1924
Ray
2021
Ray John Soignier
October 9, 1924 — April 14, 2021
A Funeral Mass celebrating the life of Ray John Soignier, of West Monroe, Louisiana, will be held at 10:00 AM, Friday, April 16, 2021, at the St. Matthew Catholic Church in Monroe, Louisiana, with Father Mark Franklin officiating. Interment will follow in St. Paschal Catholic Cemetery in West Monroe, LA, under the direction of Mulhearn Funeral Home, West Monroe. Due to Covid concerns, the family requests that masks be worn and practice social distancing.
Visitation will be from 9:00 AM until 10:00 AM on Friday at the church.
Ray was born on October 9, 1924, in Carencro, Louisiana, to Simon Soignier of Port Barre and Alice Cormier Soignier of Carencro and passed away from a brief illness at St. Francis Medical Center on April 14, 2021.
Although his life began in Carencro, his mom and dad moved to West Monroe in early 1925 with him and his older sister, Sadie, where his dad was part of the opening crew of the papermill that is now Graphic Packaging. While Ray was in high school, he and his siblings started a fish bait business that continued until 1969 and was successful enough for his dad to quit his job at the papermill to run it full time. It was from this business that the family started buying land in Bosco, so as to have river access.
Ray graduated from Ouachita Parish High School in 1943 and joined the United States Army Air Forces on August 11, 1943. During his time in the service, he was stationed at Amarillo, Texas, Bruning, Nebraska, Pierce, South Dakota, and Honolulu, Hawaii, before being shipped out to take part in the Battle of Okinawa, the final battle of World War II. Ray spent most of his time on the nearby island of Ie Shima, landing there on April 18, 1945 and was within earshot of a sniper that killed war correspondent Ernie Pyle. His time in the service was as a Message Center Clerk (a teletype operator) which included sending the landing instructions to the plane carrying the Japanese delegation en route to meet with McArthur in the Philippines. At this time, Ray was serving with the 342nd Complement Squadron. He was discharged from the service with the rank of Sergeant on March 17, 1946, from Camp Chaffee, Arkansas.
After the war, Ray returned to work at the papermill. During that time, he met his future wife Elizabeth (Betty) Pittman of Gibsland / Athens, Louisiana, through a blind date on March 29, 1948, that was arranged by his brother, Claude and Betty's nursing school classmate Grace Reynold who would also join the family. At a time when a nursing student could not be married, Betty chose to change her path in life by becoming a Catholic on April 16, 1949 (Holy Saturday) followed by marriage at 8am on Monday, April 18, 1949, at St Paschal Catholic Church, the first opportunity after Lent to be married.
Due to flareups with malaria, he left the papermill because of significant headaches brought on by the intense heat at the mill and the swing shifts. He and Betty moved to Bosco in mid-1949, where Ray started farming cotton and his brother Chester would join him later during the 1950's. He also continued working in the fish bait business with his dad until his dad's passing in October of 1969. Ray left farming in 1959 to work at Bosco Mercantile for a couple of years, followed by H. Mickel Sports for nineteen years and then Southern Tool Company for the last sixteen years. He and Betty had moved to West Monroe in 1982 to cut his daily commute from forty-five minutes to five minutes but they maintained a camp house at Bosco where they would spend much time.
Ray enjoyed time with family which would grow to include three daughters and one son. He also enjoyed fishing, including trot lines and nets, hunting and the retelling of his time in the military and his love for this country. Finally, his love for his Catholic faith was beyond question, and he was a charter member of St Paschal Catholic Church. He also served as Grand Knight in 1993/1994 for the Knights of Columbus, Council 3642 (West Monroe).
His love for Betty (Baby Doll) was never in doubt with one of his more recent comments being that he was glad that he was the surviving spouse, so she didn't have to be the one left to grieve. When Ray passed away at St Francis, he was in the same block where they first met all those years ago.
As for his children, he was always concerned for their wellbeing, especially when they were on the road traveling.
Ray was welcomed to his eternal home by his wife of 70 years, Betty, his parents, Alice and Simon, his brothers and their wives, Claude (Grace) and Chester (Ned), a niece, Mary Ellen Soignier, and brothers-in-law, Dickie Purvis and Bobby Bryan.
Ray is survived by his children, Pamela Jean Soignier Pursnell (Allan) of Baton Rouge, Louisiana, Debra Lynn Soignier Raiford (Charlie) of West Monroe, Louisiana, Marsha Ann Soignier Roberts (Mike) of Calhoun, Louisiana, and David Ray Soignier (Amy) of Bosco, Louisiana; grandchildren, Laura Elizabeth Pursnell Lindsay (Ned), Justin Allan Pursnell, Joshua Benjamin Raiford (Heather), Michael Christopher Roberts, Matthew David Roberts (Chasity), Reagan David Soignier, and Jacob David Soignier; great grandchildren, Edward, Ethan, and Eli Lindsey, Emerson Raiford, Bella and Maelyn Roberts; and sisters, Sadie Soignier Purvis of Jackson Mississippi, and Juanita Soignier Bryan of Leeville, Louisiana; sister-in-law, Jan Pittman Sears (Ron) of Arcadia, Louisiana, as well as numerous nieces and nephews.
Pallbearers will be Justin Pursnell, Joshua Raiford, Michael Roberts, Matthew Roberts, Reagan Soignier, and Jacob Soignier.
The family thanks the many friends, neighbors, and family for the many meals, kind words, and prayers, as well as his priest, Father Mark Franklin, niece and Goddaughter Janice Soignier Segars who provided him with much love and support these last few weeks. Also of merit are the anonymous people that donated blood. Memorials can be made to St. Matthew Catholic Church, 121 Jackson Street, Monroe, Louisiana 71201, the Claire Chennault Museum, the Northeast Louisiana War Veterans Home, or to any other charity of your choice.
To everything there is a season, and a time to every purpose under the Heaven; a time to be born and a time to die, a time to plant, and a time to reap. Ecclesiastes 3
Online Registry/Condolences:www.mulhearnfuneralhome.com
Visitation will be from 9:00 AM until 10:00 AM on Friday at the church.
Ray was born on October 9, 1924, in Carencro, Louisiana, to Simon Soignier of Port Barre and Alice Cormier Soignier of Carencro and passed away from a brief illness at St. Francis Medical Center on April 14, 2021.
Although his life began in Carencro, his mom and dad moved to West Monroe in early 1925 with him and his older sister, Sadie, where his dad was part of the opening crew of the papermill that is now Graphic Packaging. While Ray was in high school, he and his siblings started a fish bait business that continued until 1969 and was successful enough for his dad to quit his job at the papermill to run it full time. It was from this business that the family started buying land in Bosco, so as to have river access.
Ray graduated from Ouachita Parish High School in 1943 and joined the United States Army Air Forces on August 11, 1943. During his time in the service, he was stationed at Amarillo, Texas, Bruning, Nebraska, Pierce, South Dakota, and Honolulu, Hawaii, before being shipped out to take part in the Battle of Okinawa, the final battle of World War II. Ray spent most of his time on the nearby island of Ie Shima, landing there on April 18, 1945 and was within earshot of a sniper that killed war correspondent Ernie Pyle. His time in the service was as a Message Center Clerk (a teletype operator) which included sending the landing instructions to the plane carrying the Japanese delegation en route to meet with McArthur in the Philippines. At this time, Ray was serving with the 342nd Complement Squadron. He was discharged from the service with the rank of Sergeant on March 17, 1946, from Camp Chaffee, Arkansas.
After the war, Ray returned to work at the papermill. During that time, he met his future wife Elizabeth (Betty) Pittman of Gibsland / Athens, Louisiana, through a blind date on March 29, 1948, that was arranged by his brother, Claude and Betty's nursing school classmate Grace Reynold who would also join the family. At a time when a nursing student could not be married, Betty chose to change her path in life by becoming a Catholic on April 16, 1949 (Holy Saturday) followed by marriage at 8am on Monday, April 18, 1949, at St Paschal Catholic Church, the first opportunity after Lent to be married.
Due to flareups with malaria, he left the papermill because of significant headaches brought on by the intense heat at the mill and the swing shifts. He and Betty moved to Bosco in mid-1949, where Ray started farming cotton and his brother Chester would join him later during the 1950's. He also continued working in the fish bait business with his dad until his dad's passing in October of 1969. Ray left farming in 1959 to work at Bosco Mercantile for a couple of years, followed by H. Mickel Sports for nineteen years and then Southern Tool Company for the last sixteen years. He and Betty had moved to West Monroe in 1982 to cut his daily commute from forty-five minutes to five minutes but they maintained a camp house at Bosco where they would spend much time.
Ray enjoyed time with family which would grow to include three daughters and one son. He also enjoyed fishing, including trot lines and nets, hunting and the retelling of his time in the military and his love for this country. Finally, his love for his Catholic faith was beyond question, and he was a charter member of St Paschal Catholic Church. He also served as Grand Knight in 1993/1994 for the Knights of Columbus, Council 3642 (West Monroe).
His love for Betty (Baby Doll) was never in doubt with one of his more recent comments being that he was glad that he was the surviving spouse, so she didn't have to be the one left to grieve. When Ray passed away at St Francis, he was in the same block where they first met all those years ago.
As for his children, he was always concerned for their wellbeing, especially when they were on the road traveling.
Ray was welcomed to his eternal home by his wife of 70 years, Betty, his parents, Alice and Simon, his brothers and their wives, Claude (Grace) and Chester (Ned), a niece, Mary Ellen Soignier, and brothers-in-law, Dickie Purvis and Bobby Bryan.
Ray is survived by his children, Pamela Jean Soignier Pursnell (Allan) of Baton Rouge, Louisiana, Debra Lynn Soignier Raiford (Charlie) of West Monroe, Louisiana, Marsha Ann Soignier Roberts (Mike) of Calhoun, Louisiana, and David Ray Soignier (Amy) of Bosco, Louisiana; grandchildren, Laura Elizabeth Pursnell Lindsay (Ned), Justin Allan Pursnell, Joshua Benjamin Raiford (Heather), Michael Christopher Roberts, Matthew David Roberts (Chasity), Reagan David Soignier, and Jacob David Soignier; great grandchildren, Edward, Ethan, and Eli Lindsey, Emerson Raiford, Bella and Maelyn Roberts; and sisters, Sadie Soignier Purvis of Jackson Mississippi, and Juanita Soignier Bryan of Leeville, Louisiana; sister-in-law, Jan Pittman Sears (Ron) of Arcadia, Louisiana, as well as numerous nieces and nephews.
Pallbearers will be Justin Pursnell, Joshua Raiford, Michael Roberts, Matthew Roberts, Reagan Soignier, and Jacob Soignier.
The family thanks the many friends, neighbors, and family for the many meals, kind words, and prayers, as well as his priest, Father Mark Franklin, niece and Goddaughter Janice Soignier Segars who provided him with much love and support these last few weeks. Also of merit are the anonymous people that donated blood. Memorials can be made to St. Matthew Catholic Church, 121 Jackson Street, Monroe, Louisiana 71201, the Claire Chennault Museum, the Northeast Louisiana War Veterans Home, or to any other charity of your choice.
To everything there is a season, and a time to every purpose under the Heaven; a time to be born and a time to die, a time to plant, and a time to reap. Ecclesiastes 3
Online Registry/Condolences:www.mulhearnfuneralhome.com
To order memorial trees or send flowers to the family in memory of Ray John Soignier, please visit our flower store.
Service Schedule
Past Services
Visitation
Friday, April 16, 2021
9:00 - 10:00 am (Central time)
St. Matthew Catholic Church
Funeral Mass
Friday, April 16, 2021
Starts at 10:00 am (Central time)
St. Matthew Catholic Church
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