Ike Jerry Futch

Funeral services celebrating the life of Ike Jerry Futch, 83, of West Monroe, LA will be held at 11:00 A.M., Monday, December 23, 2024, at Mulhearn Funeral Home in West Monroe, LA. Interment will be held at Antioch Cemetery in Spearsville, Louisiana, under the direction of Mulhearn Funeral Home. Visitation will start at 9:30 A.M. until the time of service.

Ike was born January 31, 1941, in Spearville, Louisiana to Joe R. Futch (“Bouy”) and Marie Smith Futch. As the fifth of nine children, he took great pride in his early life experiences growing up in a large, tight-knit family. Ike and his five brothers and three sisters all played sports in one form or another, encouraging Ike to dream of being a baseball player from the moment he first picked up a ball. Before graduating from Spearsville High School in 1959, he signed a letter of intent to play baseball and basketball at the collegiate level. Those plans all changed when Yankee scout, Atley Donald showed up at his door step the morning after graduation with an offer to sign with the Yankees organization. 

Ike had many accomplishments during his 9-season baseball career, completing playing time in the Yankees, Astros, and Cardinals organizations. It seemed that everywhere he played he set a strike- out record, soon earning him the reputation of being the hardest man in baseball to strike out. Along with other notable statistics, he struck out just 59 times in 4,057 plate appearances. He had the privilege of playing with greats such as: Pete Rose, Tony Oliva and Tommy Helms. By 1966, he had progressed as far as Triple-A with the Houston Astros organization until an injury denied him his chance to accept an advancement up to the Major Leagues. That didn’t stop him from following his favorite sports team and greatest love until the end, the Houston Astros. 

Following his baseball career, Ike enjoyed a profession in management and sales. He continued to be an avid sportsman, enjoying fishing and hunting with his beloved brothers and children. Ike cherished his most treasured role as 'Granddaddy,' offering unwavering support as a coach, mentor, and proud cheerleader for all their achievements.

He is preceded in death by his parents, Joe and Marie Futch, brothers, Frankie Futch, Fred Futch, Terry (“Blue”) Futch and Joe Futch; sisters, Annie Futch Puckett and Kay Futch Scarborough; and brothers-in-law, Leo Scarborough and James Bass; sister-in-law, Carolyn Gardner Futch.

He is survived by his wife of sixty-one years, Brenda Patterson Futch; his five children, Jarrett Futch (Morgan), Joely Futch Griggs (George), Amy Futch Pilgreen (Brent), Jordan Futch (Brandy) and Annsley Green; his six grandchildren, Keaton Donald (Amanda), Rory Futch, Karson Donald, Rosemary Pilgreen, Jackson Pilgreen and Connor Green; and two great-grandchildren, Hailey and Owen Donald; brother, Curtis Futch (Louise); sister, Rosa Futch Bass; sisters-in-law, Jean Futch, Nancy Futch, and Sue Lynn Futch; as well as many nieces and nephews.

Pallbearers will be Keaton Donald, Jackson Pilgreen, Shannon Futch, Brandon Futch, Keith LeBlanc, and Brian Scarborough.

Honorary pallbearers will be Connor Green and Joseph Puckett.

In lieu of flowers, contributions can be made to St. Jude Children’s Research Hospital. Special thanks to Tara, Korlen, and Regina, Ike’s caregivers at Avalon Nursing Home.