Carl Ray Schilling, 62, a resident of Mount Hermon passed away early Saturday morning April 26, 2025 at his son’s home in Walker following a lengthy illness. He was born in Bogalusa on July 4, 1962, arriving in this world with physical challenges, but he never, ever let those challenges define what he got out of life. Carl worked for over 20 years as an overhead crane operator for Vulcan Foundry in Denham Springs and later worked as a plumbing assistant for several years.
More recently, he sold watermelons and other fruits and vegetables alongside Hwy. 25 near the Bogue Chitto River Bridge. Carl loved getting out each season and meeting the customers he sold to, many coming back over and over again.
He loved fishing most of all. Carl fished from his boat in nearby marshes, or in local creeks, rivers and ponds or any other body of water he could find to drop a line. He enjoyed watching Gunsmoke and other Western TV shows and movies. He was a one-of-a-kind character that enjoyed having fun and picking with his family and friends. Carl will be forever missed by all that knew him.
Survived by:
Wife of 38 years: Joe Ann Pratt Schilling of Mt. Hermon
Son: John Curtis Pratt of Walker
Grandchildren: John Carl Pratt,
Isabella Marie Pratt, Allison Marie Pratt, Andrew Jordan Pratt
Mother: Janice Creel Schilling of Mt. Hermon
Brothers and a Sister in law: Ronald and Hope Schilling of Monticello, MS, James A. Schilling of Tylertown, MS, James Ray Creel of Plainview
Sister: Gwendolyn Schilling Dickey of Brookhaven, MS
Brother in law: Fred Graham
Nieces and Nephews: Jeanette Pratt, Emily Toms, Ethan Toms, Julianna Pratt, Jayden Pratt, Crystal Woodriff
Also numerous other beloved nieces, nephews and cousins
He was preceded in death by his father Ray Schilling, brother in law Steve Dickey, father in law and mother in law John and Edell Pratt, sister in law and brother in law Diane and Robert Woodriff, sister in law Debra Sandell and other family members.
Visitation will be at Crain Funeral Home (1109 Bene Street, Franklinton, LA) on Monday April 28th from 3:00 pm until 8:00 pm. A funeral service will be held in the funeral home chapel at 8:00 pm Monday with Rev. Lenard Smith and Rev. Michael Stafford officiating.
The family was served by Crain Funeral Home of Franklinton.
