Wayne Whatley

William Wayne Whatley was born on February 16, 1930, in Hosston, Louisiana, to Hoyt and Gwyn Whatley. Wayne was an only child, and grew up in rural Northwest LA, running the roads, picking fights, and chewing toothpicks. He left public school after the tenth grade and entered the school of hard knocks, taking up the electrical trade. In 1951, he married the great love of his life, Lottie Jo Brooks. Theirs was a romance that would last 73 years.

He went to work for the Bossier Rural Electrical Members Cooperative in 1954 as an apprentice lineman, advancing to journeyman and area troubleshooter. In 1960, he and Lottie Jo had their first and only child, Jeanine.

Being a lineman was inherently dangerous and required work around high voltage lines in the worst of conditions, at any time - day or night. During ice storms, hurricanes or thunderstorms, Wayne and his crew often worked around the clock to restore power to the area. In 1962, while climbing a 30-foot pole, the base of the pole snapped, hurling him to the ground and crushing his knee. After 18 months of hospitalization and rehab, Wayne was back on the job, climbing poles and stringing wires, his ambling gait a testimony to the sacrifice he made. Nicknamed “Squire” and “Pole Buddy” by his fellow linemen, Wayne served as a mentor to many in the industry.

Wayne enjoyed new cars, but only if they were Chevrolets. Often, he would load up his girls and they would take off to Hot Springs, stopping at auctions along the way. Wayne retired from BREMCO in 1992, after 38 years of service to the public. He retired, but he didn’t slow down. He joined the Bossier Parish Sheriff’s Posse, patrolling for 29 years. Wayne enjoyed catering to the women in his life…. helping his mother, cleaning for Lottie Jo, buying a horse for Jeanine, or getting a golf cart for his granddaughters, Courtney and Lauren to chauffeur him around Mildred Street.

Wayne loved the Lord, serving faithfully at First Baptist Benton for many years as an usher and money counter. Later in life he moved to Cypress Baptist Church.

He is preceded in death by his parents, Hoyt and Gwyn Whatley. Wayne is survived by his wife of 73 years, Lottie Jo Whatley, daughter Jeanine Kreid and son in law Jeff, granddaughters Courtney Brown and husband Cody, Lauren Ransbottom and husband Chris, and four great-grandchildren Emma Brown, Bennett Brown, Nora Ransbottom, and Blakely Ransbottom.

Honoring Mr. Whatley as pallbearers will be Walt Lynn, Rodney Madden, Burton Rice, Howard Brooks, Chris Ransbottom and Cody Brown.

Services honoring Mr. Whatley will be held Thursday, September 26, 2024 at 11am at Hill Crest Memorial Funeral Home. Visitation will be held prior to services Thursday, from 10am until 11am. Interment will immediately follow services at Hill Crest Memorial Park.