Nobie S. Makar

Born in the Village of Ashland, Natchitoches Parish, Louisiana, she attended Ashland High School.  After graduating with the highest academic record in her class, she attended Northwestern Louisiana State University (Northwestern State College), interned in the Pathology Department at the Charity Hospital in New Orleans and earned her Bachelor degree in Medical Technology in 1950.  That year she married John Wilkes Gibbs.  They had one daughter, Mary Kathryn. After having been widowed, she married longtime friend John Makar in 1984.  She was a member of the Immaculate Conception Catholic Church where she worshiped for 70 years and was an officer and active member of numerous civic and philanthropic organizations throughout her life. As an early member of the Association for the Preservation of Historic Natchitoches, she was involved in the first APHN Fall Tour of Homes in 1955, the preservation of the Kate Chopin House and the Natchitoches Tri-Centennial.  She was an active member of the AU Chapter of the P.E.O.  Mrs. Makar loved all flowers, and her talent for artistic floral arranging led to her becoming a Nationally Accredited Flower Show Judge.  She was a member and officer of the Saint-Denis Garden Club, the Louisiana Garden Club Council and judged the National Garden Show in 1968 in Washington D.C.   She was published in Healthy Aging (Rutledge) and Dreams and Curiosities and The Best Poems and Poets of 2001 (The International Library of Poetry) and authored three books of poetry, Fleuretry in 2002, Piecing in 2006 and Beauties in 2009.  For six Christmas seasons from 2010 to 2015, she was featured reading one of her poems in the Louisiana Public Broadcasting Christmas Special.  Known as a gracious hostess, talented floral artist, passionate quilter and inspiring poet, she was also involved in a number of Natchitoches businesses, first in Gibbs Auto Parts Store and other Gibbs family businesses, then for decades as owner of Gibbs Antiques, and later serving as manager of The Pink Magnolia Antiques.   She was preceded in death by her parents, Lullean Pullig Sullivan and Andrew Jackson Sullivan, sister Jackolean McCain, first husband John Wilkes Gibbs,  second husband John Makar, daughter Mary Kathryn Thompson and stepson Charles Stroud Makar.  She is survived by her sister, Kathlean Cathey of Minden, grandson Kenneth Wayne Thompson of Shreveport, granddaughter Tina Diane Henderson and her husband Tyler Ross Henderson of Lacombe, granddaughter Denise Marie Crosby and her husband Timothy Dale Crosby of Houston, two great-grandsons, Zachary Charles Picco and Adam Mario Picco, both of Houston, stepdaughters Jayme Makar Ponder of Burton, Texas,  Nancy Ann Makar of Spring Hill, Florida, four step-grandchildren and eight-step great-grandchildren.  In 2014 her portrait was included in the Louisiana State Museum Faces Of Natchitoches exhibit as part of the Tri-Centennial Celebration at the Louisiana Sports Hall of Fame and Northwest Louisiana History Museum.  Her goal in life was to reflect the love of her Lord Jesus Christ to all she met.  Through her warm beautiful smile, encouraging words and unconditional love, she met that goal. Pallbearers will be Zachary Charles Picco, Timothy Dale Crosby, Tyler Ross Henderson, Mathew Lee McCain, Justin Joseph Normand, and Gary Arnold Cathey. Visitation at Blanchard-St. Denis Funeral Home on Friday evening from  5:00 pm till 7:00 pm with a rosary offered at 6:00 pm. Funeral services at Immaculate Conception Catholic Church,  Saturday, September 7 at 10:00 am.  Interment to follow at Memory Lawn Cemetery.