Ocie E. Silas

Mr. Ocie E. Silas

BOSSIER CITY, LA - Holding his wife's hand, Mr. Ocie E. Silas, 83, passed away peacefully at his home early Saturday morning, October 4, 2008 after a lengthy illness. A forty year resident of Bossier City, Mr. Silas was born March 15, 1925 in Leeds, Alabama. He was the son of the late Orie and Omie Silas. After spending his boyhood in Leeds, Mr. Silas joined the military and was a Pacific Theatre Veteran of WW II. He continued his military career and served in Japan, Australia, Korea, Georgia, South Carolina, Louisiana, North Dakota, Spain and Florida. After retiring from the US Air Force in 1968 he and his family moved to Bossier City when he was employed by Willis Knighton Medical Center. He remained with Willis Knighton until his retirement in 1992 as Bio-Environmental Engineer. He was a member of Temple Lodge 448 F & AM.

Mr. Silas will be deeply missed for his generous nature. He was respected by his employees and he appreciated each of them. People rarely left his home empty-handed. He loved little children, especially his grandchildren and great-grandchildren. The foundation of his Christian life was his Bible, worn from many years of reading. He enjoyed his vegetable garden, fishing on Cross Lake, hunting with his son, and watching LSU football. He was a patriotic American with a keen understanding of history and current events.

He is survived by his wife and best friend of 60 years, Vera Mae Hartsfield Silas; daughter, Cynthia Silas Tidwell and husband Brian; son, Joel Gaines Silas; granddaughter, Elizabeth Tidwell Johnson and husband Adam; grandson Brian Jack Tidwell, Jr.; great-grandchildren Adam James Johnson Jr., and Landry Marie Johnson, all of Bossier City; brother, Eugene W. Silas and wife Marshalene of Grand Prairie, Texas, and brother Mack G. Silas and wife Sammie of North Edwards, California, and a host of nephews and neices.

Friends are invited to a visitation with the family from 5:00-7:00 pm on Thursday, October 9 ,2008, at Hill Crest Memorial Funeral Home, Haughton, Louisiana. Services are scheduled for 2:00 pm Friday, October 10, 2008, in the Hill Crest Chapel . Willis Knighton Chaplin Dana Casey will officiate. Internment with full military honors will follow.

Memorials may be made to the American Bible Society or to The Gideons Society.

Pallbearers will be Brian Tidwell Sr., Adam Johnson Sr., Lance Silas, Mack G. Silas,Jr., Robert Groves and Ryan Groves.

The family would like to extend appreciation to Willis Knighton Hospice for their care and compassion. Hill Crest Memorial

Funeral Home 318-949-9415