George Francis Gamble

George was born May 24, 1924 in Cedar Glades, Arkansas. He was a loving husband, father, and grandfather. He was a devout Christian man.

George was very active through the years at Houston River Baptist Church. At various times, he faithfully served as a deacon, Sunday School teacher, greeter, usher, and participant in the senior choir.

He retired from Cit-Con Oil Refinery after 26 years of service. Prior to, and during his career at Cit-Con, George was well-known in Southwest Louisiana for his master craftsmanship in the carpentry trade. He built many fine homes and additions in the Lake Charles-Sulphur area.

George was probably best known for his intense love of draft horses, built-to-scale stagecoaches, and other horse drawn wagons. He was known for bringing the first Belgian draft horses to Southwest Louisiana. He founded and served as an officer in the Louisiana Draft Horse and Mule Association. He was highly respected in the Lake Charles-Sulphur area for his draft horse activities- hay rides, parades, stagecoach rides, and pulling contests.

George is survived by the love of his life of 71 years, Lyla Maxine (Summers) Gamble of Sulphur; sons, Phillip Gamble and wife, Diane of Littleton, Colorado, Stephen Gamble of Sulphur, Timothy "Tim" Gamble and fiance', Karen of DeQuincy, and Darrell Gamble and wife, Connie of LeBleu Settlement; daughters, Linda Foster of Sulphur, Cindy Carr and husband, Rusty of Sulphur, Connie Herrick and husband, David of Lake Charles, and Virginia "Ginger" Johnson and husband, Randy of Sulphur.

He is also survived by two sisters, Rozella "Skipper" Atenhan and husband, Dennis of Loveland, Colorado, and Norma Sue Montgomery and husband, Clark of Bemidji, Minnesota; nine beloved grandchildren, Kevin Lee Herrick (Sarah), Kimberly Carr Gross (Michael), Russell Shane Carr (Kristi), Marie Yvette Johnson (Gary), Lisa Renee Smith (Dustin), Scott Phillip Gamble, Sr. (Ada), Nancy Nelson Young (Rob), Kelli Gibbons Broussard (Jaques) and Randall Gibbons; and twenty-five beloved great-grandchildren.

He is preceded in death by his son, Ronald Dwayne Gamble in 1947; his parents; a brother; and two sisters.

His funeral will be at 2 p.m. Wednesday, April 29, in Houston River Baptist Church. The Rev. Lonnie Gothrup will officiate. Burial will be in Mimosa Pines Cemetery South in Carlyss under the direction of Hixson-Sulphur Memorial Funeral Home. Visitation is from 5-8 p.m. Tuesday and from 1 p.m. until the time of service Wednesday, all in the church. In lieu of flowers, the family asks that memorial donations be made to Houston River Baptist Church, 110 W. Houston River Rd, Sulphur, LA 70663. Words of comfort may be shared with the family at www.hixsonfuneralhomes.com.