Raynold Manuel

Mr. Raynold “Tom” Manuel, of West Monroe, La., formally from Shreveport, La, passed peacefully at his home on December 14, 2023, at the age of 96. Mr. Manuel was born on Oct. 11, 1927, in Ville Platte, La. 

Funeral services celebrating the Life of Mr. Raynold “Tom” Manuel, will be held at 10:00 A.M. Monday, December 18, 2023, at St. Paschal Catholic Church in West Monroe, La. with Father Michael Thang’wa officiating. Graveside service will be held at 3:00 P.M. at Te Mamou Cemetery in Ville Platte, Louisiana. Visitation will be held from 3:00 P.M. to 5:00 P.M. Sunday, December 17, 2023, at Mulhearn Funeral Home, West Monroe, La.

He was preceded in death by his wife, Enora Mayeaux Manuel, of almost 55 years at the time of her death in 2019 and by his parents, Leo Manuel and Lelma Manuel. Also, by his two sisters, Athalee Manuel Dupre and Gara Manuel Anderson and three brothers, Derald Manuel, Curtis Manuel, and Paul Manuel; his first wife, Ella Mae Prudhomme; as well as his brother-in-law that he considered a brother, Raymond Mayeaux.

Left to cherish his memory are his four daughters that he loved with his whole heart, Jodie Manuel Dean, and husband Forrest Dean who he thought of as a son, Patsy Manuel Veillon, and husband David Veillon, Linda Manuel Berzas, and husband Norman Berzaz, and Amy Manuel.  He is also survived by twelve grandchildren, Mary Katherine Dean Wood, and husband Logan Wood, Christopher Dean, Lindsay Dean Fortenberry and husband Judge Fortenberry, Sophie Dean, Vikki Veillon Drosos, and husband Steven Drosos, David Veillon, Mark Veillon, Sarah Beth Veillon Miller, Ashley Berzas Clark, and husband Gerald Clark, Crystal Rena Manuel, Louis Andrew Knotts, and Charles Matthew Daniels Jr., and survived by 12 great grandchildren and soon to be 13 with Lane Walker Fortenberry and 5 great great grandchildren. Tom also leaves behind his beloved cat, Cleo.

Tom never shied away from hard work. His work ethic began around 13 or 14 years old working at an icehouse delivering ice with horse and buggy and continued into his early 80’s mowing lawns for extra money. He had jobs from a cement mixer to loading cotton bales on box cars, as well as building silos, working for a body shop, and a job with the state driving a cement truck. Tom’s most rewarding job was the 30 years he worked with T & P Railroad, which became Missouri Pacific, and finally retired with Union Pacific Railroad.  He loved to talk about trains, trucks, and his cat, Cleo.

He served his country in WWII with the United States Navy and will receive military honors at his funeral service. He served stateside in Washington, D.C. He loved telling the story of playing baseball in D.C. and jumping over the White House fence to retrieve the ball and jumping right back over.  Tom also served a little time in the Merchant Marines.

In his final years, Tom could always be found at Tommy’s Produce at West Monroe’s Farmers Market. He thought of them as family and loved them very much. He also attended West Ouachita Senior Center where he loved his friends, shared good times, and looked forward to every Wednesday and Friday for BINGO. Every Sunday he looked forward to coffee, doughnuts, and conversation at St. Paschal’s and lunch with his daughter, Jodie and her family.  Every Monday he visited Ole South Diner with his son-in-law to eat and enjoy time with the owners and workers who he considered part of his extended family. He was an active man all the way up to his death and still driving around town. 

Tom loved his family, friends, and church. He was the oldest parishioner at St. Paschal Catholic Church and a member of the Knights of Columbus. He never met a stranger, and Tom was such a giver and never wanted anything in return. He had the biggest heart and always celebrated any family member’s accomplishments, especially with education. He would be the first to help anyone in need. He was known for packing dog bones in his jacket for any dog that visited him in the neighborhood as well as giving them to his grand dogs. Everyone knew they could come sit with him on his glider and have a wonderful conversation such as his first car he drove was a 1934 Dodge pick-up truck with no doors and a chair as a seat. Every morning he had his routine of calling his daughters, Patsy and Linda, and his best friend, Mike Gable. When it was sunny outside Tom loved waiting outside on his glider for his daughter, Jodie, to visit in the afternoons.

He was an excellent cook, an avid football and baseball fan, was excellent with numbers, and was the best father. He was loved dearly and will be missed by all.