BOSSIER CITY – James Kenneth Corley was called home to be with his Lord on March 24, 2014, after a brief illness. Ken loved the Lord, he lived a full life, and he was ready to meet his Savior. Funeral services will be held at 11 a.m. on Thursday, March 27, 2014, in the Faith Chapel at First Baptist Church of Bossier City. Officiating will be Dr. Brad Jurkovich, Pastor of First Baptist Bossier, and assisting will be Rev. Billy Pierce, Pastor Emeritus of Cypress Baptist Church. The family will receive friends from 5 p.m. to 7 p.m. on Wednesday, March 26, 2014, in Faith Chapel.
Ken was born in Florien, LA, on November 5, 1931. He graduated from Florien High School before attending Northwestern State University where he earned his B.S. and M.S. degrees. While at Northwestern, Ken met the love of his life, Bonnie. They married on September 13, 1958, in Shreveport. Together, they enjoyed 55 years of marriage. The Lord blessed them with two children, David and Julie. Ken was a proud daddy—and later granddaddy.
Ken later earned his Plus 30 from Louisiana Tech University. He was an educator for 30 years with 27 of those being in public schools. Ken retired from Bossier Parish Schools as principal of Bossier High School. In addition, Ken served his country in the United States Army and as a citizen soldier in the Louisiana Army National Guard much of his adult life. He retired as a Brigadier General after 44 years of service including seven years as Chief of Staff of the Louisiana Army National Guard. Ken enjoyed serving his church as an ordained deacon and as a member of the Don Johnson Sunday school class. He was a committed member of Gideons International and the Bossier City Lions Club.
Ken was preceded in death by his parents, Jessie James Corley and Annie Mae Corley; and his brother, Coda Quinton Corley. Left to cherish his memory are his beloved wife, Bonnie Faye Williams Corley, of Bossier City; his son, David Kevin Corley, of Bossier City; his daughter, Julie Kay Corley Huffstickler, and husband, Don, and their children, Megan Noelle Huffstickler, Corley Garrett Huffstickler, and Matthew Louis Huffstickler, of Frisco, TX; his brother, Leonard Conrad Corley, and wife, Lunell Davis Corley, of Fort Worth, TX; sister-in-law, Sandra Corley Dilbeck, of Florien, LA; and many dear nieces and nephews and their families.
Ken’s priorities in life were serving his Lord, caring for his family, and performing the duties assigned to him to the best of his abilities. 2 Timothy 2:15 teaches, “Do your best to present yourself to God as one approved, a workman who does not need to be ashamed and who correctly handles the truth.” Ken tried his best to be such a workman.
Ken will be interred with full military honors at Rose-Neath Cemetery in Bossier City. Serving as honorary pallbearers are: Maj. Gen. (Ret.) A. M. “Buddy” Stroud, Jr., Brig. Gen. (Ret.) Charles Lindsay, Earl Haynes, Don Johnson, John McConathy, Bill Mullinnix, and members of Ken’s Sunday school class.
In lieu of flowers, the family requests memorials to First Baptist Bossier Family Sports Complex, 2810 East Texas Street, Bossier City, LA 71111, or Gideons International, P. O. Box 5154, Bossier City, LA 71171.
