Funeral Services for Merse Lee Longino, 76, of Coushatta will be held Wednesday, June 26, 2019 at the Mt. Zion Baptist Church on Hwy 783 with Brother Olan McLaren officiating and Brother Ken McLaren assisting. Interment will follow at the Mt. Zion Cemetery. Family will accept friends from12:00 until service at 2:00.

Merse was born on December 15, 1942 and passed away on Saturday, June 22, 2019. He fought a long battle but never gave up because he knew God was in control. (I have fought a good fight, I have finished my course, I have kept the Faith II Timothy 4-7).

He was preceded in death by his parents Marcus and Myrtle Longino of Coushatta, one sister Doris (Susie) Linton of Quitman, LA, three brother in laws Thomas Linton, Jr. of Quitman, LA, Walter Nichols of Coushatta, LA, and Douglas Nichols of Coushatta, LA.

Left to cherish his memories is his wife, Shirley and three children Mark Longino and wife Mary Ann of Martin, LA, Johnny Longino of Risen, AR, and Christy Gay and husband Mark of Coushatta, LA. One brother Harold Longino and wife Becky of Martin, LA, two sisters Regina Longino of Coushatta, LA, and Bonnie Millstead and husband Wayne of Evelyn, LA. Eight grandchildren, Daniel Longino and wife Sierra of Bethany, LA, Melissa Townsend and husband Brian of Coushatta, LA, Steven Longino of Martin, LA, Allison Ogdon and husband Trevyn of Coushatta, LA, Zachary Longino of Long Beach, MS, Jared Gay of Coushatta, LA, Amanda Longino of Martin, LA and Colton Longino of Long Beach, MS. Two great grandchildren, Avery Longino of Bethany, LA and Tilden Townsend of Coushatta, LA.

Merse served his country as an aircraft mechanic on the B58 bombers in the United States Air Force. He was one of the last ones to salute President John F. Kennedy before he boarded his plane at Carswell Air Force Base in Fort Worth, TX, right before his assasisnation in Dallas, TX. After serving his country, he went on to melt steel at Kast Metals in Shreveport, LA, then became a mechanic in the maintenance department at Hood Industries in Coushatta, LA.

He loved to deer hunt, go fishing and cook the fish he caught as well as camping and traveling to Bluegrass Festivals. He was also well known for his famous pound cakes and old fashion tea cakes.

Pallbearers will be his grandsons Daniel Longino, Steven Longino, Zachary Longino, Jared Gay, and Colton Longino. Grandsons in laws, Brian Townsend and Trevyn Ogdon. Great grandson Tilden Townsend.

Honorary Pallbearers will be Wayne Longino, Tony Longino, Albert Clinton, Gene Longino, Robbie Longino, and J.R. Sessions.

Special thanks to all the staff at the Overton Brooks VA Medical Center in Shreveport as well as his wound care nurses he called his angels, Nicole Toms and Kathy McFarlin. Also to St. Joseph Palliative Care team of Shreveport. Lastly, another special thanks to the palliative Care Unit at Overton Brooks VA Medical Center in Shreveport in which he received outstanding care as well as receiving an honor with a final salute.

In lieu of flowers, the family asked that donations be made to Mt. Zion Cemetery Fund, 5404 LA 783, Coushatta, LA 71019, or St. Jude Children's Hospital, Honor and Memorial Giving, 501 St. Jude Place, Memphis , TN 38105-9959.