Obituary

Kris Green Wamsley

October 12, 1978 - July 5, 2025

Kris Green Wamsley, age 46, passed away on July 5, 2025, at his home in Lacombe, Louisiana.

Kris was born in Gainesville, Florida, on October 12, 1978. At the age of two, he moved with his father to Slidell, Louisiana, and later settled in Bogalusa at age seven, where he attended local schools. As a young man, Kris was active in the youth program at First Baptist Church and participated in a wide range of activities at Bogalusa High School. A gifted athlete, he played varsity football for the Bogalusa Lumberjacks and graduated in 1997.

Kris continued his football career at the University of Southern Mississippi, where he earned a championship ring, and later at McNeese State University. He earned a Bachelor of Arts in Kinesiology and completed his teacher certification at Southeastern University in 2002. He taught for a year in the Bogalusa School System before choosing to serve his country.

Kris enlisted in the United States Army, where he specialized in nuclear, biological, and chemical decontamination. He served six years at Fort Hood, Texas, and continued his service in the U.S. Army Reserve. He was scheduled to retire in October 2025, marking 21 years of honorable service.

A dedicated learner, Kris earned multiple degrees including a Master of Arts in International Relations from St. Mary’s University in Austin, Texas; a Bachelor of Science in Information Technology from the University of Phoenix; and an Associate of Science in Information Systems and Cybersecurity from ITT Technical Institute.

Kris built a successful career as a government contractor, working in cybersecurity and information systems with top-secret clearance. His work supported the Navy, Air Force, and Marines at bases across the southeastern United States. Kris’ current assignment was serving on NASA’s Artemis Moon Program at Stennis Space Center. In October 2024, Kris moved into the home he proudly built in Lacombe—a place where he found joy in creating a life rooted in stability and comfort.

Kris is survived by his parents, Kurt and Judy Wamsley; his sisters, Holly McNeese and Tiffany McNeese Jenkins (Mike); and his nieces and nephews: Abigail Durham, Lauren Durham, John Robert Durham, Maddie Jenkins, and Eli Osborne. He is also survived by his aunt and uncle, Kay and Larry Deckerhoff, and uncle Mike Breland; and by his cousins Barron Deckerhoff (Brittany), Brittany Deckerhoff, Amy Williams (George), and Matt Breland.

He was preceded in death by his grandparents, Leon and Vurel Wamsley, and John Henry and Doris Boyet.

A visitation will be held on Saturday, July 12, 2025, at First Baptist Church in Bogalusa beginning at 10:30 a.m., with funeral services to follow at 2:00 p.m.

Kris will be remembered for his unwavering dedication to service, his brilliance in technology, his deep love for his family, and the strength of character that shaped every chapter of his life.

In lieu of flowers, the family kindly requests that donations be made to First Baptist Church of Bogalusa in Kris’s memory.

Poole-Ritchie Funeral Home & Crematory in Bogalusa is in charge of arrangements.