Changes

==Background==

==Background==

 

Looney was born in the Yellow Pine community, located south of Sibley in Webster Parish, Louisiana, to Julian A. Looney (1871–1958) and the former Mollie McKinney (1872–1932).<ref>Earlene Mendenhall Lyle, ''The Minden Cemetery: A Pleasant Resting Place,'' June 2004, p. 65.</ref> The community was so named because the original buildings were all constructed in yellow pine timber. Julian and Mollie Looney shared a July 17 birthday but a year apart.​

Looney was born in the Yellow Pine community, located south of Sibley in Webster Parish, Louisiana, to Julian A. Looney (1871–1958) and the former Mollie McKinney (1872–1932).<ref>Earlene Mendenhall Lyle, ''The Minden Cemetery: A Pleasant Resting Place,'' June 2004, p. 65.</ref> The community was so named because the original buildings were all constructed in yellow pine timber. Julian and Mollie Looney shared a July 17 birthday but a year apart.​

Looney derived subject matter from forty-five of the fifty states as well as [[Canada]] and [[Mexico]]. ''Ford Times,'' an in-house organ of the [[Ford|Ford Motor Company]], published some forty-five of his paintings and articles. Another Looney painting is in the magazine of the [[Smithsonian Institution]] in Washington, D.C. His work has been also displayed at [[Lyndon B. Johnson|LBJ Ranch]] in Gillespie County, [[Texas]]. Though Looney's published work was watercolor, most of his artistic talent was applied to oil or acrylic and is in private family collections. One of his popular oil paintings is titled, "Downtown Baton Rouge, 1920." Between 1940 and 1970, Looney painted many plantation houses in Louisiana. He painted large oil murals for various dignitaries and clients, including Ford Motor Company.<ref name=lahist/>​

Looney derived subject matter from forty-five of the fifty states as well as [[Canada]] and [[Mexico]]. ''Ford Times,'' an in-house organ of the [[Ford|Ford Motor Company]], published some forty-five of his paintings and articles. Another Looney painting is in the magazine of the [[Smithsonian Institution]] in Washington, D.C. His work has been also displayed at [[Lyndon B. Johnson|LBJ Ranch]] in Gillespie County, [[Texas]]. Though Looney's published work was watercolor, most of his artistic talent was applied to oil or acrylic and is in private family collections. One of his popular oil paintings is titled, "Downtown Baton Rouge, 1920." Between 1940 and 1970, Looney painted many plantation houses in Louisiana. He painted large oil murals for various dignitaries and clients, including Ford Motor Company.<ref name=lahist/>​

Other works included the following: "Beau Sejour," watercolors of Louisiana plantation houses; "Drawings of the Vieux Carre," a look at [[New Orleans]] and the[French Quarter, with captions in [[English]] and [[France|French]]; ''Cajun Vignettes,'' a collection of [[short story|short stories]] and [[poem]]s; "Looney Plants Grow Wild," paintings and satirical horticultural definitions.<ref>"Sibley native pens unusual book: His plants are 'Looney,'" ''Minden Press-Herald,'' November 30, 1978, p. 1.</ref>​

Other works included the following: "Beau Sejour," watercolors of Louisiana plantation houses; "Drawings of the Vieux Carre," a look at [[New Orleans]] and the French Quarter, with captions in [[English]] and [[France|French]]; ''Cajun Vignettes,'' a collection of [[short story|short stories]] and [[poem]]s; "Looney Plants Grow Wild," paintings and satirical horticultural definitions.<ref>"Sibley native pens unusual book: His plants are 'Looney,'" ''Minden Press-Herald,'' November 30, 1978, p. 1.</ref>​

==Death and family==

==Death and family==

 

Looney died in a Lafayette hospital of complications from [[Parkinson's disease]].<ref name=death/> He was preceded in death by his parents; a brother, Julian L. Looney (1894–1958), and a brother-in-law, Robert D. Moseley (1894–1972). His father and brother died the same year. Survivors included two sisters, Eula Looney Moseley (1896–1986), the widow of Robert Moseley, and Lucille Looney Miller (1898–1994), wife of Ray Winn Miller, Sr. (1899–1981). Looney died two months before the passing of brother-in-law Ray Miller. All the Looneys are interred at the historic Minden Cemetery except for Ben Looney himself, who donated his remains to the LSU School of Medicine. Looney never married.<ref name=death/>​

Looney died in a Lafayette hospital of complications from [[Parkinson's disease]].<ref name=death/> He was preceded in death by his parents; a brother, Julian L. Looney (1894–1958), and a brother-in-law, Robert D. Moseley (1894–1972). His father and brother died the same year. Survivors included two sisters, Eula Looney Moseley (1896–1986), the widow of Robert Moseley, and Lucille Looney Miller (1898–1994), wife of Ray Winn Miller, Sr. (1899–1981). Looney died two months before the passing of brother-in-law Ray Miller. All the Looneys are interred at the historic Minden Cemetery except for Ben Looney himself, who donated his remains to the LSU School of Medicine. Looney never married.<ref name=death/>​

==References==

==References==

{{reflist}}

{{reflist}}

 

 

{{DEFAULTSORT:Looney, Ben Earl}}​

{{DEFAULTSORT:Looney, Ben Earl}}​

[[Category:Louisiana People]]​

[[Category:Louisiana People]]​

[[Category:American Authors]]

[[Category:American Authors]]

[[Category:Professors]]​

[[Category:Professors]]​