June 30, 1953-Feb. 4, 2022
A memorial service celebrating the life of Talmage “Leon” Carroll will be Thursday, Feb. 10 at 5 p.m. in the chapel of Blanchard-St. Denis Funeral Home with Dr. Carroll Marr of Ft. Worth, Texas, officiating. Visitation will begin at 4 p.m. and resume after services until 8 p.m.
Mr. Carroll passed away with his family and loved ones by his side at NRMC Friday, Feb. 4, 2022, due to a brief illness.
Talmage was born in Orange, Texas, June 30, 1953, to Monoah Brooks Carroll (Jones) and Talmage Ray Carroll.
He was preceded in death by his parents and one brother, Michael Lane Carroll.
Survivors include his loving wife, Ritta Lynn Spears Carroll, whom he was married to for 49 years and would have celebrated their 50th this July; his son, Christopher L. Carroll and wife Jennifer; daughter, Tonia M. Butler and husband Shane; two brothers, Timothy Ray Carroll and Joseph Todd Carroll; four grandchildren who were the absolute joy of his heart and light of his life aside from his beautiful wife, Peyton Cole Butler, Kaylyn Brooke Carroll, Analise Paige Carroll and Logan Eli Butler; and a host of aunts, uncles, nieces and nephews, all whom will greatly miss him.
Prior to graduating high school for Natchitoches Academy in 1972, Talmage went to work for A&P Grocery in 1970 and was employed with them until 1981 leaving as store supervisor. Newly graduated from high school and enrolled at NSU, he and his childhood sweetheart married in 1972 and his career with A&P would have them relocate to several places throughout Louisiana, but ultimately brought them back home to Natchitoches.
From 1981 until the time of his retirement, he was employed by International Baking Company (Cotton Brothers / Holsum) for 32 years. He devoted six days a week to running the best route from Natchitoches all through Sabine Parish and just into Texas. He spent 32 years of never meeting a stranger and stopping to share coffee and a quick chat with so many friendly faces along his route. Talmage took immense pride in giving his store in Natchitoches the best name and reputation. He was so dedicated that his days off or vacation days would be forsaken if a store on his route, even in Texas, was out of stock or needed displays to be maintained. His displays were always immaculate. He ran this route for many years before becoming store supervisor, which was short lived, because he preferred the other side of the bread business that he had grown to greatly love. His customers and the immeasurable friendships made over the years were so very dear to him.
Talmage was an avid outdoorsman his entire life, sharing the passion later in life with his only son. Hunting anything if they were together, but their true passion was turkey hunting. Vacation was always scheduled around hunting season and priceless and countless memories that were always made. Aside from that, his next greatest joy was teaching his grandchildren any and everything that he thought might benefit them even the slightest, but it was always lessons of history and days gone by and a way of life that none will ever know. Such sweet memories.
Honorary pallbearers will be his grandchildren, Peyton Cole, Kaylyn Brooke, Annalise Paige, Logan Eli, Dylan Myers and Lance Spears.
