Obituaries

Michael Steven (Steve) Phillips passed away on May 2, 2020 at Valley Baptist Hospital in Harlingen, Texas. Steve was born on November 23, 1950 in Gatesville, Texas, where he spent his childhood. Steve was preceded in death by his parents, Roy Mitchell Phillips and Norma Jean Huff.

Louis Felix deLaunay was born on March 1, 1956 in San Diego, California and passed away June 15, 2020. Lou was the fourth of six brothers born to Anne (Paulos) DeLaunay. His family eventually moved to Neosho, Missouri before Lou was signed on to play football for the Louisiana State University Tigers in 1974. After graduating from LSU as a Letterman (#51), Lou began a decades-long career in the Aerospace industry in Dallas, Texas that would introduce him to his wife Kathy (Varner) and his two daughters, Jennifer (Nava) and Kallie (Kirkland). Lou will also be celebrated and missed by his sons-in-laws Arthur Nava and Mike Kirkland, as well as his grandchildren Sydney and Skylar Nava and Hawk Kirkland. 

Colonel Tom L. Stewart passed away in his sleep early on the morning of June 9, 2020. He was, if nothing else, a United States Army (Air Cav) Officer. More than one person who met him wondered aloud whether Robert Duvall had based his performance in “The Great Santini” on Colonel Tom.

Bintou Fatima Ojomo passed away at home, in New York on Sunday, May 31, 2020. Bintou was born on February 16, 1989 in Manhattan, New York, daughter of the late Cheick Soukhouna and Juliet Ojomo.

Thyra Kay Stevenson was born in 1944 in Palo Alto, CA, to Gladys and Lloyd Stevenson. Thyra served 3 terms in the Idaho House of Represenatives. Thrya passed away on May 11, 2020 in Coeur d’Alene, Idaho.

Jesús Ernesto Araujo nació el 15 de octubre de 1958 en Santo Domingo, República Dominicana, hijo de María Gladys Araujo y Ramón Rosado. Conocido cariñosamente como “Chucho” por todos los que lo amaban, Jesús fue un hombre que vivió su vida con un espíritu despreocupado y con la creencia de que sólo a través de la risa se debería vivir la vida. Tenía una visión simplista pero poderosa en la vida, “la familia siempre es lo más importante”.

Barbara Kelly Giamanco (“Barb”), 62, of Sandy Springs, GA, passed away May 17, 2020, at home in her sleep. She was born December 28, 1957, to Richard and Arlene Kelly in Jacksonville, North Carolina. She grew up in North Carolina and Arizona before beginning a very successful career in sales.

Winston Roy Drysdale (Bela) was born in Fletchers Land, Kingston, Jamaica on February 22, 1942 to Evans and Pearle Drysdale. Baby Roy, as he was affectionately called by family and friends was extremely intelligent, passionate, charismatic, and caring.

Barbara Jean Johnson “Bobby”, daughter of the late Willie and Ruby Kelsey, was born October 3, 1952 in Trenton, NJ. The Lord called her to be with Him on Sunday, May 3, 2020 after a lengthy battle with her health.

Kenneth was the son of the late Kenneth Cecil Brown, Sr. and Georgia Hill Brown, born on January 23, 1932 in Atlanta Georgia. He graduated from Hillsborough High School in Tampa in 1950 where he met his bride, Jeanne Brady. They were married for 66 years.