James "Jay" Braden Atherton

A graveside service for James “Jay” Braden Atherton, 47, will be held at 3:30 p.m. Saturday, August 13, 2022, at Rose-Neath Cemetery, 5185 Swan Lake Spur, Bossier City, Louisiana. Officiating the service will be Brother Harrell Shelton.

Jay was born August 12, 1974, in Ruston, Louisiana, to Jimmy Edward Atherton and Deanna Haley Atherton and went home to be with his Lord and Savior on August 3, 2022.

Jay was a 1992 graduate of Winnfield Senior High as Co-Valedictorian and a National Merit Scholar. He was also an Eagle Scout. He went to Louisiana Tech University after graduation, where he earned a Bachelor of Science degree. He later would work at Providus Financial Services in insurance sales. He loved helping his clients, and they would become like family to him.

He was an avid lover of all sports. There wasn’t a day that went by that he wasn’t watching baseball, football, or basketball. He was so excited that he saw his New Orleans Saints win a Super Bowl and the St. Louis Cardinals win a World Series. He had many high lights, but he loved the two times we went to St. Louis to watch his Cardinals play. His love of sports was infectious.

Jay’s love of music was like no other. He could play any instrument that he sat down at or picked up. His favorite was the piano. The other day, he said, “I wish I had a baby grand.” He loved all types of music.  You could often tell what kind of mood he was in by what type of music he was listening to.

Jay is preceded in death by his paternal grandparents, Mr. and Mrs. Charles Atherton, and his maternal grandparents, Mr. and Mrs. Glen Haley. Left to cherish Jay’s memory are his parents; loving wife, Joy Atherton; daughter, Kate Atherton; stepson, Chase Nelson and girlfriend, Savannah Blankenship; granddaughter, Luna Mei Nelson; sister, Haley LaCaze and husband, Randy; niece, Corynn LaCaze; and numerous aunts, uncles, cousins, and friends.