Louis "Bubba" Blanchard Nettles

Louis Blanchard Nettles, known by most as “Bubba”, passed away in his home in Tallulah, Louisiana, Wednesday, December 22, 2021, at the age of 73. Bubba was born to Louis and Mary Nettles on September 7, 1948. He and his father worked side by side at LA Nettles Plumbing for many years. He had a fierce love for the outdoors. Hunting, fishing, and gardening were a few of his favorite activities. At any given time, you could easily find him at the pond bass fishing or fishing in a bass tournament. His collection of fishing baits and reels was one to envy. He loved to plant mustard greens, and undoubtedly, he could grow the best tomatoes around. If you ask his daughter, Haley, some of their favorite memories include deer hunting when she was growing up. Countless memories were made in the yard with his grandchildren, who he absolutely adored, and the feelings were definitely mutual. In the eyes of his grandchildren, Bubba could do no wrong.

He was happily married to his beloved wife, Melissa, for 42 years. She has been devoted to caring for him everyday of their marriage whether it was spending many days fishing or being his own personal nurse, she would do anything to make sure that he was very well taken care of. She was without a doubt the love of a lifetime for him, and it was obvious by the way she cared for him, that the feeling was mutual.

He and his wife spent many days in their home in Tallulah watching their family grow, and their grandchildren are absolutely their greatest accomplishment. He loved to spend time with them whether it was “pretending” to go hunting or one of John Henry’s favorite activities, watching Mountain Men. If you ask his grandchildren, any of them will easily tell you that he has always been one of their favorite people.

He was known as a historian. He could easily tell you anything you may want to know about the Civil War, and he loved to go search for Musket Balls with his daughter, Haley, when she was young. He was the best storyteller around, and if you have ever heard one of his stories then you know this to be true. For most, he was known as friend, and he was always making a joke. To some, he was known as a chef because his fried fish was better than any other. His love for hunting and fishing spilled over into the life of his daughter Haley. Once, from the deer stand, they wrote a poem that he’s kept with him for many years called “The Mossback Buck” where they wrote, “This time tomorrow reckon where we’ll be. At Mossback hunting club hanging from the side of a tree. Looking for a 10 point, with horns wider than his ears. Winds blowing so hard, my eyes turned to tears. Now it’s late afternoon, in a few more hours, we’ll see the moon. As the day comes to doom, time to get on the 4-wheeler, headed back to town. Got a 12 point deer in the back of big brown. Goin’ home to eat him, now we’re deer camp bound. Time to do some skinnin’ I guess we’ve been blessed. After all this week it’s time to clean up the mess.” This poem truly epitomized how the love he had for spending time outdoors with his daughter. No doubt, some of his best memories were spent hunting or fishing with his family whether it was in the woods or “pretending” in the backyard, and those memories have shaped who his children and grandchildren are today and will truly last forever.

He will be missed every day by his family and friends. His memory is one that will be kept alive for years to come because of the memories that he created with everyone that knew him, especially his grandchildren. He was a husband, father, Big Bubba, brother, uncle, cousin, and friend, and his legacy will live on because of how important he was to those who loved him.

He is survived by his wife of 42 years, Melissa Nettles; his daughters, Haley Erwin and husband Kyle Erwin, Elisabeth Purvis, Jennifer Marsh, and Robyn Yerger and husband Arch Yerger; his grandchildren, John Henry Erwin, Meredith Erwin, Mary Kate Jefferson, Ainslea Freeman, Noah Freeman, Cullen Marsh, Jackson McGehee, Jay Schaff, Turner Yerger, Michael Gunn, and Savannah Toney; his sisters, Donna Ervin, Deneise Barlow and husband Roy “Fuzz” Barlow, and Deneille Guillet and husband Larry Guillet. He is preceded in death by his parents, Louis Nettles and Mary Nettles; and his son Paul Nettles.

Pallbearers will be Kyle Erwin, Grady Erwin, Noah Freeman, Jackson McGehee, Michael Gunn, and John Robert Gaumnitz. Honorary pallbearers include Stevie Doyle and Freddie Gaumnitz.

A visitation will be held for Bubba at Parkview Baptist Church in Tallulah, Louisiana, Friday, December 24, 2021, from 9:00 AM to 10:00 AM. A memorial service will begin at 10:00 AM with Brother Jason Lupo officiating, and a burial will follow at Silver Cross Cemetery in Tallulah under the direction of Crothers-Glenwood Funeral Home. The family requests that in lieu of flowers, donations be made to Dream Hunt Foundation.

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