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Iris Marie Kirt Butler, 85, a native and resident of Verdunville, died Friday, April 26, 2019, at Franklin Healthcare Center.
Visitation will be from 9 a.m. until services at 11 a.m. at Jones Funeral Home Chapel in Franklin. Burial will follow in Little Zion Cemetery in Verdunville.
She is survived by a son, Brett Butler of Lafayette; a brother, Rudy Kirt of Franklin; seven sisters, Hilda Gunner, Patricia Foster, Elaine Lewis, Jane Owens and Eliza Fonent, all of Verdunville, Clair Coleman of Sioux City, Iowa and Lois Pellerin of Morgan City; three grandchildren; step-children, Leroy Butler Jr., Fred Butler, Johnny Butler and Barbara Butler; and a host of other relatives.
She was preceded in death by her husband, parents, brothers and two stepchildren.
Jones Funeral Home is in charge of arrangements.

A 42-year-old woman was arrested Wednesday for possession of a Schedule II drug (methamphetamine) with intent to distribute following information received by St. Mary Parish Sheriff’s narcotics detectives, according to St. Mary Parish Sheriff Blaise Smith.
—Stella D. Behre, 42, of Brashear Avenue in Morgan City, was arrested at 7:08 p.m. Wednesday for possession of schedule II drugs (methamphetamine) with the intent to distribute, possession of schedule III drugs (Subutex), and possession of drug paraphernalia.
Narcotics detectives received information of a female, identified as Behre, being in possession of methamphetamine at a motel in the Morgan City area. When detectives make contact with Behre, she admitted to possessing methamphetamine, Subutex pills and drug paraphernalia to detectives. Behre was transported to the St. Mary Parish Law Enforcement Center for booking. Bail was set at $1,500.
Smith advises that the Sheriff’s Office responded to 38 complaints and reports the following arrests:
—Rene Pratcher Jr., 55, of Painters Street in New Orleans, was arrested at 12:18 a.m. Thursday for no license plate light, no headlights and driving under suspension.
A deputy was stationary in the area of Barrow Street in Amelia near Cashier Street when he observed a vehicle traveling westbound with an inoperable left headlamp. A traffic stop was conducted and contact was made with the driver, identified as Pratcher. A background check on Pratcher revealed he was driving under suspension. He was issued a summons to appear in court Aug. 28.
—At 2:12 a.m. Thursday, a female juvenile, 16, was arrested as an ungovernable juvenile.
A deputy was dispatched to a call in reference to an ungovernable juvenile. The complainant reported that the juvenile left the residence. Upon arrival, the deputy was able to locate the female juvenile. She was released to a guardian pending juvenile court action.
Morgan City Police Chief James F. Blair reports that Morgan City Police Department responded to 33 calls. The following persons were arrested:
—Jason James Ashley, 31, of Campo Lane in Amite, was arrested at 1:20 p.m. Wednesday on warrants from the City Court of Morgan City for failure to appear and contempt of court.
Ashley was located at St. Mary Parish Law Enforcement Center and placed under arrest on the active warrants. He was transported to Morgan City Police Department for booking and incarceration.
—Randy M. Pinkerton, 22, of Filmore Street in Morgan City, was arrested at 4:25 p.m. Wednesday and charged with domestic abuse battery and criminal damage to property.
Officers were dispatched to a Filmore Street residence in reference to a disturbance. Upon arriving, officers learned Pinkerton had committed a battery on a female and damaged a cell phone while at the residence. Pinkerton was located a short distance from the residence and placed under arrest. He was transported to the police department for booking and incarceration.
—Keddrick D. Jones, 32, of Belanger Street in Morgan City, was arrested at 6:20 p.m. Wednesday on active warrants held by the Morgan City Police Department on charges of possession of marijuana and disturbing the peace fighting.
Jones turned himself in to the Morgan City Police Department on the warrants. He was booked and incarcerated.
—Lacey Lynn Scully, 25, of Grandwood Drive in Patterson, was arrested at 11:28 p.m. Wednesday on a charge of fugitive from justice.
Officers came into contact with Scully on La. 182. A warrant check revealed Assumption Parish Sheriff’s Office held an active warrant for her arrest for unauthorized use of a motor vehicle. She was placed under arrest and transported to Morgan City Police Department for booking and incarceration.
Berwick Police Chief David Leonard Sr. reported no arrests.
Patterson Police Chief Garrett Grogan reported no arrests.

Nothing describes the iconic Southern magnolia better than its given scientific name Magnolia grandiflora. Its flowers truly are grand, and most trees are now fully set with blooms filling the air with a wonderful fragrance and revealing large, white, showy flowers.
Because of its beauty, the magnolia blossom was designated the state flower of Louisiana in 1900 and was also one of 21 national tree candidates for the Arbor Day Foundation’s America’s National Tree contest. One fun fact about magnolias: The two oldest trees found on the grounds of the White House are two Southern magnolias that were planted by Andrew Jackson in the 1830s in memory of his wife, Rachel, who died two weeks after he won the election.
Magnolias are one of the most ancient and primitive of the flowering plant families with fossil records dating back 60 million years. Thought to predate the bee, these flowers were originally pollinated by beetles. Instead of nectar, the flowers produce large quantities of pollen that the beetles use for food. The flower bud is enclosed by a bract rather than sepals and has what are called “tepals,” a combination of sepals and petals similar in size and shape to water lilies.
According to the Magnolia Society International, there are more than 240 species of magnolias and thousands of cultivated varieties. Eight of the species are native to the United States. Two are evergreen, and six are deciduous. One of the most beautiful native evergreens is the Southern magnolia, growing throughout the South in lowland and coastal woods from Maryland and Virginia and sweeping all way to Texas in USDA hardiness zones 4 to 9. It grows best and is found naturally growing as an understory tree to pines in lowland areas, so it prefers part shade and requires a great deal of water in a rich soil that is porous and acidic. It can be found in sandy soils and sandy loams to clay loams.
The Southern magnolia is a relatively fast-growing tree that has a pyramidal, conical shape with a relatively straight trunk. It has been used extensively in landscapes in Louisiana, and some of the most common cultivars currently available include D.D. Blanchard, Bracken’s Brown Beauty and Alta. These trees can grow anywhere in height from 50 to 75 feet and 20 to 30 feet in width.
Dwarf cultivars can be used in smaller landscapes. The LSU AgCenter selected the dwarf cultivar Little Gem as a Louisiana Super Plant. It is also a Certified Louisiana Product. This cultivar is an excellent selection, growing half the size of the natives at 20- to 40-feet tall with a spread of about 8 to 16 feet. The foliage is an especially nice — glossy deep green leaves with brown undersides. The flowers are produced over an unusually long period, often appearing as late as October.
Teddy Bear is another compact-growing cultivar you will find in nurseries. It grows to be about 20-feet tall and 10-feet wide. Having a selection of cultivars allows you to pick one that has the characteristics you prefer, including size, shape, foliage characteristics and bloom season.
Sweet bay magnolia, also known as swamp or laurel magnolia, is also a native evergreen magnolia found abundantly in the coastal region of Louisiana, Mississippi and Alabama. It does well in a wide array of soils. It’s a smaller specimen tree and has dark blue-green leaves on top with a silvery-white underside. Flowers are small, creamy-white and bloom in late winter to early spring.
Some other great deciduous magnolias include saucer or oriental magnolia, yulan magnolia, star magnolia, loebner magnolia, umbrella magnolia, lily or tulip magnolia, cucumber tree or mountain magnolia, bigleaf magnolia, Ashe magnolia, Fraser magnolia and anise magnolia.
Some things to consider when planting: Magnolia trees make excellent shade trees; however, this can make growing grass and other under-plantings difficult. And although Southern magnolias are considered evergreen, the trees do drop leaves in late spring and early summer, much like the “evergreen” live oaks. The large, waxy and rather tough leaves decompose very slowly, but they can be chopped up with the mower and bagged and put back in the landscape to recycle nutrients. As flowers complete their bloom and die, they also drop old petals and rather large seed cones, so be aware of this when planting. In addition, magnolia trees produce large surface roots, so be sure to plant them away from sidewalks, driveways and slabs of home. Remember, magnolias use a great deal of water, especially as new plantings, and they do not do well if planted too deeply. Apply 2 to 4 inches of mulch in a “pitcher’s mound.”

Mr. Warren Joseph “Bear” Span, a native and resident of Patterson, La., passed away on Thursday, April 18, 2019, at Teche Regional Medical Center in Morgan City, La.
Visitation will be observed on Saturday, May 4, 2019, at Church of God of Prophecy (1211 Third Street- Patterson, La. ) from 9 a.m. to 11 a.m. and funeral service also Saturday at Church of God of Prophecy at 11 a.m. The interment will take place in Shields Cemetery, Patterson, La.
Mr. Span, is survived by his loving wife, Linda McGuire Span of Patterson, La.; (3) sons, Warren J. Jennings, Carleton McGuire, and Warrell Span, all of Patterson, Louisiana; (2) daughters, Devona McGuire of Patterson, La. and Tameka (Bobby) Birdlow, of Locust Grove, Virginia; (5) brothers, Peter Lewis, Jr. of Verdunville, La., Jerry Lewis of Centerville, La., Johnny Lewis of Jeanerette, La., Tony (Monica) Gibson, and Jimmy (Ruth) Gibson, both of Baldwin, La.; (2) sisters, Elaine (Joseph) Garrison of Franklin, La. and Diane Spain of Centerville, La.
He was preceded in death by his parents, his sister, Wanda Grogan; father-in-law, mother-in-law and uncle Larry Lee Pitre.
Officiating Minister Bishop James T. Whitney.
The Otis Mortuary, Inc. of Franklin, La. is in charge of arrangements.