Althea Victoria Burkett Dayton

Althea Victoria Burkett Dayton, 97, of West Monroe, passed away on March 11, 2026 in Ruston, surrounded by her loved ones. Born on January 23, 1929 in West Monroe, she lived a life deeply rooted in faith and service to her community. A charter member of St. Paschal Catholic Church, where her father built the first church and her mother served as the first Altar Society President, Althea continued her family’s legacy through devoted involvement in her church and many civic organizations. She served as a room mother, chaired the school carnival, and was an active member of the Altar Society, Catholic Daughters, KC Auxiliary, ladies auxiliary, and numerous other groups, eventually receiving the Bishop’s medal in recognition of her contributions.

Althea was preceded in death by her husband, Perry Eli Dayton; her daughter, Janet Leah Dayton; her parents, Mary and Charlie Burkett, Sr.; her sisters, Mary Hecthlinger, Patricia Bower, and Helen Catherine Burkett; and her brother, Charles C. Burkett, Jr.

She is survived by her daughters, Dianna Dayton-Ganley and husband John, Carolyn Paris and husband Andy, Mary D. Rowlan, and Allie Smith; 12 grandchildren; 20 great-grandchildren; numerous nieces and nephews; and a wide circle of extended family and friends.