Extracted from The Shreveport Times (Shreveport, LA)
Wednesday, February 5, 1997

Deputy Chief James Ray Fouts, Sr. (Ret.)

SHREVEPORT, LA - Mr. Fouts, 78, died on February 4, 1997 after a brief illness. Visitation will be held at Osborn Funeral Home on Wednesday, February 5, from 5 until 9 p.m. Funeral services will begin at 2 p.m. Thursday in the Chapel of Osborn Funeral Home. Officiating will be Rev. Rhonda Feurtado of Morningside United Methodist assisted by Chaplain Durrell Tuberville of the Shreveport Fire Department. Interment will follow at Forest Park Cemetery.

Mr. Fouts was a long time resident of Shreveport and retired Deputy Chief of the Shreveport Fire Department, where he served for 38 years. He was a member of the American Legion, 40 & 8 Club, Retired Fire Fighters Association, and of the Morningside United Methodist Church. Mr. Fouts also was a veteran of the U.S. Navy serving in World War II.

J. R. Fouts had many friends and was called by many different names. Chief Dallas Greene called him “Father”, many fire fighters called him “Pappy” because of all his children, his childhood friends called him “Tiger”, the customers he laid carpet for called him “Ray”, but his children, grandchildren, and great-grandchildren called him “Honey.”

Mr. Fouts was preceded in death by his son, Eddie Fouts; mother, L. M. O'Quinn; three sisters, Thelma Jean, Irene Bourgeois, and Eula Mae Fouts. He is survived by his wife, Sarah Stovall Fouts; two daughters, Evelyn Davis and husband, Joe of Sugar Land, Texas, Sally Cox and husband, James; two sons, James Ray Fouts, Jr., and wife, Pat of New Orleans, La., Lonnie Fouts and wife, Jean; daughter-in-law, Ruth Fouts; grandchildren, Kristy Crenshaw, Dennis Fouts, Eddie Fouts, Joe Davis, David Fouts, Jim Cox, Jon Davis, Roseanne Gillespie, Jaime Hickman, Jeff Davis, Kelly Hidalgo, Tracy Cox, Lance Fouts, Lane Fouts, Lacye Fouts; great-grandchildren, Hannah Hickman, Rae Hickman, John David Gillespie, Jacob Allen Gillespie, Kyle Fouts, Kaz Kean; step-grandchildren, David O'Flynn, Duane O'Flynn, Debbie Richard, and Donna Williams.

Pallbearers will be Mr. Fouts' grandchildren.

Honorary pallbearers will be members of the Shreveport Fire Department and Retired Fire Fighters.

The family requests that memorials be made to Morningside United Methodist Church, The American Cancer Society; or the charity of donor's choice.

Osborn Funeral Home
865-8426