May 3, 1956 – Jan. 2, 2014

GILBERT, La. — Services for Ty Allan Britt, 57, of Gilbert, who died Thursday, Jan. 2, 2014, at St. Francis Medical Center, will be at 1 p.m. Monday at Calvary Baptist Church in Gilbert with the Rev. Doyle Adams and Rev. Jerry Grant officiating.

Burial will follow in South Central Cemetery in Wisner under the direction of Gill First National Funeral Home of Winnsboro.

Visitation will be from 5 to 9 p.m. today at the church and 1 p.m. until time of service Monday.

Mr. Britt was born May 3, 1956, in Natchez, the son of Mary McMahon and Segrest Britt.

He spent his earlier years in Natchez but later moved to his grandparent’s dairy farm outside of Wisner.

Mr. Britt enjoyed a successful career in the oil industry working for Otis Gulf Oil and Chevron, where he was operation specialist at the time of his retirement in 1999.

In 1987, Mr. Britt was awarded the Exemplary Act Award by the U.S. Department of the Interior for diving into the Gulf of Mexico and pulling an injured pilot from a crashed helicopter.

In 2002, he was asked to run for chief of police for the town of Gilbert. He was chosen for that position and was serving his third term at the time of his death. The opportunity to move away from Gilbert presented itself several times, but Mr. Britt could never bring himself to leave the town or the multitude of friends he had there.

To his friends, we applaud the bonds of friendship that you shared with our loved one. He shared a special relationship with his niece and nephew, Courtney and Ben, and you only had to speak with him briefly to witness the evident pride he felt for them. He was many things, but his calling was helping others in times of need. His generosity knew no bounds. His indiscriminate heart, smiling face and kindness touched everyone he knew.

Mr. Brit was preceded in death by his parents; brother Robbie; sister Donice; and brother-in-law Wesley McManus.

Survivors include his wife and high school sweetheart, Susan Britt of Gilbert; sister Walty Sample and husband, Ken, of Houston; extended family Marilyn Britt, Bucky Merritt and Alicia Yielding; in-laws who considered him one of their own, Audrey and Ray McManus of Gilbert; sister-in-law Sandra Parker of Winnsboro and other family members.

Pallbearers will be Arte Goode, Lee Ezell, John Moroni, Tom Saddler, Ryan Holcomb, Glenn Carroll, Joel Ezell and Tommy Dale Barton.

Honorary pallbearers are law enforcement officials with the Gilbert Police Department and Franklin Parish Sheriff’s Office and cousins Jeffery, Eric, Jason, Chris, Marshall, Hugh, Ricky, Bubba and Sydney and Gary Knox, Jessie Armstrong Brian Goodman and Dave Blackman.

Donations may be made to South Central Cemetery at P.O. Box 339, Wisner, La., 71378.

Online condolences may be sent to gillfirstnational.com.