Raphael Leonard “Lennie” Schuchs

Published 12:01 am Monday, February 10, 2014

Jan. 6, 1932 — Feb. 7, 2014

NATCHEZ — Funeral services for Raphael Leonard “Lennie” Schuchs, 82, of Natchez, who died Friday, Feb. 7, 2014, at Natchez Regional Medical Center, will be 11 a.m. Tuesday at Laird Funeral Home Chapel with the Rev. Robert Armstrong officiating.

Burial will follow at Pine Ridge Presbyterian Church Cemetery under the direction of Laird Funeral Home.

Visitation will be 5 to 8 p.m. today at Laird Funeral Home.

Mr. Schuchs was born Jan. 6, 1932, in Natchez, the son of James Leonard Schuchs II and Edy Ruth Smith Schuchs. He graduated from Natchez High School in 1951. Mr. Schuchs served in the U.S. Marine Corps from 1951 to 1954. He worked for Continental Emsco in 1955 until he became a partner in Fife Oilfield Supply and Construction Company. He later became sole owner of the company until 1986. Mr. Schuchs was co-owner of Welco Inc. oil and gas production consulting and supervising from 1986 to 2014.

Lennie had a lifetime devotion to the oil patch. He loved his work and all the friends and acquaintances he made along the way. He was preceded in death by his parents; one brother, Charles Dennis “Sonny” Powell; and a granddaughter, Carrie Ruth Schuchs.

Survivors include his wife of 60 years, Nan Erle Foster Schuchs; two sons, James Leonard Schuchs III and wife, Carolyn, and Michael Schuchs and wife, Alison; one daughter, Ruthie Schuchs Hinton and husband, Cloyce; grandchildren Jared Schuchs, Isla Schuchs Carr and husband, James, Joshua Hinton and Kati Hinton; great-grandchildren James “Jake” Carr, Marion Carr and Alice Carr; one sister, Ruth Powell Colter; and his faithful dog of 17 years, Cricket Schuchs.

Pallbearers will be Jared Schuchs, Joshua Hinton, James Carr, Paul Guido, Woody Allen and Johnny Doré.

Honorary pallbearers will be Cloyce Hinton, W.D. “Buddy” Latham, Joe Swoveland, John Hardy, Rover “C.C.” Cameron, Anthony Williams, James “Deacon” Coleman and R.W. Bryant.

Online condolences may be made to lairdfh.com.