Frank Ludlow James Jr.

SHREVEPORT LA- Frank James Jr., 87, passed away peacefully on January 27, 2013 with his family by his side. Services will be held on Wednesday, January 30, 2013 at 1:30 p.m. at Hill Crest Memorial Chapel with the Rev. Diane Brown officiating. The family will receive visitors from 11:00 a.m. until 1:00 p.m. on Wednesday, January 30, 2013 at Hill Crest Funeral Home.

Frank is preceded in death by his wife, Monique Berthet James and parents Frank James Sr. and Joy Guedon James. He is survived by brother, John Earl James and wife Betty, as well as four daughters: Dixie Ishler and husband Jerry, Barbara James and husband Rick, Patty Slaughter and husband Jimmy and Monique Beckius. Frank leaves seven grandchildren, Melissa Johnson, Mark Ishler, Erin Echterhoff, Nathan Slaughter, Jeremy Slaughter, Amy Gauthier, and Megan Crews. He was also blessed with 12 great grandchildren and 1 great-great grandchild.

Frank was born in Alexandria, Louisiana on February 23, 1925. A product of the Great Depression, he never shied away from a hard day’s work and earned spending money with a paper route and in a lumber mill. Frank was an avid outdoorsman and greatly enjoyed hunting, camping and searching for Indian artifacts on the banks of the Mississippi River. Shortly after Pearl Harbor, he answered the call to service and entered the Navy at the age of 17 with his parents’ consent.

After a distinguished military career, Frank joined the Merchant Marines. It was there that his path intersected with Monique “Monica” Berthet, whose family was traveling to South America following the tumultuous Chinese Revolution of 1949. The two soon parted but became faithful “pen pals” and eventually married in Santiago Chile. There, Frank worked for a Chilean copper mine and spent his downtime trout fishing in the alpine lakes of the Andes Mountains.

Frank eventually became a senior lubrication engineer for Mobil Oil and relocated his family to Shreveport, Louisiana. By some accounts, he could be short-fused at times (and intimidating to any boyfriends dating his teenage daughters). But underneath the gruff exterior was a loving father with a heart of gold. In his later life, Frank became a pillar of the Presbyterian Church and worshipped at the First Presbyterian Church in Shreveport and Broadmoor Presbyterian in Shreveport.

Frank stayed busy in retirement. He had a great love for the sea, and his travels included sailing excursions with Monica and friends through the exotic islands of the West Indies. At home, “Pawpaw” took the time to enjoy leisurely pursuits such as gardening, woodworking and taking the grandkids on four- wheeler rides.

Frank leaves behind a lasting legacy of love, family and friendship. The family would like to extend their thanks to Grace Home for their care and comfort during his final days.

You may share words of comfort with the family by visiting www.hillcrestmemorialfh.com