Dana Pestell

Graveside services for Dana Pestell, age 83, were held at 2 p.m., Tuesday, December 22, 2020, at McKinzie Cemetery near Homer, LA, with Bro. Andy Richardson officiating.

Dana was born on October 25, 1937, in Silver City, New Mexico.

She graduated from Western High School located in Silver City. Dana moved to Ruston to attend Louisiana Tech University and finished her secretarial business degree at Arkansas University in Magnolia, AR.

She married Joseph Byron Richardson on January 7, 1956, and they divorced in 1976. The rest of her life she always considered the Richardson family “her family.”

From 1976 to 1980 she worked at Arkla Gas in Ruston. She married George A. Pestell Jr. on November 31, 1983. From 1980 to 1998 she worked for Louisiana Department of Transportation. Dana retired from Louisiana Department of Family Support in Arcadia.

After retirement she pursued her love of art, she traveled and studied under several renowned artists. Dana then opened a studio in downtown Arcadia.

When George passed in 2014, Dana closed down her shop. If you knew her as Tookie or Aunt Tookie, you were loved.

Her final home was at Princeton Place where she received awesome care and there asked a select few to call her Aunt Tookie. Some of Dana’s hobbies included painting, writing, gardening and love for all animals. “Dana was preceded in death by husband: George Pestell Jr.; parents: Willie Ira (Red) Dodds and Velma Pearl Dodds; brother: Ira W. Dodds; and niece: Cori Haggard.Dana is survived by daughter: Debbie and husband Ricky Otwell of Arcadia, LA; sons: Stewart Richardson and wife Carol of Memphis, TN, and Mark Richardson and wife Beth of Lake Worth, FL; eight grand children: Chris Richardson and wife Kelly, Lacy and husband Matt McCullin, Steven Otwell and wife Megan, Brandon Otwell, Scott Otwell and wife Sarah, Christine and husband Tony Abella, Katy Richardson and Joseph Richardson; nine great grandchildren; and eighteen nieces and nephews.

To leave an online memorial message for the family, please visit www.owensmemorialfuneralhome.com