Deaths Elsewhere

Attorney-banker
MONROE – Services for attorney and banker L. Michael Ashbrook will be Feb. 7. He died Jan. 30 at age 72.
He was a founding partner in Shafto & Ashbrook in 1985. He had many business interests in health care, opening the Guest House and The Oaks nursing facilities, multiple real estate interests, and banking. In 1998, he was instrumental in the development of the community banking era in Monroe by starting Horizons Bank where he served as Chairman of the Board of Directors. He also served on the Boards of American Horizons Bank and Louisiana Bank in Monroe and Fidelity Bank in Baton Rouge. He served on The Assemblies of God Financial Services Group Board, General Council of the Assemblies of God Foundation Board and the Assemblies of God - Past Layman’s Advisory Council to Foreign Missions Board of Directors. He was Chairman of the Board for WorldServ International which develops and builds water wells and churches in impoverished regions throughout Africa.
Survivors include his wife Loretta and two sons.
Arrangements are by Kilpatrick.

Coach, School Board member
BREAUX BRIDGE – Services are Feb. 7 for long-time coach and school board member Rodney Ledoux. He died Jan. 31 at age 84.
He taught and coached basketball at Port Barre High, Melville High and Thibodeaux High before joining Breaux Bridge High, where he worked for 24 years before retiring and becoming a counselor at Teurlings Catholic High in Lafayette. He was a St. Martin Parish School Board member for 23 years.
Survivors include his wife Connie and three children.
Arrangements are by Pellerin.

Jesuit educator
NEW ORLEANS – Services for Catholic educator Rev. Francis Ferrier, S.J. will be Feb. 5. He died Jan. 31 at age 84.
He taught at Jesuit high schools in New Orleans, Tampa, Fla., Houston, Texas and at Spring Hill College. He was chaplain at hospitals in Galveston, Houston and Lafayette.
Survivors include a five siblings.

Property manager
FAIRBANKS – Services for property manager Benjamin Ham will be Feb. 5. He died Feb. 2 at age 82.
He managed 30,000-plus acres of timber, 450 acres of pecan trees, 250 acres of crawfish ponds, and Black Bayou Lake for Cities Service and Occidental Petroleum Companies. He was past president of Ouachita River Valley Association, past president of Monroe Chapter Ducks Unlimited and President of Aqua Water Company.
Survivors include his wife Patricia and two daughters.
Arrangements are by Mulhearn.

Navy dental commander
NEW ORLEANS – Services for retired U.S. Navy Dental Corps Capt. Dr. Richard Esposito will be Feb. 6. He died Feb. 1 at age 79.
He had 31 years active duty service, including Executive Officer in Great Lakes, Ill. and Commanding Officer in Orlando, Fla. and Naples, Italy.
Survivors include his wife Mary and a son.
Arrangements are by Jacob Schoen & Son.