William Marvin Floyd Jr.

Bill Floyd, a 30-year employee of The Times-Picayune's news art department, died Tuesday (Jan. 24) at his Slidell home of complications from colon cancer. He was 89. Mr. Floyd, who had lived in the New Orleans area since he was 3, retired in 1992. Throughout his career at the newspaper he took only two sick days -- to attend his parents' funerals -- said Kenny Harrison, a friend and former colleague. "He was the heart and soul of the news art department," Harrison wrote on Facebook. "He developed pre-computer reproduction techniques that Tony O. Champagne later perfected. He was a natty dresser always sporting a bolo tie. "Bill was soft-spoken kind and generous. He loved his co-workers and treated us like family, always keeping the cookie jar full." When Mr. Floyd retired, he asked for this gift: A picture of The Times-Picayune's entire staff, several hundred strong, taken in front of the newspaper's headquarters at 3800 Howard Ave. William Marvin Floyd Jr. was born in Atlanta. He graduated from Alcee Fortier High School and the John McCrady Art School. He worked at Western Auto for 12 years before joining The Times-Picayune staff. He was a member of Elysian Fields Methodist Church. There he taught Sunday School and was a leader of the Methodist Youth Fellowship. Pall bearers will include Ray Cox, Rickey Gibbea, Kenny Harrison, Larry Lisenbee, Jesse Reeks and John Reeks as well as two honorary pall bearers, Nathan Lisenbee and Shannon Lisenbee. A graveside service will be held Thursday at 2 p.m. at Lake Lawn Park Mausoleum.