Tracey Lynn Parks
Tracey Lynn Parks, 50, of the Beauregard Community passed away on August 6, 2015. Born in Tacoma, Washington, to Lewis and Vivian Davis Langford on September 25, 1965, Mrs. Parks lived most of her life in Opelika.
She is survived by her husband, Michael Parks of Opelika; two sons, Danny Parks (Nakeshia) and Chris Parks both of Opelika; a daughter, Crystal Langford of Tallahassee, Florida; one sister, Barbie Langford and six grandchildren.
A memorial service will be held at a later date.
Jeffcoat-Trant Funeral Home is directing.
www.jeffcoattrant.com.
Linda Yutmeyer Norris
On July 31, 2015, our loving wife, mother, and grandmother, Linda Norris moved from her home on Earth to her Heavenly Home.
Her life priorities were: God, Family, Friends, and Teaching.
She was a retired teacher from the Mountain Brook School system and a Charter Member of Brookwood Baptist Church in Mountain Brook. She was especially proud to be a member of the Maurice Wilhelm Bible Study Group and the Builders for Christ Mission Group.
She was preceded in death by her parents Herbert R. and Grace Yutmeyer of Montgomery and Opelika, Alabama, and sister Judy of Ft. Lauderdale, FL. Survivors include her husband of 55 years, George Richard “Dick” Norris, daughter Tracy Norris Thrasher, son-in-law Randell Thrasher, two grandchildren Matthue Richard and Noelle Grace Thrasher all of Birmingham, brother-in-law Charlie Burga, Weston, Florida, nieces Christy Norcross (Dennis) Orlando, Florida, and Charline Bargar (Jude, Ruby, Caroline), Pensacola, Florida.
The family is most appreciative of the loving care and compassion provided by the caregivers of Optium Hospice Group helping and guiding us through this most difficult journey.
There was a Celebration of Life at Brookwood Baptist Church on Thursday August 6, 2015, at 2:30 p.m.
The family received guests from 1-2 p.m. with the service to follow.
In lieu of flowers contributions may be sent to: Brookwood Builders for Christ, c/o: Brookwood Baptist Church, 3449 Overton Road, Mountain Brook, AL 35223-2130 or your favorite charity.
Jeffcoat-Trant handled local arrangements.
www.jeffcoattrant.com
Mark Anthony Boddie
Mark Anthony Boddie, 27, of Opelika passed away August 4, 2015. Funeral service was held 3 p.m. Sunday, August 9, 2015, at Jeffcoat-Trant Chapel with visitation from 6:00 to 8:00 p.m. Saturday, August 8, at Jeffcoat-Trant Funeral Home. Interment followed in Garden Hills Cemetery. Reverend Eric Hillyer and Reverend Eddie Kelsey officiated.
Mark was a person who made an impact on everyone he met and was the best person anyone could ever know. He could always put a smile on everyone’s face. Mark was a fighter and never gave up in life. There was never a dull moment when he was around, and he brought out the best out in everyone. He will always be known as a loving husband, father, son, brother, and friend. To Ella Grace, her dad was the best father she could ask for.
Mark was preceded in death by his grandfather, Donald Boddie; grandmothers, Janice Beasley and Catherine Sizemore. He is survived by his wife, Candace Boddie, daughter, Ella Grace Boddie; mother, Lisa Gregg Sizemore; dad, Joseph Sizemore; brother, Joseph Ricky Sizemore (Katie), nephew, Joseph Carter Sizemore; brother, Brandon Parker; grandfather, Marcus Beasley; grandmother, Mary Boddie; father, Donald Ricky Boddie; and best friends, Andrew Segrest, Darrin Robinson, and Tai Richardson; a host of aunts, uncles, and cousins; and many loving friends.
The family accepted flowers or a donation in Mark’s memory can be made to the OI Foundation (Osteogenesis Imperfecta Foundation at OIF.org).
Jeffcoat-Trant Funeral Home directed.
www.jeffcoattrant.com
Dr. Raymond
Lee Shepherd, Sr.
Raymond Lee Shepherd, Sr., 88, of Auburn, passed away peacefully August 3, 2015, after a short stay at Bethany House.
Shepherd lived a full and happy life and was a devout Christian and a devoted husband, father, grandfather, and great-grandfather. A decorated military veteran and an award-winning scientist, Shepherd was born October 13, 1926, in Arkadelphia, Arkansas. He was the oldest of four brothers and grew up during the hardscrabble times of the Great Depression. At age 7, Shepherd received a Hero Medal from Ralston Purina Company for service to others after saving his baby brother from a house fire.
In January 1945, at age 18, Shepherd was drafted into the U.S. Army where he served in the infantry in the Pacific Theatre while stationed at Luzon in the Philippines. It was during his service abroad that he met his best friend and fellow Arkansas native, L. Frank Slatton, who would later become his brother-in-law.
Following the war, Shepherd returned to Arkansas, enrolling in Ouachita Baptist University. During this time, he met Margie Lou Jones and the couple married on April 7, 1950. He graduated with a bachelor’s degree in business from Ouachita Baptist University in 1951. Remaining active in the military, Shepherd was deployed to Korea during the Korean War from January 1952 to March 1953. For his leadership and meritorious achievement in ground operations against the enemy, Shepherd was awarded the Bronze Star on May 13, 1953. Upon return from Korea, Shepherd owned and operated Westside grocery, a neighborhood grocery store in Arkadelphia. After two and a half years, he sold the store and decided to continue his education, graduating with a master’s degree in agriculture from the University of Arkansas at Fayetteville in 1959.
Shepherd continued his service in the Army National Guard and retired at the rank of Lt. Colonel after 30 years of service. In addition to the Bronze Star, Shepherd was also awarded the Combat Infantryman’s Badge as well as the Army Commendation Medal among others.
Shepherd moved his family to Auburn in 1960 to pursue his doctorate. He worked for Auburn University as a graduate assistant and graduated with his Ph.D. in agriculture in 1965. While earning his doctorate, Shepherd began working for the USDA’s ARS Cotton Genetics and Breeding Research Laboratory as a cotton geneticist and adjunct associate professor in the Agronomy and Soils Department. He continued in this position until the program was relocated to Mississippi State University in Starkville, Miss., in 1984. While at Mississippi State, Shepherd continued his work for the USDA and served as an adjunct professor in the Agronomy Department. He retired from Mississippi State in 1990 and he and his wife returned to Auburn where they enjoyed retirement. Shepherd was internationally known for his contributions to cotton breeding and genetics. He received national recognition for his work developing a root-knot nematode resistant cotton, which he named “Auburn Cotton.” He was recognized in 1986 as the Joint Cotton Breeding Policy Committee’s Cotton Breeder of the Year.
Until recent years, Shepherd was an avid gardener and took great pride in maintaining a beautiful backyard full of different varieties of azaleas, lilies, hydrangeas, and caladiums. He liked to fish, read the Wall Street Journal daily, enjoyed exercising at HealthPlus, and loved following the Auburn Tigers. He maintained a healthy sweet tooth and rarely turned down a treat.
He was a member of the Honor Society of Phi Kappa Phi; Gamma Sigma Delta – the Honor Society of Agriculture; as well as the Auburn Lions Club.
He and his wife have been members of Lakeview Baptist Church since 1960 where they attend Walter Grimes’ Sunday School Class.
Regardless of his many accomplishments, Shepherd was most proud of his 10 grandchildren and eight great-grandchildren who affectionately called him “Pa-pa.”
He is preceded in death by his parents Arlie and Gertrude Shepherd, his two brothers Jack Shepherd and Daniel Shepherd, and L. Frank Slatton, his brother-in-law and best friend for nearly 70 years.
He is survived by his wife, Margie, with whom Shepherd celebrated 65 years of marriage earlier this year.
He is also survived by his three children: Barbara Shepherd McCormack (Tom), Raymond Lee Shepherd, Jr. (Kathy), Joe Frank Shepherd (Terri); his 10 grandchildren: Katie McCormack Wilder (Neil), Laura McCormack Carlson (Glen), Rachel Shepherd Graff (Joey), Ashley Shepherd Bordelon (Brett), John McCormack (Beth), Leigh-Ann Shepherd (John Brooks), Lauren Shepherd, Josh Shepherd, Rebecca Shepherd, and Jake Shepherd; and eight great-grandchildren: Margie Grace Wilder, Will Wilder, Micah Graff, Taiga Carlson, Shepherd Wilder, Makena Graff, Raylee Brooks, and Jasper Carlson; his brothers Roy Shepherd (Barbara) and Donnie Shepherd (Mary Jo); and his brothers-in-law and sisters-in-law: James Jones, Kitty Slatton, Billie Croft, J.D. and Velma Jones, and Doug and Sheryl Jones.
The family extends a special thanks to the nurses and staff of Bethany House for their wonderful care and support during Shepherd’s final days.
His family finds comfort that he is at home with the Lord.
Visitation was held at Jeffcoat-Trant Funeral Home in Opelika on Saturday, August 8, at 12:30 p.m. followed by the funeral service at 2 p.m. in the Jeffcoat-Trant Chapel. Interment was held in the Auburn Memorial Park Cemetery. Shepherd’s grandsons and grandsons-in-law served as pallbearers. Flowers were accepted or donations in Shepherd’s memory may be made to Bethany House.
Jeffcoat-Trant Funeral Home directed.
www.jeffcoattrant.com.
Ruth Madden Gudauskas
Ruth Madden Gudauskas, age 103, was born on September 8, 1911, in Georgetown, Ill., and peacefully passed away surrounded by her family on August 8, 2015, in Bethany House in Auburn, AL. She was preceded in death by her husband Tom Gudauskas, and brothers, Glenn and Ray Madden. She is survived by her son Robert (Dot) Gudauskas of Auburn, AL, daughter Dolores (David) Boyd of Los Altos, CA; grandchildren Debbie Milanes of Opelika, AL, Tom (Carol) Gudauskas of Auburn, AL, and Lisa (Lowell) Kissinger of Douglasville, GA; and great- grandchildren, Matt, Greg, and Jilli Milanes, Benjamin and David Kissinger, and Lydia, Hannah, and Sarah Gudauskas.
Ruth spent the first 65 years of her life in Georgetown, Ill., but since had lived in Florida, California, and Alabama, and had traveled throughout the British Isles, Western Europe, and Hawaii. In addition to a great love for her family, she always loved to shop, travel, and work crossword puzzles. She credited working puzzles for her sharpness of mind and continued to work them until the last few years of her life. She had a very keen wit and sense of humor to the end. Throughout her span of almost 104 years of life on this earth, Ruth touched many lives for good. She indeed will be sorely missed by them, but deeply cherished in their hearts and minds, and most asssuredly in those of her family. Visitation was held at Jeffcoat-Trant Funeral Home in Opelika on Thursday, August 13, at 11:30 a.m., followed by the funeral service at 1 p.m. in the Jeffcoat-Trant Chapel. Tom Steed, minister for the Auburn Church of Christ, conducted the services. Ruth’s grandson, grand son-in-law, and great-grandsons served as pallbearers. Interment was held in the Auburn Memorial Park Cemetery.
In lieu of flowers, donations in memory of Ruth Gudauskas may be made to Bethany House, 1171 Gatewood Drive, Building. 100, Auburn, AL 36830
Jeffcoat-Trant Funeral Home & Crematory directed.
www.jeffcoattrant.com