Lonnie J. Emanus

Lonnie Jerome Emanus , long-time resident of the Oakland Community in Fayette County, U.S. Veteran and retired tile and marble contractor departed this life Thursday morning, March 8, 2012 at his residence. He was 87 years of age and died following an extended illness.

A Funeral Mass honoring the life of Mr. Emanus will be conducted at 11 AM Saturday, March 10 ^th at St. Philip the Apostle Catholic Church in Somerville. The officiating priest will be Father Stephen K. Kenny, pastor of the church. Interment will follow in the Fayette County Memorial Park Cemetery on Highway 64. Arrangements will be provided by Peebles Fayette County Funeral Homes & Cremation Center — West Chapel of Oakland.

A native of Zwolle, Louisiana, Mr. Emanus was born November 23, 1924. He was preceded in death by his parents Peter Raymond Emanus and Jettie Ann Price Emanus. He received his education in the Louisiana Public School System and was a Veteran of the United States Navy, serving during the Korean War period.

Mr. Emanus was married February 3, 1949 to the former Katherine “Kathy” Knighton who preceded him in death August 5, 2009. Mr. Emanus was a devoted member of St. Philip the Apostle Catholic Church where he participated in numerous church activities. He had been a resident of Fayette County for the past 39 years and operated the Emanus Tile & Marble Contractors in Fayette County and surrounding areas before his retirement 22 years ago. He had been associated with the tile and marble industry for over 60 years.

Mr. Emanus will be remembered as an avid golfer and in earlier years fishing and hunting were favorite past times. He enjoyed horses and participated in area horse shows as long as health permitted. Mr. Emanus was a former member of the Fayette County Chapter of the Veterans of Foreign Wars.

Mr. Emanus leaves his daughter, Debra Sims of Bartlett and his son, Mike Emanus and wife Donna of the Hickory Withe Community, two sisters, Joanne Ebarb of Zwolle, Louisiana, Faye Emanus of New York, New York, two brothers, Eddie Emanus of Hot Springs, Arkansas, Harold Emanus of Houston, Texas, seven grandchildren and 10 great-grandchildren.

Those honored to serve as casketbearers were his grandchildren, Bobby Holland, Andy Holland, Timmy Holland, Lonnie M. Emanus, Matt Emanus and Preston Holland.

The family requests that memorials be sent to St. Jude Children’s Research Hospital, 501 St. Jude Place, Memphis, TN 38105.