Obituary of Reiddie E Harper
Reiddie Harper, age 98, passed away Monday, December 26, 2011 at Beauregard Memorial Hospital in DeRidder, La.
Mrs. Harper was preceded in death by husband, Howard Harper; son, Thomas and wife Reba (Andrews) Harper; and daughter, Johnny Fern (Harper) Peterson.
Mrs. Harper was survivied by, one son, James Harper and wife Charlene. One daughter, Marjorie Wooley and husband Jack Wooley. Grandchildren, Jenny Nahoum, Barney Harper, Bill Harper, Howard Harper, Debbie Green, Gregory Townsley, Margo Ardoin, JuTina Singletary, and LaDaina England. Great-grandchildren; Harper, Lindsey, and Jackson Nahoum; Thomas Harper, Danielle Monceaux; Cheyenne, Maverick, JaElle, and JaCee Harper; Tracy Muth, Howard Townsley, Jessie Coe, Somer Urhig, Michael Ardoin, Adley Perkins, Lasa Bennett, CoDi England, Heather Echols and Heath Singletary. Great-great grandchildren, Megan and Amanda Muth; Brendan, Reece and Gabriella Townsley; Ashlyn Uhrig; Cameron Campbell; Pandora Bennett; Lessie Ray and Story Laine Perkins; Destin and Rowdy Singletary; Hunter Echols; Gavin, Gage, and Trenton Monceaux. Her extended family included Susan Broussard and Cocoa Bjorklund and their families.
Born August 22, 1913, in the Shady Grove Community, she lived a long eventful life. Her proudest achievements were being founding members of both Welcome Pentecostal Church and Shady Grove Pentecostal Church. She described her experiences in her books, Streams of Living Waters and The Early History of Shady Grove. She was an ordained Pentecostal minister and pastored churches. She evangelized in churches all over Louisiana and parts of Texas. She performed marriages, funerals, and baptisms well into her 90s.
She learned to use the computer and published her first book at age 87 and has four books in the Library of Congress. She was instrumental in having the Shady Grove Community Building placed on the National Register of Historical Places.
She was known as Sister Reiddie, Aunt Reiddie, Grandma, and Ms. Harper. Throughout her long life, she kept needy people in her home for weeks, months and even years. She prayed and cared for the sick, delivered babies, and helped prepare the dead for burial.
"Grandma" was overseer of all the Harper and Morgan Rodeo stock at her home in Dry Creek for more than 20 years. During that time she responsible for the well being of the animals, keeping the cowboys doing what needed to be done, and feeding and haying the animals herself when she wanted it done RIGHT. She used the tractor and bush hog, and she has been known to practice veterinarian medicine (without a license) on bucking horses and fighting bulls. She maintained her husband's trucking business for many years after his death. She was a nurse and served in that profession until she retired at 85.
Although it could not be considered a hobby, killing armadillos with a shotgun, 22, fire poker, or what ever is handy, was a life long obsession. An armadillo only made one pass through her yard in his lifetime.
Through it all, she was able to provide for herself and her family and maintain a strong independent spirit.
Visitation for Mrs. Harper will be at Hixson Funeral Home from 5:00 p.m. until 9:00 p.m. on Tuesday, December 27, 2011. Services will be at Hixson Funeral Home Chapel at 2:00 p.m. on Wednesday, December 28, 2011. Brother Jeff Phillips and Brother CoDi England will be officiating. Burial will follow at Shiloh Cemetery.
Words of comfort may be shared with the family at www.hixsonfuneralhome.com
