Obituary of Louise Warner

Funeral services for Louise S. Warner, age 97, of McKinney, Texas and formerly of Columbia; will be held 1pm Wednesday, December 15, 2010 from the sanctuary of the historic First United Methodist Church in Columbia. Rev. Stuart Sherman will officiate. Services will conclude in the Warner Family Plot at the Welcome Home Cemetery at Grayson. Services are under direction of Riser Funeral Home of Columbia. The family will receive guests at visitation on Tuesday from 4:00 to 7:00 pm at the Riser Funeral Home located at 7131 U S Highway 165, Columbia. Louise died peacefully on December 12, 2010 in McKinney, Texas after suffering a devastating fall several days previously. She was born on April 19, 1913 in Gaars Mill, Louisiana to Leona (Dark) and Horace Sowers. She grew up in Winnfield, Louisiana in a neighborhood filled with her aunts, uncles, and cousins, and near a large extended family who lived in Gaars Mill, LA. Her younger siblings, Jack and Dorothy, were very dear to her and they remained close until their passing. All three of them lived into their 90's, and were an inspiration to all who knew them for their gracious spirit, their independence, and their zest for life. Louise went to school in Winnfield, LA. She was involved in many school activities at Winnfield High School and, while a student there, she was in a class beauty contest which she won. She was Winnfield High School's first Homecoming Queen. She loved music and played both the piano and the organ for her own enjoyment. Her aunt owned a dress shop in Winnfield, and Louise worked in this shop during high school and throughout college. She developed a love for fashion, and a sense of style that was evident throughout her life. After high school she attended Louisiana Tech and was a member of the social club that later became Kappa Delta sorority on that campus. She earned a teaching certificate and taught third grade in Winnfield, however her real love was retail and she went back to it after one semester in the classroom. She was working at the shop when she met the love of her life, Bo Warner, from Colfax. They married in 1935, and moved to Columbia in 1939 where they lived for many years. They owned and operated Warner's Shoppe for 47 years, and along with Louise's mother bought Cora Sowers Shoppe in Winnfield when her aunt retired. Her mother ran that business. Bo died in 1988 and Louise lived in Columbia for 12 years before she and her sister-in-law, Corrine, moved to Plano, Texas to be near her daughter. Louise was active in the Columbia Garden Club, the Women's Service Guild of the First United Methodist Church in Columbia, and enjoyed many dear friends in the North Louisiana area. After moving to Plano, she lived at several independent living facilities, also assisted living, and most recently at Stonefield in McKinney. She endeared herself to the kind and loving caregivers who appreciated her love of style and her sweet and generous spirit. We offer a special thank you to those who cared for her at Dayspring and Stonefield, and to her favorite nurse Joanie Smith and her therapists at Senior Select. Preceding her in death were her husband Alan B.(Bo) Warner; her parents, Leona and Horace Sowers; her brother, Jack; her sister, Dorothy and her husband, Hoot Gibson; her sister-in-law, Corrine Mc Hardy, who was also her very dear friend; and many aunts, uncles, cousins as well as her sisters- and brothers-in-law, Kirk and Amanda Warner, George and Boots Warner, and Norman Mc Hardy. Louise is survived by one daughter, Betty Hopper and husband, Ray of Plano, Texas; two grandchildren, Alan Hopper of Leander, Texas and Allyson Hopper Record and husband, Jay of Katy, Texas; and three great grandchildren, Meghan Hopper, Lauran Record, and Austin Record. She has many nieces and nephews including Jane Brown of Shreveport, Mary Vizzier and husband, Dorwan of Alexandria, Kay Foshee and husband, Tom of Natchitoches, Johnny Wardlow and wife, Celeste of Aloha, Jack Sowers, Jr. and wife, Jerri of Arlington, Texas, Kerry Morgan and husband, Raymond of Little Elm, Texas, Sarah Warner and Susan Lyssy of Houston, and Kirk Warner of New Iberia, LA. She is also survived by 30 cousins including those living in the immediate area; Lanny Dark and wife, Irma of Columbia, Roger Dark and wife, Debbie of Jonesville, Will Ed Dark and his wife of West Monroe, and Shirley Copeland and husband, Buddy of Rayville,LA , and special family friend, Aimee Ratliff of Plano, Texas; and the members of the Wednesday Lunch Bunch whom she dearly loved. Those serving as pallbearers include: Johnny Wardlow , Tom Foshee, Jack Sowers, Ken Warner, Kirk Warner, and Lanny Dark. Honorary pallbearers include: Johnny James, James Hopper, Ed Rowan, and Dr. E. D. Coates. Those choosing to make a memorial gift may select from First United Methodist Church, Columbia or Welcome Home Cemetery Association, P.O. Box 735, Grayson, LA 71435 or the charity of their choice.