John Ben Burse Sr.

John Ben Burse, Sr., 85, of Louisiana went home Friday, Feb. 9, 2018 at his home with family.

Funeral services will be held at 1 p.m., Saturday at the First Presbyterian Church in Louisiana. The Rev. Lonnie Parker will officiate.

Visitation will be from 11 a.m.,. until time of service at 1 p.m., Saturday at the church.

Ben was born June 14, 1932 in Lee County, Ark., to Tom and Izola Burse. Ben and Everlena were married Jan. 20, 1951 in Arkansas. They had 12 children. In 1964, They moved to Louisiana where they made a living for their kids. Ben worked at Bob Burns, Wayne B. Smith, Dundee, and Road Construction, then became a self-employed owner of Ben’s Salvage Yard for over 40 years. He retired because of health reasons and then the rest of his life spending time with his grandkids.

He is survived by his wife, Everlena Burse of the home; his 11 children, Ben Burse, Jr. of Louisiana, Roosvelt Burse and wife, Delores of Louisiana, Lee Andrews Burse of California, Jerry D. Burse and wife, Almeter of Texas, Izola Ivey and husband, Murvin of Louisiana, Gus Burse and wife, Janet of Louisiana, Vera Preston and husband, Mike of Louisiana, Denise Chatman and husband, Anthony of Louisiana, Kenny Thomas and wife, Cassandra of Texas, Lawrence Valetine and wife, Brenda of Michigan, and Kieth Tucker of Kansas City; a daughter-in-law, Carol Burse; one sister, Evelyn Patton of Arkansas; one brother, Joe Willie Burse of Illinois; and numerous grandchildren.

He was preceded in death by his parents, Tom and Izola Burse, siblings, Eleanor Hires, Tom Burse II, and Clayburn Burse, three daughters, Pam Burse, Mary Alice Burse, and Shemia Burse, and a son, Tom Burse III.

Honorary pallbearers will be Kenny Griffith, Mike Preston, Murvin Ivey, Bernie Clover, John Starman, and DelRay Buchanan. Pallbearers will be Anthony Burse, DeAndre Griffith, Jeromy Miller, Justin Burse, Terence Chatman, and Thomas Burse.

Memorial donations may be given to the family, c/o the funeral home.