mac Owen officiating. Interment will follow in the Liberty Grove Church of God Cemetery, 504 Marion Sims Road West Monroe. Visitation will be held from 12:00 P.M. until service time on Sunday.

Elizabeth Ann Hollis Caples, 86, was born into the marriage of Marvin Clayton Hollis(Point, LA) and Cora Frances Campbell (DeRidder, LA) on September 28, 1937 on Lee Avenue in Monroe, Louisiana.

Miss Ann, as she was affectionately called, passed away quietly and calmly at her home at 4:45 A.M., Thursday, August 15, 2024 surrounded by family and friends gathered around her bed in the living room. 

Miss Ann’s early life was a bit “bumpy” if you will. Her mother, Cora passed away young and her funeral/burial was on my Mom’s 2nd birthday. She lived with different family members at different times, but mostly with her Grandma. She spoke of spending time in the back seat of the car cutting out paper dolls and recalled the winter she and Grandma tore the front porch off the house to burn the wood in the fireplace to stay warm. She love her Grandma…always ending any conversation regarding her with “she did the best she could!”

Ann did not finish high school, completing through the 11th grade. She married our Dad, Bobby James Caples, at age 16. Dad joined the Navy and they were off to San Diego, California where he served 4 years on the Naval Destroyer USS Lofberg. They had two sons, Bobby James Caples, Jr. in 1959 and Ricky Glenn Caples in 1963. They were happily married 47 years until our Dad, Bobby passed away May 20, 2000.

Although she didn’t finish high school, Ann was very smart…book smart, street smart…just smart! She did bookkeeping as an occupation and as a side job… her spreadsheets and hand writing looked as if they were printed from a computer. Most of her career was with Ed Hislop Plumbing Company and Carpenters Local Union 1811.

This gal could cook! Her Sunday lunches were a sight to behold. She was like Harry Potter in the Kitchen…frying chicken, cooking peas, beans, corn, frying okra (the best)… and getting it all on the table perfectly hot and at the same time. She was happiest when the table was full of food and every seat filled with friends and family to enjoy. There were very few “regrets” to an invite to Nana’s Sunday lunch. 

Later in life she enjoyed travel…both in the US and abroad. If a trip came up, she was the first one packed and ready to go. She could keep up with the best of us…and would ask upon returning “where to next?”

She was also quite the shopper. She and sister-n-law, Lynn would strike out on shopping sprees together- returning home with a car loaded down so much you couldn’t see out the windows.

Although her early childhood was tough, it did not harden her heart. She showed great love and care to those around her. She loved her family most of all deeply and unconditionally. And she never blamed any of life’s curve balls on her past or upbringing. She instilled into us boys you can do anything you put your mind to, there is no free ride, and you can’t steal home plate and keep your foot on 3rd—life required action and commitment!

She died peacefully at home, as she wanted…and was always happy and encouraging. Her biggest fear of late was she would have to leave her home due to healthcare issues. This did not happen with a heartfelt “THANK YOU” to Ms. Joyce Stephens who took great care of her until the end.

Miss Ann was serious about her hairdo…which was exactly the same her entire life. Weekly beauty shop visits trumped any other venture.

They had two sons she loved dearly, Bobby James Caples, Jr. and Ricky Glenn Caples. Her boys were always put first in her life. She was the most amazing mom!

Ann was preceded in death by her husband, Bobby J. Caples, Sr.; parents, Clayton and Cora Hollis; aunt and uncle, Lyeet and Red Richardson; brother-in-law, Clarence “Pete” Caples; brother, Marvin Wayne “Buster” Hollis and her uncle, John Plunk Hollis.

Left behind to cherish her memories are her two sons, Bobby James Caples, Jr. and wife, Johnnie, Dr. Ricky Caples and wife, Lynna’; grandchildren, Blake Caples, Dylan Truitt, Hall Caples and wife, Anna, and Evyn Caples Carrere and husband, Myles; great grandchildren, Rowhyn Elizabeth Truitt(5), William James Caples (8), Luke Addison Caples (6), Henry Hall Caples (1) and Thomas Reynoir Carrere (6 months); dearest sister-in-law, Lynn Caples and special caregiver, Joyce Stephens.

Pallbearers will be Blake Caples, Hall Caples, Dylan Truitt, Bobby Caples, Jr., Ricky Caples, and Scott Leehy.