Lana Mynatt Sandefur

Lana Mynatt Sandefur obituary, Oakdale, LA

Lana Mynatt Sandefur

Lana Sandefur Obituary

Obituary published on Legacy.com by Rush Funeral Home - Oakdale on Oct. 1, 2025.

Publish in a newspaper

Memorial services for Mrs. Lana Ruth Mynatt Sandefur will be held at 2:00 p.m. on Saturday, September 27, 2025, in the Chapel of Rush Funeral Home, Oakdale, with Lane Grisby, Dr. Robert Janot, and Diane Bacon officiating. Visitation will begin at 12:00 noon under the direction of Rush Funeral Home, Oakdale.
Mrs. Sandefur, 81, of Oakdale, entered eternal rest on Saturday, September 13, 2025, at Our Lady of the Lake Regional Medical Center, Baton Rouge, LA.
She was born on October 30, 1943, in Chattanooga, Tennessee. Lana was the daughter of T. Ellery and Ruth Duncum Mynatt. A 1965 graduate of Tennessee Wesleyan College, she was a proud member of Kappa Delta sorority, a cheerleader, and a beloved "Moonlight Girl." In 1968, Lana married her husband of 57 years, Dr. James Sandefur, and together they built a beautiful life in Oakdale, Louisiana with their two children, of whom she was always so proud.
Lana taught elementary school in Oakdale for nearly twenty years and was loved and adored by all her students. She was a long-time member of the Oakdale Garden Club. She and Dr. Jim enjoyed their lake home in Marco, Louisiana and spent lots of time there after Jim's retirement. She loved her grandchildren and cherished every moment with them. She could often be found with a crossword puzzle in hand and Lulu the dog by her side. Lana was a very special person and was well loved by everyone who knew her.
She was preceded in death by her parents, T. Ellery and Ruth Mynatt; one brother, Roger Mynatt; and one sister, Joan McEwen.
Those left to mourn her loss and cherish her memory include her loving husband of fifty-seven years, Dr. James Sandefur of Oakdale; one son, James "Jamey" Sandefur, Jr. (Erin) of Denham Springs; one daughter, Alana Sandefur Karam (Michael) of Creswell, Oregon; one brother, Tillman Ellery "Ned" Mynatt of Cloudland, Georgia; one sister, Dolores Mynatt Reynolds of Englewood, Tennessee; and seven grandchildren, Knox Karam, Colton Karam, Carson Karam King, Georgia Karam, Grace Sandefur, Brooke Sandefur, and James "Jimbo" Sandefur, III.
Lana Sandefur was a devoted supporter of Southern College of Optometry, her husband's alma mater. To honor Lana's partnership and commitment to Jim's distinguished career in Optometry, gifts may be made in Lana's memory to Southern College of Optometry, where her legacy will benefit future eye doctors through the Mrs. James D. (Lana) Sandefur Memorial Scholarship. https://www.sco.edu/give
Friends may post online messages of condolences for the Sandefur family by visiting www.rushfh.com
To send flowers to the family or plant a tree in memory of Lana Mynatt Sandefur, please visit our floral store.

To plant trees in memory, please visit the Sympathy Store.

How to support Lana's loved ones
Honor a beloved veteran with a special tribute of ‘Taps’ at the National WWI Memorial in Washington, D.C.

The nightly ceremony in Washington, D.C. will be dedicated in honor of your loved one on the day of your choosing.

Read more
Attending a Funeral: What to Know

You have funeral questions, we have answers.

Read more
Should I Send Sympathy Flowers?

What kind of arrangement is appropriate, where should you send it, and when should you send an alternative?

Read more
What Should I Write in a Sympathy Card?

We'll help you find the right words to comfort your family member or loved one during this difficult time.

Read more
Resources to help you cope with loss
How to Cope With Grief

Information and advice to help you cope with the death of someone important to you.

Read more
Estate Settlement Guide

If you’re in charge of handling the affairs for a recently deceased loved one, this guide offers a helpful checklist.

Read more
How to Write an Obituary

Need help writing an obituary? Here's a step-by-step guide...

Read more
Obituaries, grief & privacy: Legacy’s news editor on NPR podcast

Legacy's Linnea Crowther discusses how families talk about causes of death in the obituaries they write.

Read more
Ways to honor Lana Sandefur's life and legacy
Obituary Examples

You may find these well-written obituary examples helpful as you write about your own family.

Read more
How to Write an Obituary

Need help writing an obituary? Here's a step-by-step guide...

Read more
Obituary Templates – Customizable Examples and Samples

These free blank templates make writing an obituary faster and easier.

Read more
How Do I Write a Eulogy?

Some basic help and starters when you have to write a tribute to someone you love.

Read more

Sign Lana Sandefur's Guest Book

Not sure what to say?