of Benton, AR

March 6, 2018

Lucille DeRouen Santo, 90, of Benton passed away Tuesday, March 6, 2018 at Heartland Nursing and Rehab in Benton. She was born in Port Arthur, TX on January 30, 1928 to the late Cornelius Odell and Lucille DeRouen. She was preceded in death by her husband, Joe Santo, Jr., son, Joe Baker Santo, and infant granddaughter, Andrea Santo.

She grew up in Baton Rouge, LA. Lucille met her husband Joe at the Baptist camp in Mandeville, LA while there with her cousins in junior high. She and Joe crossed paths many times before they started dating as older teens when they were in choir together at First Baptist Church of Baton Rouge. She married the love of her life on December 21, 1951 and they were married for 66 years.

She graduated from Baton Rouge High School where she played clarinet in the band, and loved the marching band! She continued her education at Louisiana State University in Baton Rouge and played in the Tiger marching band. Her conductor at LSU wanted her to continue playing in the band even after she was no longer a student at LSU. Lucille was a reading paraprofessional at First Ward Elementary School in Pine Bluff, AR for five years, otherwise she was a homemaker. She loved needlepoint and sewing and entertaining and cooking for family and friends. She was a wonderful cook! She also enjoyed traveling in the U.S. and abroad and dining at fine restaurants with family and friends.

Her husband was a Minister of Music, hence she was always involved in church music activities and sang in the adult choir since she was a teenager. She taught children's church choir for over 30 years.

Lucille would charm everyone around her: family, friends, and the nursing staff, allowing her the best that each moment of life offered. With her clever mind, she would surprise everyone with her wit and humor. She was very endearing and loved with all of her heart. She wanted companionship at all times: someone to sit with her, talk with her, and hold her hand. She fondly called people ''Darling''.

She is survived by her daughter, Sue Ellen Rankin and husband Casey of Benton; grandchildren, Chris Lance (Leslie) and Brooke Moseley (Andrew) all of Benton and Baker Santo of Pine Bluff; great grandchildren, Hank Moseley , Abby Petty, and Kristen Wright all of Benton; daughter-in-law, Demps Santo Busby of Pine Bluff, and one cousin, Betty Ruth Harrison, who she considered her sister.

A memorial service will be held at 1:00 p.m. Friday, March 9, 2018 at First United Methodist Church of Benton officiated by Rev. Zeke Allen. A time of visitation will be held following the service in the Fellowship Hall.

Inurnment will take place at Kirk of the Hills Columbarium in Fairfield Bay, AR.

Memorials may be made to the First United Methodist Church of Benton Music Ministry, 200 N. Market St., Benton, AR 72015.

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