RSS Feed

April 12, 1929 ~ August 13, 2023

ABBEVILLE — A Mass of Christian Burial will be held at 2 p.m. on Wednesday, August 16, 2023, at St. Mary Magdalen Catholic Church honoring the life of Eurice Jane Guidry Touchet, 94, who died Sunday, August 13, 2023 at her residence. She will be laid to rest at Our Lady of Perpetual Help
Cemetery with Father Daniel Picard officiating the services. Con Celebrant will be Deacon Keith Duhon. Those serving as pallbearers will be Dylan Touchet, Cameron Touchet, Bryce Gooch, Bobby Fanguy, Kayne Fanguy, and Zach Prejean. Honorary pallbearers will be Eli Prejean and Brent Mitchell. Lectors for the Mass will be Sybil Hebert and Peggy Hardy. Giftbearers will be Shannon Lege, Karla Fanguy, and Kati Prejean. Organist will be Tommy Guidry and vocalist, Johnny Luquette.
Eurice was a graduate of Meaux High School and Cosmetology School.  She was a hairdresser for over 66 years.   She was a Wheel of Fortune fan and enjoyed watching Hallmark movies.  She began each day with her morning prayers. In her spare time, she enjoyed cooking and sewing for family and friends.  Some of her most memorable vacations were times spent vacationing in Branson, Missouri.
She is survived by three daughters, Donna Lege and her husband Keno, Joanie Touchet, and Lisa Touchet; four sons, Marlin Touchet, Patrick Touchet and his wife Kathy, Neil Touchet, and Kim Touchet and his wife Jodie; five grandchildren, Shannon Lege, Karla Fanguy (Bobby), Kati Prejean (Zach), Dylan Touchet (Natalie), and Cameron Touchet; and six great grandchildren, Bryce Gooch, Kelsi Fanguy, Kayne Fanguy, Emmy Prejean, Eli Prejean, and Ellen Prejean.
She was preceded in death by her husband, Eldes J. Touchet; parents, Demas and Edmonia Guidry; brothers, Lenix Guidry, Leman Guidry, Revis Guidry, Lovic Guidry, and Loveless Guidry; and sisters, Lorena G. Broussard and Hazel G. Mitchell.
The family requests that visiting hours be observed at Vincent Funeral Home - Abbeville, 209 S. St. Charles St., on Wednesday, August 16, 2023 from 9:30 a.m. until 1:45 p.m. when the procession will depart for the church. A rosary will be prayed at 1:15 p.m. by Deacon Keith Duhon.
Condolences may be sent to the family at www.vincentfuneralhome.net.
All funeral arrangements are being conducted by Vincent Funeral Home of Abbeville, (337) 893-4661.

“It’s like a cross between dog food and burnt pizza,” said one attendee of the smell permeating the hot July air at Omega Protein, a sustainable menhaden processing plant near Abbeville.
He was part of a group of 4-H youths participating in Marsh Maneuvers.
For more than 30 years, LSU AgCenter and Louisiana Sea Grant coastal specialist Mark Shirley has been leading the five-day camp, which teaches Louisiana students about the importance of marsh and coastal environments. It’s split into four-week groupings every July.
“Inside a classroom, you don’t get a chance to see or appreciate the resources we have here in costal Louisiana,” Shirley said. “Walking through the marsh grass, getting in the water or doing a coastal restoration project shows students who may be seeking a career that there’s a lot to offer here.”
Menhaden, also called pogy, is sometimes called the most important fish in the world because of its use in producing such things as aquaculture feeds and dietary supplements due to its rich omega-3 fat content.
Omega Protein general manager Steve Williams said his facility processes approximately 400 million fish a year with a focus on sustainability.
“Although we’re a niche industry, I think we have a lot to offer the students on how a business operates,” Williams said. “For example, for us, wastewater treatment for our company is just as important as catching fish.”
After the plant tour, the 4-H’ers traveled back to basecamp for lunch and to learn about the uses and economics of alligator hide from Casey Stannard, LSU College of Agriculture associate professor of apparel design. As part of a grant supported by Louisiana Sea Grant, the campers crafted their own personal gator hide key chains.
“We’re looking at new markets for wild and farm-raised alligator leather,” Stannard said. “So we wanted to show the students the uses of the leather and teach them all the things we can do with it.”
Emma Corpier, a camper from Vernon Parish whose favorite aspect of Marsh Maneuvers was an airboat ride, said she learned a great deal over the course of her five days, including how to skin an alligator.
“I’ve learned more about the wetlands and how to become a better environmentalist,” the sophomore said. “I think it’s one of the best experiences in 4-H.”
For his part, Shirley said the best part about Marsh Maneuvers is witnessing what he calls the “lightbulb moment” for the 4-H’ers when they see all the opportunities available to them after graduation.
“I’ve followed some of these kids as they’ve grown up. Some have gone on to receive advanced degrees in marine science, wildlife management and other natural resources fields. Some now work for Louisiana state agencies involved with coastal restoration, a few are working for federal agencies like NOAA, and some are working for groups like Ducks Unlimited,” he said. “The majority are doing other things, but they still have a great appreciation for our coastal resources and see the value of maintaining Louisiana’s coastal wetlands.”

August 30, 1937 - May 21, 2023

Mary Toups, 85, was one of the most amazingly creative people to ever come from Abbeville. During her high school years, she was active in Mrs. Minnie Berry’s theatre productions. In the mid sixties she was known for her wonderful pastries, cakes, candies, and cookies, especially at Christmas time. In the seventies and eighties, she was among the founding members of the Abbey Players. The ensuing decades she turned to quilting as her artistic medium and her quilts are prized by those who have them.
Strong and fearless in her beliefs, she was an inspiration to everyone who knew her. She died peacefully in her sleep on the 21st of May. She leaves behind 5 children: Micheal Libersat and wife Rebecca of Greeley, CO, Stephanie Moore of Magnolia, TX, Elizabeth Philippi of Abbeville, LA, Allison Gillespie and husband Larry of Ingleside, TX, and Claire Burkard and husband Jeff of New Smyrna, FL. She also leaves 11 grandchildren: Alexander Moore of Tampa, FL, Jonathon Moore of Magnolia, TX, Allsion Moore of Killeen, TX, Joshua Henry of New Smyrna, FL, Marcus Henry, Josie Henry, Sarah Warner of Dickinson, TX, Zachary Skinner of Wichita Falls, TX, Jared Libersat of Denham Springs, LA, Rachel Libersat of Denham Springs, LA, and John Philippi, of Dallas, TX. In addition, she leaves behind 7 great grandchildren: Noah Kagera, Oliver and Liv Warner, Aydie Skinner, Kimora, Tiana, and Davion Henry. She was a wonderful mother, grandmother, and great-grandmother and will be sorely missed.
There will be a small memorial service for her in Abbeville on August 30, 2023. Please contact Liz Philippi at elizabethphilippi96@gmail.com for information about the event.

Abbeville Main Street has been designated as an Accredited Main Street America™ program for meeting rigorous performance standards. Each year, Main Street America and its partners announce the list of Accredited programs to recognize their exceptional commitment to preservation-based economic development and community revitalization through the Main Street Approach™.
“We are very proud to acknowledge this year’s 862 Accredited Main Street America programs, and their steadfast dedication to nurture economically and culturally vibrant downtown districts,” said Hannah White, Interim President & CEO of Main Street America. “The increase in the size and impact of our network speaks volumes to the power of the Main Street movement to respond to the needs of local communities and drive innovative solutions.”
In 2022, Main Street America programs generated $6.2 billion in local reinvestment, helped open 7,657 net new businesses, facilitated the creation of 29,174 net new jobs, catalyzed the rehabilitation of 10,688 historic buildings, and leveraged 1,528,535 volunteer hours. On average, for every dollar that a Main Street program spent to support their operations, it generated $24.07 of new investment back into their downtown communities.
Collectively, 2 million people live or work within the boundaries of designated Main Street America districts. An estimated workforce of 1.1 million people contribute their skills and expertise to advancing the missions of these historic downtowns and commercial corridors.
Abbeville Main Street’s performance is annually evaluated by Louisiana Main Street, which works in partnership with Main Street America to identify the local programs that meet rigorous national performance standards. To quality for Accreditation status, communities must meet a set of rigorous standards that include commitments to building grassroots revitalization programs, fostering strong public-private partnerships, nurturing economic opportunity for small businesses and entrepreneurs, and actively preserving historic places, spaces, and cultural assets.

About Main Street America

Main Street America leads a movement committed to strengthening communities through preservation-based economic development in older and historic downtowns and neighborhood commercial districts. For more than 40 years, Main Street America has provided a practical, adaptable, and impactful framework for community-driven, comprehensive revitalization through the Main Street Approach™. Our network of more than 1,600 neighborhoods and communities, rural and urban, share both a commitment to place and to building stronger communities through preservation-based economic development. Since 1980, communities participating in the program have generated more than $101.58 billion in new public and private investment, generated 168,693 net new businesses and 746,897 net new jobs, rehabilitated more than 325,119 buildings, and levered over 33.7 million volunteer hours. Main Street America is a nonprofit subsidiary of the National Trust for Historic Preservation. For more information, visit mainstreet.org.