Lonnie Ralph Stearns

Published 12:01 am Wednesday, April 25, 2018

June 11, 1933 – April 21, 2018

NATCHEZ —  Services for Lonnie Ralph Stearns, 84, who died Saturday, April 21, 2018, at his residence, will be noon Thursday at Laird Funeral Home Chapel with the Rev. Chuck Stearns officiating.

Burial will follow at Greenlawn Memorial Park Cemetery under the direction of Laird Funeral Home.

Visitation will be from 10 a.m. until service time Thursday at the funeral home.

Mr. Stearns was born June 11, 1933, in Carbondale, Ill., the son of Daniel Ralph Stearns and Gracie Braswell Stearns.

He attended Morgantown Baptist Church. He retired from the Illinois Central Railroad and Amtrak. He loved fishing and the outdoors and cherished his family.

He was preceded in death by his parents; his wife, Jo Ann Shelton Stearns; one sister, Dorothy Meisenheimer; and one brother, Lester Wayne Stearns.

Survivors include four children, Cathie Sullivan of Wisner, La., Janice Holk of St. Francisville, La., Chuck Stearns and wife, Rosie, of Brusly, La., and Crystal Stearns of Washington; four grandsons, Lonnie Roberts, Wesley Stearns and wife, Emily, Dallas Holk and Daniel Sullivan; three granddaughters, Mandy Whittington and husband, Trey, Joanne Stearns and Olivia Stearns; and two great-granddaughters, Jessi Whittington and Zoe Davis.

Pallbearers will be Lonnie Roberts, Wesley Stearns, Dallas Holk, Chuck Stearns, Herman Eldridge and Jack Cupit.

Online condolences may be sent to the family at lairdfh.com.