Olive Bethard

Olive Guenard Bethard

(Mrs. Henry W. Bethard III)

Coushatta, Louisiana-Services for Olive Ann Guenard Bethard will be held at 2:00 p.m., Friday, November 2, 2012 at the Rockett-Nettles Funeral Home Chapel in Coushatta, LA with Reverend Mary Richards of Holy Cross Episcopal Church officiating, assisted by Reverend John Kavanaugh of First United Methodist Church, Coushatta, Louisiana. Interment will be in Springville Cemetery under the direction of Rockett-Nettles Funeral Home, Coushatta, Louisiana. Visitation will be held at 1:00 p.m. until 2:00 p.m., Friday, November 2, 2012 at Rockett-Nettles Funeral Home, Coushatta, Louisiana.

Olive Ann was born August 2, 1927 to James Hortaire Guenard and Rubye Nelson Guenard in Vicksburg, Mississippi, though a native of Lake Providence, Louisiana. She passed away on Wednesday, October 31, 2012 at Live Oak in Shreveport, Louisiana.

Olive Ann is a graduate of Lake Providence High School, Lake Providence, Louisiana and received a Bachelor of Arts degree from Louisiana State University in Baton Rouge, Louisiana, where she was a member of Kappa Kappa Gamma sorority. While attending LSU, Olive Ann met her husband of 64 years, Henry William Bethard III, on a blind date scheduled by a mutual friend. This meeting brought a marriage filled with family, travel, and most importantly fun. "Sweetie Ann", Henry's name for his loving wife and mother of their four children, practiced true devotion to her family.

The Bethard family honors Olive Ann, known affectionately by her grandchildren as Obbie, as being responsible for the strong family bond that each of the family members cherish. Obbie often planned and prepared dinners and family celebrations which created lifelong bonds between two brothers, a sister, many cousins, and "blood and non-blood" kin. Her grandchildren have wonderful "Obbie memories" that will last their lifetimes! The family celebrates the time they had with their Obbie.

Olive Ann was a member of Grace Episcopal Church, Lake Providence, Louisiana. Even though she maintained her membership in Grace Episcopal Church in Lake Providence, Louisiana, she, nevertheless, took an active role in the First United Methodist Church of Coushatta seeing that her children diligently attended Sunday School and leading activities such as the XYZ group of ladies who participated in various activities including art work, sewing, etc.

Olive Ann was preceded in death by her son, Henry William Bethard IV and brother, James Hortaire Guenard.

She is survived by her husband of 64 years, Henry William Bethard III of Coushatta, Louisiana, one daughter, Suzanne Bethard Hearne and husband, Sanders of Shreveport, Louisiana, two sons, James G. (Jim) Bethard and wife Florence of Coushatta, Louisiana, Robert E. Bethard, and wife Rhoda of Coushatta, Louisiana, grandchildren, Sanders F. Hearne, Jr. and wife Kate of Brookline, Massachusetts , Bethard Hearne Smith and husband Matt of Dallas, Texas, Leigh Hearne Hillenmeyer and husband Morgan of Nashville, Tennessee, James G. (Jay) Bethard of McLean, Virginia, Shirley Bethard Hagemeier and husband Todd of Frisco Texas, Benjamin T. Bethard and wife Meg of Shreveport, Louisiana, Henry W. Bethard V and fiance' Katie Cordaro of Shreveport, Louisiana, Kassie Bethard Williams and husband Joshua of Coushatta, Louisiana, Kara Bethard, Kallie Bethard, Kambrie Bethard of Coushatta, Louisiana and 8 great grandchildren and soon to be 10.

Pallbearers will be Obbie's grandsons: Sanders F. Hearne, Jr., James G. (Jay) Bethard, Henry W. Bethard V, Benjamin T. Bethard, Todd Hagemeier, Matthew G. Smith, Morgan Hillenmeyer, and Joshua A. Williams.

In lieu of flowers, memorials may be sent to the Perpetual Care Fund of the Springville Cemetery Association, Post Office Box 1023, Coushatta, Louisiana 71019 or the recipient of donor's choice.