November 2001 Obituaries

Julius Ray Monceaux
Funeral services were held Saturday, Nov. 17, at 1 p.m. in Immaculate Heart of Mary Catholic Church for Julius Ray Monceaux, 42, who died at 5:30 a.m. on Friday, Nov. 16, 2001, at Crowley Guest House.
Burial was held in Abshire Cemetery, located in rural Kaplan. Officiating for the services was Father Joseph Greenwell.
A rosary was held at 7 p.m. on Friday.
Visitation was observed from 3 p.m. until 10 p.m. on Friday and from 8 a.m. until time of services on Saturday.
Survivors include his parents, Gilbert and Lona Mae Monceaux of Crowley; three brothers, Ronald Monceaux of Crowley; Glen and his wife, Debbie Monceaux of Crowley and Pat and his wife, Lisa Monceaux of Crowley; five nieces, Tiffany, Ashley, Hannah, Chasity and Sophia.
Geesey-Ferguson Funeral Home was in charge of all arrangements.

Clovis Mouton
Funeral services were held Monday, Nov. 12, at 10 a.m. in St. John the Baptist Church in Lyons Point for Clovis Joseph Mouton, 85, who died Saturday, Nov. 10, 2001, in American Legion Hospital.
Burial was in Woodlawn Cemetery. A rosary was recited Sunday at 7:30 p.m. at Geesey-Ferguson Funeral Home.
Visitation was Suday from 9 a.m. until 10 p.m. and Monday from 8 a.m. until 9:30 a.m.
Survivors include one son, Daniel J. Mouton and his wife Beth of Rayne; three daughters, Shirley M. Romero and her husband Ray of Crowley; Ethel M. Miller of Crowley and Elizabeth M. Comeaux of Crowley and her husband Gilford; one brother, Alger Mouton and his wife Una of Crowley; one step-grandchild, nine grandchildren and 20 great-grandchildren.
He was preceded in death by his wife, Audrey Hebert Mouton, parents, Eusebe and Liza Mouton, a great-grandchild, Aaron Comeaux and his first wife, Anna Roche Mouton.
Mr. Mouton was a retired salesman for Tom’s Snacks and a member of St. John the Baptist Church.
Pallbearers will be Earl and Keith Mouton, Karl Miller, Brent Abadie, Jacoby Senegal and Michael Prejean. Honorary pallbearers will be Corie Dugas and Jeremy Senegal.

A memorial service will be held for Edwin and Claire Dupuis at Woodlawn Cemetery Saturday, Nov. 24, at 1 p.m. A reception will follow at the Carriage House at 220 E. Third St.

RAYNE — Meryl Guidry Amy, 74, of Rayne, died Thursday, Nov. 15, 2001, at Our Lady of Lourdes Regional Medical Center. Funeral services will be at 10 a.m. Saturday, Nov. 17, at St. Joseph Catholic Church. Interment will be in St. Joseph Mausoleum. Gossen Funeral Home of Rayne is in charge of arrangements.

Lorraine S. Singleton
SULPHUR - Funeral services will be held at 2 p.m. Saturday, November 17, 2001, at Holy Trinity Episcopal Church for Lorraine S. Singleton, 83, who died Saturday, November 10, 2001, at a care center in Lake Charles.
Father Hal Hutchison will officiate for the services.
Survivors include two sons, John Singleton of Westlake and Pat (Randy) Singleton of Logansport; four grandchildren and four great-grandchildren.
Mrs. Singleton was a native of Crowley and has lived in Sulphur since 1946. She was a graduate of Crowley High and the former L.S.I. (now U.L.L.). She was a member of Holy Trinity Episcopal Church. She taught Kindergarten and piano in Old Maplewood.
Sulphur Memorial Funeral Home is in charge of arrangements.

Mary Goldie Melancon
Funeral services for Mary Goldie Melancon, 70, of Crowley, will be at 9 a.m. Saturday, Nov. 17, at St. Theresa Catholic Church.
Interment will be in St. Francis of Assisi Cemetery in Breaux Bridge.
Visitation will be at First Church of God in Christ of Crowley from 6 to 10 p.m. Friday and from 7 until 8:45 a.m. Saturday at St. Theresa Catholic Church, with a Rosary being recited at 8:00 a.m.
A native of Breaux Bridge, Mrs. Melancon died Thursday, Nov. 10, 2001, in Houston.
She is survived by one son and daughter-in-law, Linston and Vanessa Melancon of Houston; four daughters and sons-in-law, Veronica and John Guillory, Katherine and Hollis Gordon and Marcella and Aaron Boudreaux, all of Houston, and Suella and the Rev. Louis Dugar of Crowley; two brothers, Curley Ledet of Mississippi and John and his wife Olivia Ledet of Crowley; 16 grandchildren, four great grandchildren, and a host of nieces and nephews.
She was preceded in death by her parents, Armond and Rita Ledet; her husband, Freddie Melancon, one daughter, Cynthia Melancon; one sister, Beaulah Zenon; and one brother, Henry Ledet.
Ford and Joseph Funeral Home of Opelousas is in charge of arrangements.

CHURCH POINT – Mary Louise Matte, 74, died at 1:15 a.m. Thursday, November 8, 2001 at Our Lady of Lourdes Hospital in Lafayette. Funeral services will be held at 2 p.m. today, Friday, November 9, at Our Lady of the Sacred Heart Church. Duhon Funeral Home of Church Point is in charge of arrangements.

CHURCH POINT – Amy Courville Jagneaux, 81, died at 7:40 p.m. Tuesday, November 6, 2001 at Acadia-St. Landry Hospital. Funeral services will be held at 2 p.m. Thursday, November 8, at Our Lady of the Sacred Heart Church. Duhon Funeral Home of Church Point is in charge of arrangements.

CHURCH POINT – Desmond Jamal Leger, 9, died at 3:00 p.m. Saturday, November 3, 2001 at Lafayette General Hosptial as the result of an automobile accident on Friday, November 2. Funeral services will be held at 11 a.m. Saturday, November 10, at Holy Family Chu2rch in Lawtell. Duhon Funeral Home of Church Point is in charge of arrangements.

CHURCH POINT – Mrs. Mary Lewis, 82, died Monday, Nov. 5, 2001, at Opelousas General Hospital. Funeral services will be held at 1 p.m. at Our Mercy of Mercy Catholic Church in Church Point and burial in the church cemetery. Owens-Thomas Funeral Home of Crowley is in charge of arrangements.

Allen Bergeaux
EVANGELINE — Funeral services will be held at 10 a.m. today, Thursday, Nov. 8, 2001, at St. Joseph Catholic Church for Allen Bergeaux, 91, who died at 6:20 a.m. Tuesday, Nov 6, 2001, at Jennings American Legion Hospital.
Father Kenneth Mayne will officiate for the services. Burial will be held in the Tee-Mamou Cemetery.
Visitation began on Wednesday from 11:30 a.m. until 10 p.m. and on Thursday from 8 a.m. until the time of services.
A vigil service was held on Wednesday evening at 7 p.m., with a rosary following at 7:45 p.m. on Wednesday. Both were conducted by Mr. Bergeaux’s son-in-law, Deacon Jimmy Bourgeois.
Survivors include his wife, Bessie L. Bergeaux of Evangeline; three sons, Floyd Bergeaux, Robert Bergeaux and his wife Laura, all of Jennings, and Gerald Bergeaux and his wife Rhonda of Broussard; three daughters, Mrs. Joyce Bourgeois and her husband Deacon Jimmy of Port Neches, Tx., Mrs. Florence Miller and her husband Thomas of Iota, and Mrs. Bernadine Fusilier of Jennings; one brother-in-law, Theonis Mire of Evangeline; 30 grandchildren, 67 great-grandchildren, and five great-great grandchildren.
He was preceded in death by his parents, Ferial and Julia Bergeaux; a daughter, Julia Mae Bergeaux; and daughter-in-law, Dorothy Bergeaux; two sons-in-law, Alden Miller and Jack Fusilier; and, two sisters, Nina Mire and Hannah LeDoux.
Mr. Bergeaux was born on October 14, 1910 in Evangeline. He was a native and resident of Evangeline, having been a Knight of Columbus and retired laborer with Everwood Treating.
Matthews and Son Funeral Home of Jennings is in charge of arrangements.

CHURCH POINT – Loithy Derby Savoy, 73, died Sunday, November 4, 2001 in Opelousas. Funeral services will be held today, Wednesday, November 7, 2001 at 11 a.m. at Our Lady of the Sacred Heart Church. Duhon Funeral Home of Church Point is in charge of arrangements.

Emery Bellard
JENNINGS — Funeral services for Emery Bellard, 90, will be held at 2 p.m., today, Wenesday, Nov. 7, in the Evangeline First Baptist Church with Revs. Bob Bollich and George Snell officiating.
Burial will be in the Miller French Church Cemetery under direction of Miguez Funeral Home.
Funeral home visitation was from 2:30 until 9 p.m. Tuesday and from 1 p.m. today (Wednesday) in the church.
Mr. Bellard died at 11:25 a.m., Monday, Nov. 5, 2001, in the Jennings American Legion Hospital.
A native of Elton, he had been a resident of Evangeline most of his life. He was a retired welder for the shipyards. He was a member of First Baptist Church and was a former Sunday School secretary and Sunday School Superintendent, deacon-elect, custodian of the church and was very much loved by the members of the church.
Survivors include one daughter and son-in-law, Ida and George Crochet of Evangeline; one sister, Mildred Bellard Ortego of Iota; one brother, Felix Bellard of Gottes Cove; five grandchildren, Donna LaBato, Phyllis Sensay, Shari LaFleur, Howard and Christopher Sensat; and 10 great grandchildren.
He was preceded in death by his wife, Bertile Miller Bellard; his parents, Dominique and Mary Lacombe Bellard; a brother, Ulyese "Dutch" Bellard; and two grandchildren, Daniel Bryan Sensat and Jonathan Emery Sensat.

Mrs. Mary Lucille Corbins-Meralla
FLORIDA - Funeral services will be held at 3 p.m. Tuesday, Nov. 6, at Bethel C.M.E. Church in Crowley for Mrs. Mary Lucille Corbins-Meralla, 41, who died Tuesday, Oct. 30, 2001, in Kissemmee, Florida.
Reverend Leslie Dugas will officiate for the services. Burial will be held in the West Crowley Cemetery.
Visitation was observed Tuesday at 1 p.m. and the family viewing at 2 p.m. until the time of services at 3 p.m.
Survivors include her parents, Lucille and Russell Corbins Sr. of Crowley; her husband, Osmaro Meralla of Kissimmee, Fla.; two daughters, Taija and Myoshia Meralla of Kissimmee, Fla.; one sister, Cynthia Scott of Crowley; one brother, Russell Corbins Jr. of Rayne; and her paternal grandmother, Virginia Corbins of Crowley.
Mrs. Meralla was born in Crowley and moved to Florida in 1995 were she was a teachers assistant for the Osceola County School Board.
She was a member of the GAP Ministries of Kissimmee, Fla. and also served as a Bible school teacher and as a volunteer at the GAP Ministries soup kitchen.
She was also a member of the Sigma Gamma Rho Sorority
Marvin C. Zanders Funeral Home Inc. of Apopka, Fla. was in charge of arrangements, with Duhon Funeral Home of Crowley is in charge of local arrangements.

Emily Ewing Sloane
Funeral services will be held at 10 a.m. Tuesday, Nov. 6, 2001, at Parkerson Avenue Baptist Church in Crowley for Emily Ewing Sloane, 34, of Crowley, who died at 2:55 p.m. Saturday, Nov. 3, at American Legion Hospital in Crowley.
Reverend L.C. Lord will officiate for the services. Burial will be held in the Old Crowley Cemetery.
Visitation was held Monday from 4 to 8 p.m. and again on Tuesday from 8 a.m. until the time of services.
Survivors include one daughter, Maranda Ewing of Crowley; two sons, Brandon James Sloane of Crowley and Treavor Parsley of Evangeline; her mother and stepfather, Patsy and Jessie Baker of Crowley; two brothers, Daniel Ray Ewing of Toledo, Ohio and Herbert Dale Thibodeaux of St. Martinville; one sister, Tina Thibodeaux of Mire; one halfbrother, Philman Baker of Crowley; two half-sisters, Philemana Dupuis of Dayton, Texas and Christina Hayes of Houston.
Duhon Funeral Home of Crowley is in charge of arrangements.

Marilynn “Pat” Franzel
Funeral services were held today, Tuesday, November 6, at 10 a.m. at St. Michael the Archangel Catholic Church for Marilynn “Pat” Franzel, 79, who died Sunday, Nov. 4, 2001 at the Crowley Guest House.
Father James Nguyen officiated for the services. The visitation was observed Monday from 11 a.m. to 10 p.m. and Tuesday from 8 a.m. until service time. Burial was in Woodlawn Mausoleum. A rosary was recited Monday, Nov, 5, at 7 p.m. at the funeral home.
Survivors include her husband, Jimmy Franzel of Crowley; one son, Marcellus Franzel of Rayne; two grandaughters, Tracey Franzel of Lafayette, and Stephanie Ann Franzel of Crowley; one great granddaughter, Kamryn Klaire Semmes; and, one sister, Marcella Sensat of Crowley.
Mrs. Franzel taught religion for many years at St. Michael Catholic Church. She was a wonderful wife, mother and grandmother. She will be deeply missed and will be in the family’s thoughs and memories daily.
She was preceded in death by her parents, Dr. Marcellus Stagg and Rosalind Kavanaugh Stagg; one brother, Bubba Stagg; and, one sister, Rosalind Helms.
Duhon Funeral Home of Crowley has been entrusted with the arrangements.

RAYNE - Lydia Moore Beard, 91, died Sunday, Nov. 4, 2001, at Our Lady of Lourdes Medical Center in Lafayette. Funeral services will be held Wednesday Nov. 7, at 2 p.m. at St. Joseph Catholic Church in Rayne with burial in the church cemetery under the direction of Gossen Funeral Home in Rayne. She was a licenced florist for 50 years and owner of Rayne Flower Shop for the past 48 years in Rayne.

EVANGELINE - Emery Bellard, 90, of Evangeline, died at 11:25 a.m. Monday, Nov. 5, 2001 at the American Legion Hospital in Jennings. Arrange-ments are pending under the direction of Miguez Funeral Home of Jennings.

Maudrey LeBlanc Bouillion
Funeral services will be held Monday, Nov. 5, at 1:30 p.m. at St. Michael the Archangel Catholic Church for Maudrey LeBlanc Bouillion, 80, who died at 12:32 p.m. Friday, Nov. 2, 2001, ar Crowley American Legion Hospital.
Fathers Steve LeBlanc and Louis Richard, assisted by Deacon Rodless LeLeux, will officiate for the services. Burial will be in Woodlawn Cemetery.
Visitation will be observed Sunday 5 p.m. to 10 p.m. and Monday from 8 a.m. until the time of the services.
A rosary will be recited Sunday at 7:30 p.m. at the funeral home.
Survivors include one son, Eugene J. Bouillion Jr. and his wife Cheri of Orange, Texas; four daughters, Dorian B. Lee of Crowley, Mary Sarah Bouillion of Crowley, Cecile B. Thibodeaux and husband Faron of Sugarland, Texas and Shawn B. Hoffpauir and husband Ron of Humble, Texas; two brothers, Harold LeBlanc and Roy LeBlanc of Abbeville; eight grandchildren and two great grandchildren.
She was preceded in death by her husband, Eugene J. Bouillion; two brothers, Peter LeBlanc and Marvin LeBlanc, and three sisters, Edley L. Langlinais, Lou L. Radcliff and Hazel L. Miller.
Pallbearers are Eugene Bouillion, Blake Bouillion, Justin Lee, Faron Thibodeaux, Ron Hoffpauir and Harold Low.
Mrs. Bouillion was a parishioner of St. Michael the Archangel Catholic Church where she served as a lay minister.
Geesey-Ferguson Funeral Home of Crowley has been entrusted with the arrangements.

RICHARD – Gertie Mae Daigle, 70, died at 3:28 p.m. Friday, Nov. 2, 2001 at Summit Hospital in Baton Rouge. Funeral services will be held at 10:30 a.m. Monday, Nov. 5, at St. Edward Catholic Church in Richard, followed by burial in the church cemetery. Guidry Funeral Home of Church Point is in charge of arrangements.

BRANCH - Joseph (T-Joe) Savoy, 13, died Friday, Nov. 2, 2001 in Church Point. Funeral services will be held at 10 a.m. Monday, Nov. 5, at St. Edmund’s Catholic Church in Branch, followed by burial in the church cemetery. Duhon Funeral Home of Church Point has been entrusted with arrangements.

Hayes Joseph
Vice Jr.
Funeral services will be held at 10 a.m. Monday, Nov. 5, at St. Michael the Archangel Catholic Church in Crowley for Hayes Joseph Vice Jr., 59, who died at 5:50 p.m. Wednesday, Oct. 31, 2001 at Clarian Health Methodist Hospital in Indiana.
Father James will officiate for the services. Burial will be held in Woodlawn Mausoleum in Crowley.
Visitation will be observed Sunday 9:30 a.m. until 10 p.m. and on Monday from 8 a.m. until the time of services.
A rosary will be recited at 7 p.m. Sunday.
Survivors include his mother, Edith Myers Vice of Wamego, Kan.; his companion, Cecelia Sienicki of Noblesville, Ind.; one son, Michael Joseph Vice of Birmingham, Ala.; one daughter, Heidi Jo Vice Henzel of Denver; one brother, James Steven Vice of Oberlin; two sisters, Deanne Vice Lampton of Houma and Mary Suzanne Vice Ligctenhan of Wamego, Kan.; and three grandchildren.
He was preceded in death by his father, Hayes Joseph Vice Sr.
Vice was a graduate of USL in Lafayette and a former United State Marine.
The family requests that donations be made to the American Cancer Society or the Hospice of your choice.
Geesey-Ferguson Funeral Home of Crowley is in charge of arrangements.

Ralph Fuller Van Fosson
Funeral services will be held at 2:30 p.m. Sunday, Nov. 4, at the First Presbeterian Church for Ralph Fuller Van Fosson, 86, who died at 4:30 a.m. Friday, Nov. 2, 2001, following a long bout with cancer.
Visitation hours will be Saturday 5 to 7 p.m. at the Geesy Ferguson Funeral Home.
Rev. Roger M. Brown and Rev. Dr. Wilmer McNair will officiate. Rev. Jimmy Broussard will be the organist/soloist.
Van Fosson was born in 1915 in Trinway, Ohio. During the depression, he supported his family with his paper route. He worked numerous jobs to put himself through college earning a degree from Ohio University in 1937. In 1942, he enlisted the Army Air Corps and served as an aerial navigator for four years seeing service across the globe including England, North Africa, The Pacific Theater, and innumerable trips across "the Hump".
After the war Van worked for Sears Roebuck and General Motors before finding his calling with Prudential Life Insurance Company after moving with his family to Crowley in 1949. He took great pride in the service he rendered to his clients and their families and repeatedly qualified for the Million-Dollar Round Table.
As a resident of Crowley for 52 years, he served in many positions of leadership and service in many community organizations including the Rotary Club, Masons, Salvation Army, and the Crowley Christian Care Center. He was a loyal member of the First Presbyterian Church.
He was a loving husband for 57 years and is survived by his wife Frances; two daughters, Katrina Van Fosson of Baton Rouge, Marjorie Harral and her husband John of Gulfport; two sons Ralph Van Fosson, Jr. and his wife Frances of Mobile, and Charles Judson Van Fosson of Baton Rouge; six grandchildren and seven great grandchildren.
Geesey-Ferguson Funeral Home of Crowley has been entrusted with the arrangements.

Mrs. Myrta LeBoeuf
Funeral services will be held at 3 p.m. Friday, Nov. 2, at Duhon Funeral Home Chapel in Crowley for Mrs. Myrta LeBoeuf, 69, who died at 12:40 p.m. Thursday, Nov. 1, 2001, at her home in Crowley.
Father Joseph Greenwell will officiate for the services. Burial will be held in Abshire Cemetery.
Visitation was observed Thursday from 6 to 10 p.m. and again on Friday from 8 a.m. until the time of services.
A rosary was recited at 7 p.m. on Thursday.
Survivors include her husband, Victor LeBoeuf of Crowley; one daughter, Judy LeBoeuf of Crowley; one son, Gerald J. LeBoeuf of Crowley; two sisters, Edula R. Smith of Crowley and Merdie R. Abshire of Kaplan; one brother, Ovey Richard of Crowley; one granddaughter and her husband, Nikki LeBoeuf Arnold and Ed Arnold of Lake Charles; one grandson and his fiancee, Brent J. LeBoeuf and Emily Johnson of Crowley; numerous nieces and nephews.
She was preceded in death by her parents, Arte and Desiria Richard, and two brothers, Adris and Oday Richard.
Duhon Funeral Home of Crowley is in charge of arrangements.

Clayton Joseph Broussard
Funeral services will be held at 1 p.m. Friday, Nov. 2, at Immaculate Heart of Mary Catholic Church for Clayton Joseph Broussard, 50, a resident of Abbeville, who died Wednesday, Oct. 31, 2001, at Lafayette General Hospital.
Burial will be held in St. John the Baptist Cemetery in Lyons Point.
Visitation will be observed on Thursday, Nov. 1 from 10 a.m. until time of service on Friday.
A rosary will be recited at 7 p.m. on Thursday.
Survivors include his wife, Loretta Guillot Broussard; two sons, Shannon Broussard and his wife Christy of Arkansas, and Clay Broussard and his wife Inez of Scott; one daughter, Shelly Broussard of Abbeville; two grandchildren, Christian and Cameron Broussard of Arkansas; his mother, Lovenia (Ben) Guidry; four sisters, Charlene Schexnayder and her husband Johnnie, Anna Lee Hoffpauir and her husband Joe, Danell Trumps and her husband Chris, all of Crowley, and Loretta Broussard of St. Francisville; two brothers, Walter Broussard and his wife Jackie of Crowley, and Bob Broussard and his wife Monica of Duson; 13 nieces and nephews and 12 great nieces and nephews.
He was preceded in death by his father, Ovey Broussard and one brother, Ernest Broussard.
Geesey Ferguson Funeral Home of Crowley is in charge of arrangements.

Jed Abshire Sr.
Funeral services were held Wednesday, Oct. 31, at 2 p.m. at the Duhon Funeral Home Chapel for Jed Abshire Sr., 63, who died at 2:55 a.m. Tuesday, Oct. 30, 2001, at University Medical Center of Lafayette.
Father Joseph Greenwell officiated the services. Burial was in St. John the Baptist Cemetery in Lyons Point.
The visitation was observed Wednesday from 9 a.m. until the time of the service at 2 p.m.
Survivors include his wife, Eleanor Abshire of Crowley; two sons and their spouses, Ronan Keith and Terri Abshire of Baton Rouge and Jed James and Kathy Abshire Jr. of Lafayette; one daughter, Sheryl Ann Myers of Crowley; five brothers, Allison “Gro” Abshire of Crowley, Emerson “Ta-Ta” Abshire of Morse, Chester Abshire of El Paso, Texas, Huey Abshire of San Antonio and Rudy Abshire of Crowley; one half sister, Eunice Palombo of Lafayette; six grandchildren and five great grandchildren.
He was preceded in death by both sets of parents, Ida LeLeux Abshire and Ramus Abshire and his adopted parents after the death of his mother, Oza “Black” LeLeux Boatner and I.H. Boatner; two sisters, Beatrice Abshire Benoit and Thelma Abshire Guidry; and one brother, Sandrus Abshire.
Mr. Abshire was a pilot and mechanic at his father’s flying service, Gueydan Flying Service. He owned his own Cesna airplane and loved flying his own plane until he retired. He was a beloved husband, father, grandfather and great grandfather.
Duhon Funeral Home of Crowley has been entrusted with the arrangements.

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