Ruth Odessa Young Sprayberry Landry peacefully departed this earthly realm on March 13, 2022, at her home in Baton Rouge. Preferring to be known as Des, she was born on November 16, 1927, in Sugartown, LA, which she frequently claimed was the reason she was so sweet. Her beloved parents were William Gail and Sarah Margaret Young.
Des’ life was filled with joy, laughter and tears. She often mentioned that she had “outlived two good husbands,” and she deeply mourned their deaths. She met Loonie Sprayberry, her first love and soon-to-be husband, right after World War II when he returned from Germany and had been recently discharged from the Army. She said she immediately knew “he was the one.” After 34 years of marriage and the births of two daughters, he died tragically in an accident at work. She met her second husband, Earl Joseph Landry, at a church event and said she liked him right away. They married and lived happily for 30 years until he died.
In addition to her parents and husbands, she was preceded in death by two sisters, Edith Duhon and Opal Terry, as well as three brothers, Dewey Young, Preston Young and William “Bill” Young.
Des loved shoes and had quite a collection. In her younger years, she often put on her “traveling shoes,” to visit several countries, taking with her a grandchild or two who was graduating from high school. Through these trips, she managed to visit most of Europe, along with Australia and New Zealand. She also visited the Holy Land more than once and cherished having been baptized in the Jordan River as Jesus had been.
Des worked for many years as a bookkeeper for several companies in Donaldsonville. After retirement, she enjoyed R.V. traveling and getting to see our country. During her retirement, she also volunteered as a tour guide at the Rural Life Museum in Baton Rouge. She especially loved seeing the school children who came for field trips to learn about early Louisiana culture.
Her life was a full life with a variety of interests. She especially loved attending Broadmoor Baptist Church and the wonderful fellowship she had with her church family. She adored her children, grandchildren, great-grandchildren and great-great grandchildren, as well as her extended family and friends. She was always quick with a joke, a laugh and/or a snappy retort, and everyone enjoyed being with her.
Family members remaining to treasure her memory are her two daughters, Janis Blanchard and husband Patrick and Sharon Bonnette. She delighted in her five grandchildren: Christopher McCord and wife Karen, Michelle Benayed and husband Ilyas, Laurie Bonnette, Angela McCullen and husband Mike and James “Beaux” Bonnette. She adored her six great-grandchildren: Elizabeth Kearney, Kayla Boots and husband Danny, Colten McCullen, Madalyn Webre, Jacob Lewis and Delanie Webre. And finally, she took great pleasure in visits with her three great-great grandchildren, Braden Kearney, Brenton Kearney and Lillian Webre. Additionally, she is survived by her brother, Joe “Chubby” Young, age 98, her sister Jewel Megli, age 92 and also numerous nieces and nephews. All of her family will miss her wit, her humor and her love!
Our family would like to extend special appreciation to Charlotte Goins, Charlesena “Charlie” Kenney and Vanessa Goins, as well as Jeanne Varner for their devoted loyalty and loving care. We’re especially grateful to her neighbor Spencer Fonte for his help and his constant, unfailing friendship. We would also like to thank Trina Fairchild, her dear, close friend and hairdresser for more than 30 years, as well as Clella Kelly and Dana Guarisco for their sweet friendship and kindness.
Visitation for Des will be held on Thursday, March 17, at Broadmoor Baptist Church (9755 Goodwood Blvd, BR) at 8:30 am until service at 10. Burial will take place on Friday, March 18, at 1 pm at Munnerlyn Chapel Cemetery in Ida, LA.
