Albert “Bill” William Ryals Sr. 

Published 4:18 pm Monday, May 12, 2025

Albert William “Bill” Ryals Sr., 91, of Bogalusa, La., went peacefully to be with his Lord and Savior on May 10, 2025.

Funeral services will be held at Poole Ritchie Funeral Home (216 Alabama Avenue, Bogalusa, LA 70427) on Sunday, May 18, 2025 at 2 p.m. Burial will follow in New Zion Cemetery (2 New Zion Rd, Tylertown, MS 39667). The family will receive friends and have visitation from 12 p.m. until services at 2 p.m., Sunday at the funeral home.

Mr. Ryals was born to Jesse Wilford Ryals and Daisy Wene Reagan Ryals on Dec. 25, 1933, in Tylertown, Miss. He grew up in Tylertown, where he graduated from New Zion High School. Following graduation, he attended Mississippi College, where he met and married Margaret Louise Miller in 1954, the love of his life. After Bill graduated from Mississippi College with a Bachelor of Science in Chemistry, he enrolled at the University of Mississippi in Oxford in graduate school. During this time, Bill enlisted in the Army. He completed two years of active duty stationed in Oahu, Hawaii, and four years in the Army Reserve Unit. Upon returning to the States in 1957, Bill and Margaret moved to Bogalusa, La., where they raised their four children. The Crown Zellerbach Paper Mill hired him as a chemist. In 1959, he became Digester Inspector, and in 1963, was promoted to Shift Foreman of stock preparation. He was named Technical Assistant to the Paper Mill Superintendent in 1965 and Tour Foreman in 1968. Two years later, he was promoted to Assistant Paper Mill Superintendent. In 1971, Bill accepted a sales position with General Mills Chemicals in Minneapolis, Minn. Later in 1977, he joined Niagara Wire as a sales representative and was eventually promoted to Vice President of Sales for Niagara Wire and Lockport Felts. In this position, he was responsible for the sales of all product lines to the domestic market throughout the United States, a position he held until retirement.

Bill was greatly involved in his community. He served First Baptist Church as a Deacon for many years. He also served on various committees, including Property Maintenance and the Board of Trustees as Vice President. He was a member of the Cattlemen’s Association, Magic City Carnival Association (Krewe of Roogaroo), and was active with the Washington Parish Fair Association, serving as Chairman of the King Cabin in the Miles Branch Settlement.

Bill’s proudest achievement besides his four children was the five-generational family farm “Rocking R” of Tylertown, Miss. He enjoyed many interests with his father, son, and grandson, including raising cattle (Simmental, Charolais, Angus, Brahman, and Holstein), hogs, and Boer goats. He loved gardening and horticulture. He enjoyed sharing his grafted plants, camellias, and daylilies with family and friends. Bill used his immense knowledge of landscaping for the Washington Parish Library, planted trees at the YWCA, on Willis Avenue, and maintained a garden site on Louisiana Avenue at the entrance to the city. He and Margaret sought every opportunity to beautify Bogalusa. 

Bill was preceded in death by his wife of 67 years, Margaret Louis Miller Ryals; his parents, Jesse and Daisy Ryals; his sister, LeNita Ryals Williams, and one great-grandchild, Briggs Alan Roberts.  Survivors include one sister, Lynda Kay Smith of Birmingham, Ala., and four children and their spouses, Suzanne and Eugene Cutrer of Osyka, Miss., Bill Jr. and Niki Ryals of Tylertown, Miss., Jackie and Robert Boone of Angie, La., and Dr. Amanda and Joey Prud’homme of Fort Worth, Texas; grandchildren, Blake-(Misty) Ryals, Amber Ryals- (Billy) Carpenter, Jessica Ryals-(Tyler) Bacot, Hope Ryals-(Wes) Roberts, Tyler (Betsie) Cutrer, Katie Cutrer Petty, Reagan Boone-(Kyle) Smith, Amanda Boone-(Dustin) Fowler, Blaire Boone-(Lincoln) Thompson, John Robert (Haley) Boone, Morgan Boone-(Drew) Varnado, Joseph (Alexis) Prud’homme, Emily Prud’homme, and 27 great-grandchildren. 

Blake Ryals, John Robert Boone, Joseph Prud’homme, Tyler Cutrer, Drew Varnado, Tyler Bacot, Dustin Fowler, and Billy Carpenter are pallbearers. Honorary pallbearers are Wes Roberts, Kyle Smith, Lincoln Thompson, and the Deacons of First Baptist Church of Bogalusa.

Special thanks to caregiver Latoya Smith, the aides of The Claiborne, and Gentiva Hospice for the care provided for the past three years.

Poole Ritchie Funeral Home, 985-732-4721.

www.pooleritchiefu neralhome.com