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Herman Singleton, 37, a native of Amelia and resident of New Orleans, died Monday at Medical Center of Louisiana at New Orleans.
Visitation will be at Union Bethel AME Church in Amelia on Saturday from 10 a.m. until 1 p.m.
Funeral rites, the Rev. Horace Cooper officiating, will be at the church on Saturday at 1 p.m. interment will be in the church cemetery in Amelia.
Survivors include his wife, Paula Marshall Singleton of New Orleans; a stepdaughter, Arrianne Marshall; a brother, Leroy Jones of Amelia; and four sisters, Lillie Thibodaux of Morgan City, Ora Lee Singleton and Emma Matthews, both of Amelia, and Irma Stewart of Baker.
He was preceded in death by his mother, Thelma Singleton Jones; grandparents, Mack and Emma Julia Singleton; three brothers, Rayfield Richardson, Rutherford Jones and Raymond Jones; two sisters, Shirley Mae Singleton and Shirley Mae Gaines; three uncles and two aunts.
Jones Funeral Home in Morgan City is in charge of arrangements.
Ira Matt, 77, a native of Eunice, resident of Morgan City, and former resident of Pharr, Texas , for 31 years, went to his Heavenly maker on Dec. 9, 2004, at Teche Regional Medical Center.
He managed the Twin City Fisherman Co-Op in Morgan City. He owned and operated Cash-n-Carry Lumber Co. in Patterson for many years. Upon closing his company in Patterson, he moved and established Matt’s Cash-n-Carry Lumber Company in Pharr and San Benita, Texas , for 31 years. After retiring, Ira and his wife, Mary Alice “Sue” Matt, returned to Morgan City.
Ira served in the U.S. Navy during World War II. He also served as a Deacon in the First Baptist Church in San Juan, Texas , a board member of the Alamo Bank in Alamo, Texas , a member of AARP, and reigned as the 1969 Shrimp and Petroleum Festival King.
Visitation will be at Hargrave Funeral Home in Morgan City on Sunday, Dec. 12, 2004, from 6 p.m. to 9 p.m.
Funeral services will be conducted at the funeral home chapel on Monday, Dec. 13, 2004, at 10 a.m.
He is survived by his wife, Mary Alice “Sue” Hebert Matt; a daughter, Cheryl Martinez and husband, Charlie, of Harlingen, Texas ; grandchildren Chelsey Smith Perez and husband, Ruben, of San Juan, Texas , Jeremy Smith and wife, Martha, of Pharr, Texas , Deanna and Brodrick Martinez of Harlingen, Texas ; and three great-grandchildren, Ruben, Eli and Summer Perez, all of San Juan, Texas .
He was preceded in death by his parents, Layten and Hilda Matt; a brother, L.C. Matt; one sister, Wilda Sonnier; and a son, Glynn Allen Matt.
He leaves behind numerous in- laws, nieces and nephews.
Hargrave Funeral Home has been entrusted with the arrangements.
Richard Allen Watkins, 28, a native of Morgan City and a a lifelong resident of Moss Bluff, died Thursday at his residence.
Survivors include his wife, Kari Ditmars Watkins of Lake Charles and Moss Bluff; one son, Christopher Watkins; a daughter, Destiny Watkins; one half-sister, Barbara Oracoy; two half-brothers, William Watkins and Steve Watkins, all of New Orleans.
He was preceded in death by his parents and two half-brothers.
Funeral services were held today at the Hixson Funeral Home in Moss Bluff with burial in the Ritchie Cemetery.
In lieu of flowers, donations would be appreciated since their home and all possessions were destroyed in the house fire.
Beverly Ann “Bev” Darby Myers
Aug. 2, 1939 – Dec. 10, 2004
Beverly Ann “Bev” Darby Myers, 65, a native of Kaplan and a resident of New Iberia, died Friday, Dec. 10, 2004, at her daughters’ residence in Patoutville. She was a Baptist by Faith.
Bev will always be remembered as a kind and caring lady that was there when you needed her and was a good listener. She had a great sense of humor and loved many things in life including puzzles, Community Coffee, rummy and especially cooking, with a specialty in home-made fudge.
She lived her life for her family and especially her grandchildren. She loved nothing more than to sit and play Scrabble with them.
She was a resident of Bayou Vista for many years and while living there was a member of Bayou Vista Baptist Church.
She was a beloved wife, mother, and grandmother, and will be sadly missed by all who knew and loved her and each life that she touched in her own special way.
She was the daughter of the late Lionel Darby and the late Ella Lege Darby.
She is survived by a daughter, Tina Myers and Timothy Derouen of Patoutville; two sons, Dwayne Myers and his wife, Melissa, of New Iberia, and David Myers and Charmaine Hackney of Houma; four sisters, Goldie Heard and her husband, Morris, of Gueydan, Roberta Mire of Bayou Vista, Joyce Hebert and her husband, Edward, of Abbeville, and Earline Suire and her husband, Stacy, of Kaplan; seven brothers, Thomas Darby and his wife, Velta, of Abbeville, Kenneth Darby of Kaplan, Robert Darby and his wife, Judy, of Morgan City, Raymond Darby and his wife, Edmire, of Jasper, Texas , Doisey Darby and his wife, Marilyn, of Sulphur, Curtis Darby and his wife, Emily, of Pearland, Texas , and Earl Darby and his wife, Sarah, of Abbeville; two grandchildren, Ashley Myers and Katelyn Myers, both of New Iberia; and two very special children, Scott Peters and Alexis Peters of New Iberia, who knew her as “Granny.”
She was preceded in death by her parents; her loving husband, Lester Myers; and a sister, Hazel Paterson.
The family received friends from 6 p.m. to 9 p.m. Saturday, Dec. 11, 2004, and from 9 a.m. to 2 p.m. Sunday, Dec. 12, 2004, at Twin City Funeral Home. Funeral services were held at Twin City Funeral Home at 2 p.m. Sunday, Dec. 12, 2004, with the Rev. Noah Langley officiating. interment was at the Morgan City Cemetery.
Twin City Funeral Home in Morgan City was entrusted with the arrangements.
Elisabeth Gertrude Smoorenburg Leunissen
April 12, 1931 – Dec. 13, 2004
Elisabeth Gertrude Smoorenburg Leunissen, 73, a native of Oegstgeest, Netherlands, and a resident of Bayou Vista, died Monday, Dec. 13, 2004, at her residence. She was a member of St. Bernadette Catholic Church in Bayou Vista.
The year was 1957, with nothing but hope and a dream, Elisabeth, her husband, Henry, and their daughter, Marijke, immigrated to the United States of America. It did not take long for them to find their place in America and Elisabeth started making plans to become the “Christopher Columbus” of the Smoorenburg family.
She is responsible for many in her family to come and experience the American dream.
In 1957 she sponsored her brother, Gus, and his family to come and make America their home.
Six months later she sponsored her brother, Frank, and his family to come. In 1959 her brother, Anthony, would join them as a single man of 22 years old.
Her love for the United States combined with her love for her family will forever live on in the many members of her family that are now successful citizens in the private and public sectors of this great land they call home.
Elisabeth always will be remembered as an outgoing lady with a passion for community service in Patterson, Morgan City and Bayou Vista. She selflessly gave of herself for a life of service to others.
She was a volunteer member of the American Red Cross for over 25 years, serving 10 of those years as its Regional Chairman. She was a volunteer at Lakewood Hospital and took great pride in her service in the information booth and the gift shop. She was always willing to help those that needed her and her life will forever be a fond memory to each of those that called her friend.
Elisabeth had many hobbies. She loved sewing and needlepoint and loved to play the piano.
She loved her family dearly and always will be remembered as “the greatest babysitter in the world” to her grandchildren.
She was a beloved mother, grandmother and great-grandmother and will be sadly missed by all who knew and loved her and each life that she touched in her own special way.
She was the daughter of the late Henrikas Smoorenburg and the late Elisabeth Van de Linde Smoorenburg.
She is survived by her two daughters, Marijke “Mikey” Berrier of Santa Rosa Beach, Fla., and Genevieve “Genny” Leunissen of Youngsville; three brothers, Gus Smoorenburg and his wife, Marion, of Sheridan, Ore., Frank Smoorenburg and his wife, Louise, of Patterson, and Anthony Smoorenburg and his wife, Jean, of Conroe, Texas ; four granddaughters, Coral Robinett, Jessica Landry, Sarah Berrier and Ashley Landry; and two great-grandchildren, Starr Marie Robinett and Skyler Robinett.
She was preceded in death by her parents; her partner in life for over 30 years, Michael O’Keeffe; two brothers, Hank Smoorenburg and Gerard Smoorenburg; and two sisters, Ria Boumans and Ivonne Wolters.
The family will receive friends from 9 a.m. to 1 p.m. Wednesday, Dec. 15, 2004, at St. Joseph Catholic Church in Patterson. A Mass of Christian burial will be held at St. Joseph Catholic Church at 1 p.m. Wednesday, Dec. 15, 2004, with Father Richard Greene officiating.
Twin City Funeral Home in Morgan City has been entrusted with the arrangements.
Mary Lipari Abate, 79, of Lake Charles died at 3:08 a.m. Saturday, Dec. 11, 2004, at her residence surrounded by her family.
She was born in Franklin and raised in Patterson. She was a graduate of Patterson High School and lived in Lake Charles for 59 years.
Along with her husband, Mrs. Abate owned and operated Abate’s Hardware on Kirkman Street, Abate’s Grocery Store on Enterprise Boulevard and she also owned and operated Curl-O-Rama Beauty Salon for over 30 years.
She was a member of Our Lady Queen of Heaven Catholic Church and the Catholic Daughters. Mrs. Abate was a member of the Amicus Club, the Buccaneers, VFW Post 2130 Ladies Auxiliary, W.B. Williamson American Legion Post 1, AARP and the Singles Club. She loved to cook, dance, fish and play cards with friends.
Survivors include one son, V.J. Abate and wife, Eva, of Lake Charles; one daughter, Mary Liz Hollingsworth and husband, Rodney, of Lake Charles; five grandchildren, Carrie Vincent, Mark Hollingsworth, Vee Abate, Ryan Abate and Alexis Albarado; seven great grandchildren; and one brother, Jake P. Lipari of Patterson.
Her first husband, Vincent Abate Jr.; second husband, Ewell Faulk; four sisters and three brothers, preceded her in death.
Funeral services were held Monday, Dec. 13, 2004, at Our Lady Queen of Heaven Catholic Church. The Rev. Joseph McGrath officiated. Burial will be in Consolata Cemetery
under the direction of Johnson Funeral Home.
Visitation was held Sunday with a scripture service and rosary held. Visitation continued Monday at the funeral home.
The family requests memorial donations be made to P.H.A. (Pulmonary Hypertension Association), 850 Silgo Avenue Suite 800, Silver Spring, MD 30910.
Lois Triggs, 79, a native and resident of Patterson, died Tuesday at her residence.
Visitation will be observed at St. Luke Baptist Church in Patterson on Saturday from 9 a.m. until 1 p.m.
Funeral services will begin at 1 p.m. Saturday at the church with interment in the Patterson Memorial Cemetery.
She is survived by an adopted daughter, Eula Guy of Patterson.
She was preceded in death by her husband and her parents.
Jones Funeral Home in Morgan City is in charge of arrangements.
Charles “C.W.” Walker, 57, a native and resident of Morgan City, died Wednesday at 5:47 a.m. at Veterans Administration Hospital in New Orleans.
Visitation will be held Saturday from 8 a.m. until 10 a.m. at New Zora Baptist Church in Morgan City.
Funeral services will begin at 10 a.m. Saturday at the church. Burial will be in the Morgan City Cemetery.
He is survived by his wife, Barbara Williams Walker of Morgan City; two sons, Charles Walker Jr. of Lafayette and Jason Paul Walker of Houston; one daughter, Charlissa Ann Washington of Lafayette; two brothers, Junius “Billy” Walker of Patterson and Warren MacArthur Walker of Chicago; three sisters, Bertha Mann and Sally Ledet, both of Morgan City and Patricia Stewart of Baton Rouge; and four grandchildren.
Jones Funeral Home in Morgan City is in charge of arrangements.
DORIS KNIGHTEN BAXTER
Funeral services will be held Sunday, Dec. 19, 2004, at 3 p.m. in the Delhomme Chapel of the Flowers in Lafayette for Doris Knighten Baxter, 94, who died Thursday, Dec. 16, 2004, at her residence.
The Rev. Perry Sanders, pastor of Lafayette First Baptist Church, will conduct the services.
interment will take place in Lafayette Protestant Cemetery.
Mrs. Baxter, a native of Winnfield, was the daughter of the late Madison Knighten and the former Carrie Garrard. She was a member of the First Baptist Church in Lafayette and the Lafayette Garden Club.
Survivors include her son, John F. Baxter, and wife, Cindi, of Lafayette; sister, Lois Knighten Herpin of Monroe; two grandchildren, Lauren Smith and husband, Scott, and William Baxter; two great-grandchildren, Hudson Smith and Ava Smith; and a host of nieces and nephews.
She was preceded in death by her parents; her husband, William Fletcher Baxter; two sisters, Loma Knighten and Melba Knighten; and one brother, Harry Knighten.
Visitation will be observed Sunday from 1 p.m. until the time of services.
Pallbearers will include Joe Herpin, Larry Mixon, Michael Fleniken, Gregory Fleniken, Scott Smith and William Baxter.
Delhomme Funeral Home, 1011 Bertrand Drive, in Lafayette is in charge of all arrangements.
