William Lee Dark, 81, prominent retired Gaars Mill farmer, and former president of the police jury, died Monday about 9:30 p.m. in a local hospital, from a heart attack. Funeral services were held Wednesday at 2 p.m. at Harmony Grove Baptist Church. Last rites were conducted by Rev. John Kitchingham of Columbia, and Rev. Stone, pastor of Harmony Grove Church, of which Mr. Dark was a member. Burial was in Harmony Grove Cemetery. Masonic rites were held at the graveside, conducted by Joe Mitchell of Winnfield.

Mr. Dark was a native of Dubach in Lincoln Parish, where he was born September 8, 1870. He had lived in Gaars Mill since his marriage to the late Frances Melissa Faith Dark. He was a pioneer member of the Harmony Grove Church, and a member of the Masonic Lodge.

Mr. Dark was the son of the late Lou Ann Fuller Dark and W. E. Dark. He served as police jury member from Ward 7 for 12 years during the late 1920s and early 1930s. He served one term as president of the body and was active on various committees.

Thirteen children were born to Mr. and Mrs. Dark, nine of whom survive. Three daughters are Mrs. R. A. Clewis of Winnfield, Mrs. D. E. Sikes of Columbia, and Mrs. Roy Sanders of Readhimer; six sons, Dewitt of Cleveland, Texas, Ross of Columbia, Shelby of Rayville, Lynwood of Gaars Mill, Woodrow of Wyatt, and Z. T. of Gaars Mill; one sister, Mrs. R. L. McMurry of Winnfield; 35 grandchildren and 18 great grandchildren. Also six half sisters, Mrs. G. W. Branch, Colfax, Mrs. Gordie Powell, Eros, Mrs. Maud Rudd, Wyatt, Mrs. Ora Higginbotham, Washington, Mrs. Cora Carter, Ruston, Mrs. Annie Ziegler, Washington; and four half brothers, E. H. Dark, Wyatt, P. T. Dark, Shreveport, J. W. Dark, Jonesboro, and J. T. Dark, Jonesboro.

Active pallbearers were S. C. Maloy, Edwin Gaar, Stanley Branch, Rushel Kelly, Charlie Crain, and Wallace Ingles.

Honorary pallbearers were O. H Burch, Shelby Gaar, P. K. Abel, Bryant Sholars, J. R. Sikes, B. L. Anderson, Luther Jenkins, Roy Gaar, J. A. Sanders, and J. A. Kelly.

Published in The Winn Parish Enterprise, August 14, 1952