Funeral services for Iva Jean McKown Alfred, 90, were held Tuesday, April 2, 2024, at Rose-Neath Funeral Home, 2500 Southside Drive in Shreveport, LA at 2:00 p.m. Visitation began an hour before the service.
Burial was at Providence Cemetery in Spring Ridge, LA immediately following the service.
Jean was born on June 11, 1933, in Old Boston, TX to Hearstel and Florence (Talley) McKown. She passed away in her Shreveport home on March 27 after a long struggle with dementia. She will be greatly missed.
She is predeceased by her parents, her loving husband, Shelby Glenn “Al” Alfred, his parents, Schumpert and Dessie Alfred, and numerous aunts, uncles, first cousins, and dear friends.
Survivors include her two children and their spouses: Stephen Alfred (Cindy) and Cathy Hogan (Dwayne “Dee”), six grandchildren, their spouses: Caleb Hogan (Sandra), Micah Hogan (Jessica), Kimberley Roberson (Craig), Shelby Glenn Alfred, II (Kara), Jeremy Alfred (Sara) and Christopher Alfred (Hannah); 13 great-grandchildren: Gabrielle, Jackson, Chloe, Mayley, Evie, Henry, Corrie, Jesse, Mav, Wyatt, Bear, Rafe, and Ivy. Jean has 18 first cousins who survive her from the McKown\Talley families.
Jean and Al invested in many young people beyond their own families, two of which are lifelong friends, Melba Smith and Margaret Davis.
Pallbearers included Dee and the grandsons.
Jean had a wonderful life, relishing in the gifts and callings of God to serve Him behind the scenes. She was an introvert, a listener, a lover of home and family. She loved being a wife to Al and a mother to us. She also loved peace and quiet, organization, planning, reading, Bible study, the old hymns, her country, doing shoeboxes for OCC, genealogy, sending and receiving cards, her wonderful neighbors, her pets, providing dixie cups and building blocks for her grands, and greats. She also was very fond of chocolate and Cindy’s homemade French coconut pie. Her kids never heard any form of gossip from her lips.
Dementia took its toll as it always does, but Mom still retained much of her sense of humor and disdain for nonsense.
The challenges of the past few years would have been impossible to face without Jean’s amazing team, handpicked by God, loyal and loving to the end: Deborah, CC, Debbie C., Hilda, Cindy, Beth, and Nurse Chessie. Thank you, girls, we will never forget the sacrifices you made. Also, thanks to Ford Park Baptist Church, Brother Tommy and Brother John for your visits, prayers, and offering Mom communion.
