Amon Gentry

“Jesus saith unto him, ‘I am the way, the truth, and the life: no man cometh unto the Father, but by me’” John 14:6 KJV. Amon Elden Gentry, 90, was called to the Father on April 23, 2018, while in his home surrounded by his family.

Mr. Gentry was born in Covington, Oklahoma, to Herschel Harley and Nancy Jane Morris Gentry. He was raised in Enid and Pawnee, Oklahoma, and graduated from Pawnee High School in 1945. At the age of 18, he served his country in the United States Army, stationed in Okinawa, Japan.   Following WWII, he returned to Pawnee and owned and operated a gas station. In 1951 he began work at Continental Oil Company in Ponca City, Oklahoma. He was transferred in January 1953 to their Westlake, Louisiana refinery, retiring after 33 years of service in 1984 as Division Operations Supervisor. Amon was a faithful member of Sale Street Baptist Church and a former member of First Baptist Church of Westlake.

While living in Maplewood in 1953-1955, he and his wife Betty June built their home in Westlake. In 1997 they moved to Lake Charles. Amon and Betty enjoyed participating in ministries at both FBC Westlake and Sale Street Baptist Church. They traveled and camped throughout the United States with friends and square danced with the Swinging Rebels. They also traveled to events and sports activities to support their children and the grands. Mr. Gentry was a master of many trades: carpenter, electrician, plumber, auto mechanic. He enjoyed hunting, fishing, and gardening, as well as NHRA drag racing and working on and racing VW Bugs with his sons. He was also a long-standing member of the NRA.

Those left to cherish his memory are his beloved wife of 69 years, Betty June Gentry; one daughter, Kay Ketchum of Lake Charles; two sons, Dale Gentry and wife Mary Anne of Lake Charles, and Gary Gentry and wife Sarah of Hudson, Illinois. He has seven grandchildren, Kristen (Brandon) Stanislaus, Troy (Kellye) Ketchum, Emily Spears, Kari (Shamus) Barras, Jenny (David) Soileau, Luke Gentry, and Madeline Gentry; ten great grandchildren, Drew, Kyle, and Max Stanislaus; Everly Spears; Kellen, Jack, and Hank Ketchum; Gray and Ruby Soileau, and Sara Barras; one sister, Betty (Bobby) Griesel of Pawnee, Oklahoma, and nieces and nephews. Also treasuring Amon’s memory are friends, neighbors, and the many individuals whose paths he crossed.

Visitation will be held at Johnson Funeral Home from 11 a.m. until 1 p.m. on Friday, April 27, 2018. Graveside services will follow at 2 p.m. at Westlake Memorial Cemetery. Reverend Randy Edwards will officiate.

Memorial donations in memory of Mr. Amon Gentry may be made to Louisiana Baptist Children’s Home, P.O. Box 4196, Monroe, LA 71211.