William Odell Behan Jr., or “JUNIOR” as we all called him, passed away May 24, 2024, around 9:00 p.m., following a devastating 4-month battle with cancer.
Funeral services honoring the life of William Odell Behan, Jr., were held Monday, May 27, 2024, at Oak Grove Baptist Church, at 2:00 p.m. with Bro. Wayne Chance and Bro. John Lewing officiating. Burial followed in Oak Grove Cemetery under the direction of Jeane’s Funeral Service.
Junior was born October 25, 1952, at Frazier Hospital in Many, Louisiana, to Odell and Betty Behan, who resided in Hornbeck Louisiana. He attended Hornbeck Elementary and High School, graduating May 17, 1970. With the advice and counsel of his old Vocational Agriculture teacher, Mr. J.H. Self, he attended and graduated from McNeese State University with a degree in Forestry & Forestry Management. Following graduation, Junior was employed by Vancouver Plywood in Florien in their tree procurement division. Over the years he became an awesome timber cruiser and estimator in negotiating and buying both large and small tracts of timber. Later he worked for Wesley Harrelson Sawmill, before forming his own company, B&B Woods, operating in the central Louisiana area as well as Arkansas and Mississippi. He ended his working adventure as manager of the Mansfield yard for Western Company of Texas engaged in procuring, furnishing, and pumping fresh water for fracking operations in the Haynesville Shale Play in North Louisiana and East Texas.
Over and above all that, Junior was a great husband and daddy. He and Velva were foster parents for all of their 41 years of marriage. He had a big heart and was always willing and able to help friends, family and even strangers with any and everything that he could to make his and others’ lives better!
We would be negligent here to omit his love of the outdoors– fishing and hunting. This love started early in his life, fostered by his grandpa, Aulcia, who would take Jr. and Dale and his old hunting buddy, Bill Ford, hunting for squirrel, quail, or deer EVERY Saturday morning during season- EVERY SATURDAY- rain or shine- EVERY SATURDAY!! Jr. absolutely became a fan of the outdoors and truly became an avid outdoor enthusiast!
His enthusiasm was most pronounced in his EXPERT proficiency in preparing deer habitat with the associated deer blinds, feeders and all this entails; obviously involving all in his family who had a desire to participate and contribute–a true love and joy for all involved. Let us not forget the ALL ENCOMPASSING caribou and elk hunts to Saskatchewan, Canada, and Kuujjuaq, Quebec, with all his buddies; a true Jr. hallmark and tradition.
Finally, Jr. did not adorn his three-piece suit and tie every Sunday and meet you at the church and preach you a sermon on how outstanding a Christian he was and all the great things he did the past week to make his way to Heaven. Instead, he took just the opposite “NOT SO NOTICEABLE APPROACH” telling NOBODY anything about his good goings and comings; truly taking the low high road! That said, Jr. had and knew the secret as to what it takes in order to arrive at the Pearly Gates upon our departure, and that is Jesus. He accepted Jesus at an early age at Bible School at The OLD Hornbeck Baptist Church where our family went every Sunday and was baptized in the old church.
As we come to the end of Life’s journey and arrive at where Jr. is today- REALLY- few things REALLY matter- – the one that REALLY DOES- JR. HAD!!
He was preceded in death by his parents, Betty and Odell Behan; his daughter-in-law, Crystal Johnson Norris; his sisters-in-law, Evelyn Lord Behan and Sarah Bridgeman; and brother-in-law, Ray Kyle.
He is survived by Velva, his loving wife of 41 years; his two daughters, Nikol Behan Weeks of Hornbeck, and Brenda Norris of Leesville; son, Tracy Manning and wife Dana of Anacoco; grandchildren: Trace Foote, JoJo Weeks, Sean Weeks, Michael Funderburk, Madison Funderburk, Emily Norris, Abigail Norris, and Connor Norris; great grandchildren: Lilly Foote, Raelyn Foote, Ella Boggs, Ryland Hines, Maddix Funderburk, Ryhatt Funderburk, and Maizee Funderburk; brother, Dale Behan and wife Linda; and sister, Shirley Kyle Jones and husband Kenneth.
