Obituary of Earl D. Stanage

Earl D Stanage, Jr, 74, of Shreveport, LA, passed away May 23, 2015 in Shreveport. A memorial service will be held Friday, May 29 at 3 pm at First Presbyterian Church, 900 Jordan St., Shreveport. Dr. Chris Currie will officiate. Visitation will be held at the church following the service. Earl was born May 3, 1941 to Earl and Marie Stanage. While at Byrd High School, he played flute with the Shreveport Symphony under John Shenaut, and studied organ with Norman Fisher at First Presbyterian Church. After graduation from Byrd, Earl furthered his organ studies with Robert Anderson at SMU in Dallas. While at SMU, he played in the Mustang Band and was in the ROTC program. He also developed a reputation for being a fine jazz pianist, and was invited to perform with Tommy Dorsey's "ghost orchestra," Stan Kenton, Tony Bennett, and Connie Francis in "Big D." Those stage experiences were some of his greatest memories. After service in the army in Vietnam, he went to work in sales for several years in Oklahoma, North Carolina, and Texas. After slipping and breaking his wrist during a Texas ice storm, and being told by the doctor he would never play a keyboard again, Earl told the doctor he was mistaken. He pulled out his old Hanon Piano Finger Exercises book for his own rehab program. He then began playing for churches in Dallas as a substitute organist, and subbed for some of Dallas' best musicians. Upon his return to Shreveport, he served as organist at Dunlap Presbyterian, Holy Trinity Lutheran, Christ Methodist, and most recently First Methodist Bossier. Earl married Raynelle Smith Bradley in 1991, and they shared a love for music and animals. He often wrote easy piano and organ arrangements for Raynelle to play for her church and school needs, and laughingly called them the "Big Note" versions. He always did those little things that made her life easier and richer. He introduced her to jazz, and she introduced him to cats. He loved taking photos of family activities, trips, and nature, and then surprising us the next day with albums. He practiced his skills often on Maren and Warren, German Shepherds Bayou and Jackie, and kitties Skipper, Peatree, Tiger, Grady, BC, and Dolly. He is survived by his loving wife Raynelle, son Stephen Christopher Stanage, stepdaughter Maren Bradley Batts and husband Nate of New Orleans, and their children Linden and Boden, stepson Warren Clark Bradley and wife Amber of Shreveport, and their son Sawyer, and mother-in-law Zemma Smith of Shreveport, as well as Dolly the cat. Earl loved getting to know the wonderful people in the area churches he served, and the many special piano and organ students he taught over the years. Special thanks to the amazing staff at Christus Highland, Dr. Rajan Khanna for his attentive care over the years, as well as Drs. Holladay, Baucum, Kasabali, and Hardin, to Mary Gurski, Ted Groh, Aaron Wilson, and Ray Peebles for the love and many kindnesses shown to us in the past months, to Dr. Chris Currie and Dr. Holly Watson, Dr. David Dietzel and Tom Edmonds for their guidance, and to the choirs and congregations of First Presbyterian and First Methodist Bossier churches, the Apollo Elementary family, and our wonderful neighbors for their overwhelming love. We all know he's playing some jazz in Heaven now! In lieu of flowers, memorial donations may be made to First Presbyterian Church Shreveport, First Methodist Church Bossier City, Petsavers, or Robinson's Rescue, or St. Jude's.