Ronnie E. Futrell

Ronnie E. Futrell

Ronnie Futrell, son, brother, husband, father, provider, friend, musician, and artist was called home to be with his Lord and Savior, Jesus Christ at the age of 66 on Wednesday, May 20, 2015 at Grace Home Hospice, Alexandria.

Funeral services for Mr. Futrell will be held at 11:00 a.m. Tuesday, May 26, 2015 in the chapel of Hixson Brothers, Pineville, with Dr. C. Stewart Holloway officiating. Visitation will be observed Monday, May 25 at the funeral home from 5:00-8:00 p.m. and resume on Tuesday from 9:00 a.m. until time of the service. Burial will follow at Forest Lawn Memorial Park.

Mr. Futrell was a life-long resident of Pineville, a 1967 graduate of Pineville High School, and earned a B.F.A. degree from Louisiana College in 1973. He was a member of First Baptist Church in Pineville.

It was at Louisiana College he met his wife of almost 44 years, Elizabeth Gay Sontag. Shortly after graduating from college, he began his career as a Louisiana State Probation and Parole Officer at the Alexandria District Office. He rose quickly in rank and became district supervisor there. After 11 years as a probation and parole officer, he made a crossover to the Louisiana State Department of Corrections to become assistant warden of Work Training Facility North at Camp Beauregard following in the footsteps of his friend and mentor Larry Jeane. Upon Mr. Jeane's retirement in 1990, Mr. Futrell was named warden and remained there until his retirement in 2003. He spent several more years working as a civilian employee for Louisiana National Guard at Camp Beauregard then fully retired in 2013.

Some professional rewards and recognition Mr. Futrell received include the Louisiana Army National Guard Distinguished Service Medal presented to him by former Adjutant General Bennett Landreneau upon his retirement in 2003, the Commander-in-Chief Special Recognition for Installation Excellence, and Certificate of Appreciation, U.S. Marshals Service. He was also a member of the American Correctional Association, and Louisiana Association of Wardens. He was a coach and league officer of Dixie Boys' Baseball earlier in his life.

Although the swamplands of Louisiana were home, Mr. Futrell fell in love with the Rocky Mountains as a child when his family vacationed there during the summers. It became a tradition for him to take his wife and 2 sons on vacation each summer traveling sometimes with good friends to different states to, in his own words, "build memories". His favorite vacation spot was Colorado. He was blessed to be able to hunt and fish there as well with his good friend, Ponderosa Outfitter guide, Bruce Ayers.

Mr. Futrell is survived by his wife Elizabeth Gay Sontag Futrell, son Timothy D. Futrell, sister Sandra Futrell Kirkpatrick of Baton Rouge, brother Russell Futrell of Baton Rouge, sister-in-law Linda Powell (Max), brother-in-law Scott Sontag, numerous nieces and nephews, and wonderful friends who referred to him affectionately as "Elmo" and who remained loyal and true to the end of his life.

Mr. Futrell was preceded in death by his son William Marshall (Bill) Futrell, parents Perry Elmo Futrell, Jr. and Mildred Russell Futrell, niece Karen Kirkpatrick, and brother-in-law Thomas Kilgore Kirkpatrick.

Pallbearers honored to serve will be Tommy Sayer, Rodney Lofton, Fred Cook, David Miller, Robert Futrell, Perry Futrell, David Bates, and Jeremy Powell. Honorary pallbearers will be Scooby Arnold, Bobby Holt, George Foster, P.A. Cain, Billy Ratcliff, Frank Joubert, and Ed Day.

The family request that memorials be made to the Making Way Building Program at First Baptist Church, Pineville, or SEVEN Ministry at the Pentecostals of Alexandria.

To extend online condolences to the Futrell family, please visit us at www.hixsonbrothers.com.