Miles Kenyon Luke

1919 - 2016

Miles Kenyon Luke

Funeral services will be held for Miles Kenyon Luke on Wednesday, December 7, 2016, at 2:00 PM at First United Methodist Church Monroe, 3900 Loop Road, Monroe. Rev. Lynn Malone will conduct the services. Burial will take place at Mulhearn Memorial Park, 623 Hwy. 80 E, Monroe.

Left to cherish his memory are his loving wife of 74 years, Vivian Marie Harris Luke, and his daughters, Sandra Luke LeJeune and husband Charles of Denham Springs, Sharon Luke Smith and husband Travis of Bossier City, and Shelley Luke Thomas and husband Jerry of Lafayette; and his grandchildren Stacey Smith Hess and husband Jason, Michael Travis Smith and wife Amy, Lisa Smith Ledet and husband Devin, Trevor Miles Thomas and fiancée Cortnie Lae, and Rachel Erin Thomas and fiancé Andreas Duplantis; and nine great grandchildren, Jake Ledet, Cooper Hess, Marshall Hess, Luke Smith, Max Henry Smith, Tyler Hess, Sam Ledet, Anderson Smith, and Ivy Ledet. He was preceded in death by his parents Earl and Bess Luke, brother Alan Luke, and in-laws Max and Evelyn Harris.

Born October 7, 1919, in Frederick, Wisconsin, Miles graduated from Brainerd High School in Brainerd, Minnesota and also graduated from Minnesota School of Business in Minneapolis, where he met his future wife, Vivian Harris. Miles and Vivian were married on Valentine's Day 1942. Miles proudly served for 25 years in the United States Air Force, retiring as a Lt. Colonel from Barksdale AFB on March 1, 1967. He then began his second career in industrial development promoting Louisiana on the state level through the Louisiana Department of Commerce & Industry and locally for the cities of Alexandria, Monroe, and Bastrop. Miles finally retired from paid employment at the young age of 80. Upon his retirement, Miles was free to actively pursue his passion for volunteering in his community. Miles was responsible for opening the Monroe chapter of SCORE, a mentoring service for entrepreneurs hoping to build new businesses; volunteered for the Monroe Council on Aging; was a founding member of Monroe Advocates for Safe Streets, an organization instrumental in establishing safe biking paths throughout the city; was a State Representative for the Silver Haired Congress; was chairman for many years for the local Senior Olympic Games; was a liaison for the High Pointers Club of America where he escorted groups to the highest point in Louisiana. Additionally, Miles hiked to the highest point in 27 states in the United States. Miles was a chair caning instructor, an active member of First United Methodist Church Monroe, the Rotary Club of Monroe, and MOAA - Military Officers Association of America. And in his "free time" (whew) Miles loved going on his all-guys annual canoeing trip on the Buffalo River - a trip he enjoyed for over 30 years. He was also an avid bicyclist up until being diagnosed with leukemia at the age of 95. He proudly rode the number of miles as he was old from his 85th through 91st birthdays. Miles was the recipient of numerous professional, personal, and community awards.

By far the greatest joy of his long, full life was his family. He was a devoted husband to his wife, Vivian, a loving, caring father to his three daughters and their husbands and the most amazing, fun-loving, active example of how to make every day a happy one to his grandchildren and great grandchildren. He is irreplaceable.

Pallbearers are Charles LeJeune, Travis Smith, Jerry Thomas, Michael Smith, Trevor Thomas, Jason Hess, Devin Ledet and Andreas Duplantis.

The Luke family would like to give special thanks to Dr. Cary Anders, Dr. Scott Barron, First Choice Hospice, Always Best Care and his caregivers Charlotte Coleman, Donald Shaw and Connie Stewart for the loving care they provided.

The family requests visitation be observed on Tuesday, December 6th from 5:00 PM to 7:00 PM at Kilpatrick Funeral Home at 1200 Lamy Lane, and on Wednesday, December 7th from 1:00 PM until the time of the service at First United Methodist Church Monroe.

In lieu of flowers, donations may be made to First United Methodist Church, 3900 Loop Road, Monroe.

Online condolences may be made to the family at

www.kilpatrickfuneralhomes.com.

Kilpatrick Funeral Home

Monroe, LA