NATCHITOCHES, LA
Aug. 13, 1928-Nov. 19, 2019
Joseph Marion “Pat” Henry Jr. passed away Nov. 19, 2019, peacefully at the Courtyard of Natchitoches after suffering a stroke in April 2016.
Pat was born Aug. 13, 1928, to Joseph M. Henry Sr. and Eugenia Cherry Henry. He is a descendant of the Henry family who owned and operated Melrose Plantation where he went to live with his grandmother, Cammie Henry, at the age of 12. It was home until he married and moved to Natchitoches.
He graduated from high school, Columbia Military Academy, Columbia, Tenn., in 1945. After graduation, he enrolled at LSU and earned a BS degree and an LLB from the LSU School of Law in 1951. While at LSU he was a member of Kappa Alpha Fraternity, as was his father, four of his uncles and his son Joe.
Upon completion of law school, he served two years in the U.S. Air Force and graduated from the Office of Special Investigations School in Washington, DC, then served as a First Lieutenant at the American Embassy in London, U.K.
He returned to Natchitoches in 1953 where he was active in real estate, finance, banking and the stock market. He also served briefly as an Assistant District Attorney. He soon learned that finance and business were his passions and founded May Company and Friendly Finance which later became Henry Companies. He was elected to the Board of Directors of Exchange Bank in 1970 and remained active with management serving as Senior Chairman until April 2016.
Mr. Henry was preceded in death by his parents.
He leaves his loving wife of 62 years, Juanita Barberousse Henry; two children, Taine Henry Carrozza (Bob) of Dallas, Texas, and J. M. “Joe” Henry III (Chrissey) of Natchitoches; and four grandchildren, Lauren Anne Carrozza Huffines (Sam), Bailey Elizabeth Henry, Vincent Henry Carrozza and Joseph M. Henry IV.
In lieu of flowers, the family asks any memorial gift be sent to the First Presbyterian Church in Natchitoches, LA. or a charity of your choice. He donated his body to the LSU School of Medicine in Shreveport.
A visitation will be Tuesday, Nov. 26 from 5-7 p.m. at Blanchard-St. Denis Funeral Home. Private family services will follow at a later time.
Mr. Henry and his family are very appreciative of the staff at the Courtyard and his personal aides Hattie, Classie, Shirley, Anne and Lynda as well as the gracious and courteous staff of Hospice of Natchitoches, especially Marie McDaniel, who gave such great care during a difficult time.
