Mr. James Benjamin Avant, age 96, died on April 25th, 2018.

James was a life-long resident of the Eureka Community north of Calhoun in Ouachita Parish. He attended grammar school at Eureka which no longer exists, and high school at Calhoun which also no longer exists. He graduated with honors in 1939, and was president of his senior class. Later he attended Louisiana State Normal College in Natchitoches, while working part time in school.

Soon after the December 7, 1941 attack on Pearl Harbor, James volunteered for military duty in World War II. After basic training in Horse Calvary at Fort Riley, Kansas, he was selected to attend Officer Candidate School, and he became a Second Lieutenant of Anti- Aircraft Artillery at age 20, in November of 1942. Much later, James was re-trained, with many others, to become an Infantry Officer at the Infantry School in Fort Benning, Georgia. Soon thereafter he was sent to the Pacific Theatre of Operations and was assigned to the 43rd Infantry Division in the Philippine Islands until the war ended, and was then immediately sent to Japan for the occupation for about 6 months. About two years later he returned to Japan to serve in Tokyo for 2 ½ years in the occupation. His final tour of military duty was served in Korea for about six months, completing nine years of active duty.

He then returned to Northwestern State University and received his BS Degree in Agriculture in 1956. While he was in school, James met Julia and they were married shortly before she graduated in 1957. Their marriage was a most joyful adventure through life together for more than 38 years until it sadly ended at her death in 1995.

James was a seedsman by trade and for many years worked in the wholesale and distributor seed business, covering most of the deep south, retiring in 1986 at age 64.

After retirement ,James and Julia enjoyed living in their new retirement home on the old Avant estate in Eureka, enjoying gardening and the country life. James was a member of the American Rose Society, and he maintained a large rose garden from 1957 until his death. In 1975 he added blueberries to his gardening list and both his roses and blueberries were know and enjoyed by many. He was also a life-time member of the Louisiana Ornithological Society, the American Gemological Society and the National Audubon Society.

James always loved hunting and fishing, and never gave up fishing, even when his nephew Ben had to help him into and out of the boat. He also loved traveling, especially cruising, and Alaska was one of his favorite destinations. He continued to travel even later in life, and he always enjoyed new places, fine foods, and dining out.

James and Julia were faithful members of the Forsythe Avenue Church of Christ in Monroe since 1977.

He is survived by his brother A. Gerald Avant and wife Gloria of Houston; his brother Roy D. Avant and wife Johnette of Calhoun; by nephews Robert Avant and wife Bethany and their children of Houston; by Richard Avant and wife Heather and their children of Houston; by Michael Avant and wife Virignia and their children of Houston; also by nephew Benjamin K. "Ben" Avant and wife Mirian of Calhoun, by nephew David A. Avant of Minden, LA, by nephew Craig P. Avant and family of Fort Worth; by nephew Benjamin O. "Benjy" Avant of Dallas; by niece Crystal Avant and family of Calhoun and by niece Jan Pierce and husband Jay, of Calhoun.

He was preceded in death by his parents, Benjamin Osa Avant and Eva Aulds Avant of Calhoun, by his first wife, Eunice Tanner Malone Avant; by his second wife, Dr. Julia King Avant; by a brother Osa J. "Jack" Avant of Calhoun and his wife Virginia Anne; and by Betty Jo Avant, his sister-in-law, of Calhoun. 

Pallbearers will be his nephews: Ben Avant, Craig Avant, Benjy Avant, Robert Avant, Richard Avant, Michael Avant and David Avant.

Honorary pallbearers will be John Kilpatrick, Mac Kilpatrick, Don Glover and David Tidwell.