FERRIDAY — A memorial service for Jaroan Ellis “Sonny” Fowler, 84, who died Friday, Nov. 17, 2017, at Merit Health Natchez, will be 10 a.m. Tuesday, at Young’s Funeral Home in Ferriday with the Rev. Richard Cullum officiating.

Visitation will be from 8 a.m. until service time at the funeral home.

Sonny was born on Feb. 10, 1933, in Wyatt, La., the son of Marvin Fowler and Ollie Netherland Fowler Stroud.

He worked at International Paper Company in Natchez for 39 years before retiring in April 1995. He proudly served  four years in the U.S. Navy and is a veteran of the Korean War.

He was an active member of Sycamore Baptist Church in Vidalia.

Sonny loved spending time with family and friends, but his pride and joy were his grandchildren and great-grandchildren.

He was preceded in death by his parents; step-father, L.L. Stroud; three infant children, Jaroan, Janice, and Kenneth; two brothers, Gene and Calvin; and one sister, Louise Barlow.

Sonny is survived by his wife of 64 years, Janie Fowler of Ferriday; one daughter, Renee Carlton of Jonesville; one son, Kevin Fowler of West Monroe; one sister, Judy Bryant of Church Hill; eight grandchildren, Rachel Smith of West Monroe, Wesley Smith of Carencro, La., Daniel Carlton of Youngsville, La., Sarah Cosper of Vidalia, Christopher and Steven Fowler of Shreveport, Jonathon and Zoe Fowler of West Monroe; and eight great grandchildren, Candie, Aiden, and Kian Smith, Hayden, Caleb, and Henry Cosper, and Avery and Brantley Carlton.

In lieu of flowers memorial donations may be made to St. Jude Children’s Hospital, 262 Danny Thomas Pl, Memphis, TN, 38105.

To leave an online condolence for the family, please visit www.youngsfh.com