Funeral services for Mary Eldridge, 85 of West Monroe, LA will be held at 1:00 PM, Saturday, January 31, 2015, at Christian Life Church, Monroe, LA with Rev. Billy E. Hale and Rev. Danny Chance officiating assisted by Rev. B.F. Middleton, Rev. David Elms and Rev. Dannie Hood. Interment will follow at Kilpatrick Serenity Gardens under the direction of Kilpatrick Funeral Home West Monroe.Mary, a master chef, loved spending time in the kitchen preparing meals for family and friends, whether it be for grand holiday gatherings or weekday lunch visits. An expert gardener, she used her green thumb to grow beautiful flowers from both seeds and young plants and could bring life back to those that were not thriving. She then enjoyed sitting on her porch to admire her work. Mary had an ability to use her design skills to take seemingly simple items and turn them into works of art, including flower arrangements and other home d©cor. Above all, however, her greatest love was that for her children as well as her grandchildren and great-grandchildren to whom all she was affectionately known as Mamaw Mary.Mary was born October 18, 1929 in Pioneer, LA and passed away January 27, 2015 in Monroe, LA. She was a retired supervisor from G.B. Cooley after 38 years of service. She was preceded in death by her father, Benjamin Middleton and mother, Bertha Davis Rushing; husband James Eldridge; son, Barry Griffin; one grandson and 3 great-grandchildren.Mary is survived by daughters; Linda McKinnie, Brenda Hale and husband Billy, Earline Chance and husband Danny, Judy Brandon and husband Randy, Martha Leach and husband Donald; brother, B. F. Middleton and wife Verda Mae; sisters; Erma Owens, Ottie Westerburg, Myrtis Poole and husband Len and Elaine Harville; 16 grandchildren and 29 great-grandchildren.Pallbearers will be her grandsons, Darryle DeMoss, Jeff DeMoss, Stephen Brandon, Randy Brandon, Jr., Danny Chance, Jr., Peyton Leach and Justin Griffin.Honorary pallbearers will be great-grandsons.Visitation will be held Saturday, January 31, 2105 from 10:00 AM until service time at Christian Life Church. Online condolences may be sent to the family at www.kilpatrickfuneralhomes.comKilpatrick Funeral HomeWest Monroe, LA