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LAFAYETTE – A Mass of Christian Burial and Celebration of Life will be held Friday, June 2, 2023, at 2:00 PM in St. Mary Mother of the Church Catholic Church for Douglas A. “Buddy” Moody Sr., age 95, who passed peacefully at home, surrounded by his family members, on Saturday, May 27, 2023. Reverend Cedric Sonnier, Pastor of St. Mary Mother of the Church Catholic Church in Lafayette, will officiate the services, and Reverend Kenneth Domingue, Pastor of St. John Berchmans Catholic Church in Cankton, will be the Homilist and con-celebrate the Funeral Mass. Lectors will be Rosalind Moody Robertson and Douglas Moody II; gift bearers will be Buddy’s Granddaughters. Interment will immediately follow the mass in Calvary Cemetery.
Survivors include his beloved wife of 64 years, Claire Boriskie Moody of Lafayette; his daughter, Mary Margaret Moody Domingue (and Son-In-Law, Hille Domingue) of Lafayette; two sons, Douglas A. Moody II (and Son-In-Law Gregg Pavlak) of Asheville, NC; and Philip John Moody (and Daughter-In-Law Cindy Sauls Moody) of Baton Rouge; his beloved brother, Braxton I. Moody III of Crowley; eight treasured grandchildren, Mallory Chastant Rodrigue (and Jacques Rodrigue) of New Orleans; Paul Thomas Chastant III (and Lillie Joyce Chastant) of New Orleans; Natalie Domingue Folse (and Andrew Folse) of New Orleans; Christopher Domingue (and Amelie Greco Domingue) of Houston, TX; and Benjamin Domingue of Houston, Tx; Phillip John Moody II (and Rachel Falgout Moody) of Baton Rouge; Anna Catherine Moody of Grayton Beach, FL; and Amelia Grace Moody of Baton Rouge; four great grandchildren (Ruthie Chastant, Roman Rodrigue, “Tripp” Moody, and Adeline Domingue); and his nineteen beloved nieces and nephews including his beloved Godchild, Rosalind Moody Robertson, who with her husband Sam Robertson, have been treasured family members and neighbors since 1987.
Mr. Moody was preceded in death by his father, Braxton Isham Moody Jr. of Iota, LA and Auburn, AL; his mother, Mabel Amy Moody of Iota, Rayne, and Lafayette; his brother, Charles Armstrong Moody of Lafayette; and his sister, Ann Bienvenue Richard of Rayne, LA.
Buddy was a life-long native and avid hunter of southwestern Louisiana. He was born in Eunice on September 21, 1927, the second son of Braxton I. Moody Jr. and Mabel Amy Moody. His early family years were lived in Iota where his father suffered an untimely death when he was eight years old, leaving his mother a widow with three young boys during The Great Depression. His family eventually moved to Rayne where Buddy grew-up and played six-man football on the Rayne High Wolves Louisiana State High School Championship team in 1944. Later that same year, Buddy joined the US Navy at the height of World War II, training in Boot Camp at the Naval Training Center in San Diego, CA. In his love of story-telling with friends and family, Buddy often recounted that upon his graduation from Boot Camp and right before being deployed into combat in the Pacific Theatre in 1945, the Japanese surrendered because “they heard he was coming.” After “The War” ended, Buddy was Honorably Discharged from the Navy and returned to Lafayette. He worked in the oil and gas industry, “rough-necking” to pay for his college education while attending Southwestern Louisiana Institute (now the University of Louisiana Lafayette). He relished hunting with friends whenever he could find time to do so. He graduated from SLI in 1954 with a BS degree in Business Administration. He met his wife, Claire, in Lafayette in the Summer of 1957 and they were married in New Orleans in January 1959. Claire and Buddy chose Lafayette as “home” and raised their three children while he worked in the directional drilling sector of the oil and gas industry at Eastman. Buddy started his own directional drilling company in 1966, Directional Control, Inc., where he successfully managed and grew his business until retiring in 1985. Buddy never met a stranger and usually started conversations with “Where are you from?” If the response was “Acadia Parish,” he almost always sought a connection to the person’s family and especially cherished such friendships. Since his retirement, Buddy continued to actively pursue investment opportunities in the oil and gas industry with his lifetime friends and business colleagues. Buddy and Claire have been blessed with many years of enjoying time on their family farm in Branch, LA, hunting trips with grandchildren and nephews, family holidays at home, and vacations with their children and grandchildren.
Pallbearers will include Buddy’s sons, Douglas Moody II and Philip Moody, along with his grandsons, Paul Chastant III, Philip Moody II, Christopher Domingue, and Benjamin Domingue. Honorary Pallbearers include his brother, Braxton I. Moody III, Kevin Moody, Sam Robertson, Edward Moody II, Jack Larimer, Ted Graser, and Russell Richard. Buddy also cherished all of his nieces and nephews and loved them dearly.
The family requests that visitation be held at St. Mary’s Catholic Church prior to his Celebration of Life and Mass of Christian Burial on Friday, June 2, 2023, from 12:30 PM until time of service, a Rosary will be recited at 1:00 PM, followed by the Mass at 2:00 PM. Interment with Military Honors will follow immediately afterwards at Calvary Cemetery.
The family would like to recognize and express deepest gratitude to Buddy’s medical team, especially Dr. Bradley Chastant, Sr. and Dr. Bradley Chastant, Jr., along with Dr. Roth, Dr. Edward Moody, II, Dr. Kenneth Champagne, and Hope Healthcare and Hospice with his nurses Michelle and Julie. The family would especially like to recognize the love and support from their special friends and Eucharistic Ministers, Kay and Russell Richard from St. Mary’s Catholic Church, and Buddy’s next-door neighbors, Angelle and Edward Marsh. Deepest gratitude to the tireless love, work, and assistance of Buddy’s caregivers at First Options Healthcare, Leading Healthcare, and especially Senior Helpers of Lafayette.
In honoring the values for business education Buddy instilled in his children and grandchildren, his pride in his brother and their shared alma matter, and in lieu of flowers, the family suggests memorial contributions in Buddy’s memory be made to the University of Louisiana Lafayette – the B.I. Moody III College of Business Administration. Such contributions can be made online at https://give.louisiana.edu/academic-colleges/moody-college-business-admi... or by mail c/o The UL Foundation, P.O. Box 44290, Lafayette, LA 70504.
Words of condolence may be expressed online at www.mourning.com.
Martin & Castille Funeral Home - DOWNTOWN, 330 St. Landry Street Lafayette, Louisiana 70506, 337-234-2311.

God our Father,
Your power brings us to birth,
Your providence guides our lives,
and by Your command we return to dust.

ABBEVILLE — Mr. Ty Viet Cao returned to our Lord on May 26, 2023. May the Lord embrace him fully as we have and ease his pain. May all of his prayers for everlasting life with the Lord and continued love of his family be answered.
Mr. Ty Viet Cao left this world the way that he loved living his life-surrounded by family in his home. He was survived by his wife of sixty (60) years, Mrs. Emily Nhieu Cao and seven children: Nhien Le, Anh Cao, Thai Cao, Nguyet Hoang, Son Cao, Vinh Cao and Elizabeth Cao. He was also survived by and adored by his seventeen (17) grandchildren and four (4) great grandchildren. Mr. Ty Viet Cao never missed a chance to love and tease his grandchildren and great grandchildren.
Although his illness took his physical body in his last days, it did not take his heart and soul. Whether it was a brother or sister from afar or a great grandchild wanting to jump on his belly, he welcomed all visitors until he could no more. His home was always open and a meal was always ready for visitors. And, if there were enough visitors, Mr. Ty Viet Cao would always make sure he had a speech ready thanking his visitors for coming.
It is with deeply saddened hearts that our family must make this last thank-you speech for him. Thank you all for your thoughts, prayers and condolences. Please continue to keep Mr. Ty Viet Cao and his family in your prayers.
Visitation and funeral services are as follows:

Thursday, June 1, 2023 (David Funeral Home, 2600 Charity Street, Abbeville, LA 70510)
Visitation - 4 p.m. to 6 p.m.
Prayer service - 6 p.m. to 6:30 p.m.
Mass - 6:30 p.m.
Friday, June 2, 2023 (David Funeral Home, 2600 Charity Street, Abbeville, LA 70510)
Visitation - 4 p.m. to 6 p.m.
Prayer service - 6 p.m. to 6:30 p.m.
Mass and distribution of family head bands - 6:30 p.m.
Saturday, June 3, 2023 (St. Mary Magdalen, 300 Pere Megret Street, Abbeville, LA 70510)
Funeral mass - 9:00 a.m.
Mr. Ty Viet Cao will be laid to rest at St. Paul Cemetery, 515 Jacqulyn Street, Abbeville, LA 70510.
You may sign the guest register book and express condolences online at www.davidfuneralhome.org
David Funeral Home of Abbeville, 2600 Charity Street, (337) 893-3777 will be handling the arrangements.

Sometimes, you just want to roll down your car window and let out a scream. No, not because someone is passing you in road rage. The kind of wrath I’m talking about is the outrageous spending that takes place in many agencies of Louisiana state government. Here is what has gotten my dander up. US News and World Report just released their state rankings. Where is Louisiana? Right where it was last year. Dead last.
Here are the various rankings by US News. Crime and corrections ranked number 50. The economy ranked number 50. Infrastructure ranked number 49, natural environment ranked number 49, education ranked number 46, and opportunity ranked number 48. Really makes you proud, doesn’t it?
Now here’s how some agencies in state government can really rub salt into the wounds. Spend, spend, spend. In fact, certain state agencies are spending your tax dollars like drunken sailors. Want a few examples? Here you go.
There is a state board that oversees private security firms whose employees really know how to rip off state funds. By state law, the board is charged with hiring and keeping an eye on an executive secretary. Supposedly I said. But the board failed miserably in their job. The former secretary bilked the agency for almost $300,000 by compensating himself for overtime pay even though there was no legal justification for him to do so. There also is a list of questionable legal expenses charged, as well as payments to relatives.
But hey, it gets much worse. After firing the guy who swindled all this money, the Board of Private Security Examiners hired a new executive secretary. Not only did she illegally pay herself unauthorized expenses, but she was also arrested on felony drug charges after she was caught by police selling drugs. No, I didn’t make this up.
Now I know that a few employees will sometimes cross the legal line. But here’s my question. Where was the oversight? Where was the board that hired these employees? Weren’t they supposed to be keeping an eye on these people? Or were they just rubber stamps? And where were the state auditors who let these state employees run wild for years? The board itself should be abolished, and the state police should handle the licensing and oversight of private security firms in the future.
Then there is the Louisiana Citizens Property Insurance Corporation, the state created organization that Senator John Kennedy has called the worst agency in state government. Because of its negligence years back, Louisiana policyholders have been billed over $1 Billion to pay off Citizens’ debt. That's a Billion with a B.
The agency used to be housed in a small Baton Rouge office. Not anymore. It now wants the high life, and has signed a long lease at the Galleria, the plush 21-story office building located near Interstate 10 and Causeway Boulevard in Jefferson Parish. Citizens will occupy 21 thousand -square-foot space, more than twice what it needs, for another 125 months. But these hardworking employees need perks. Lots of perks. The lease includes a fitness center, food service, (and get this) even a car wash service. And just because Louisiana policyholders are picking up the tab, who could begrudge Citizens’ employees from receiving a free car wash? Right?
No other state in the south has a public property insurance company of last resort that is anywhere close to Citizens. The spending on salaries and other perks are way out of line. Citizens need to be abolished, and a new method put in place that protects Louisiana policyholders, not bilks them every month. All of our surrounding states, Texas, Arkansas, and Mississippi, have a much more efficient system, and property rates are much lower.
These are just a few examples of outlandish spending in state government. I could offer many more. Legislative oversight has been lax. Controlling all this unnecessary spending should be a top priority for the next governor and legislature.

Peace and Justice
Jim Brown

At the end of World War I, the poem “In Flanders Fields” by Lt. Col. John McCrae of the Canadian army became something of a national reminder of the valor of the young men who fought and died in France in the “war to end all wars.”
It reads in part:
In Flanders Fields the poppies blow
Between the crosses row on row,
That mark our place; and in the sky
The larks, still bravely singing fly
Scarce heard among the guns below.
It is because of this poem that red poppies came to be distributed on Memorial Day as a symbol of the heroism of the soldiers of World War I and, since then, of all of our heroes who have died in battle.
Scanning a list of war dead, I count some 40 men from Acadiana who were killed in World War I. Fifteen men from Louisiana won the Distinguished Service Cross for valor in that war, certainly the best known of them being the man some still call “the greatest of all leathernecks.”
Lt. Gen. John A. Lejeune spent more than 40 years in the U.S. Marine Corps, putting his name in the history books when he led the famed Second Division in World War I. He became a major general and commandant of the Marine Corps after the war and Camp Lejeune in North Carolina is named for him.
Lejeune was born in Pointe Coupée Parish on Jan. 10, 1867. He earned an undergraduate degree from LSU and then went to the Naval Academy, graduating in 1888. After a two-year hitch as a naval midshipman, he was commissioned a second lieutenant in the Marine Corps on July 1, 1890, just in time to see action in the Spanish-American War.
He went to Panama with a battalion of Marines in 1903, then commanded a Marine brigade in the Philippines from 1907 to 1909. After returning briefly to the U.S., he was sent to Cuba.
He was in the United States when World War I erupted and was sent to France in June 1918. There, he was first given command of a brigade of the 32nd Division, then took charge of the Second Army Division on July 28, 1918. He held that command until August 1919, when the unit was demobilized. He was the first Marine officer to command an Army division and, following the Armistice, he led his division in a victorious march into Germany.
The division, known as the “Indianhead” division, was awarded the French Croix de guerre three times for gallantry under fire, at Belleau Wood, Soissons, and Blanc Mont.
At war’s end, Lejeune was given the Legion of Honor and Croix de Guerre by France, and the U.S. Distinguished Service Medal, among other decorations. On his return to the U.S. he was named commanding general of the Marine Barracks at Quantico and then became commandant of the entire Marine Corps on June 30, 1920.
He retired from the Corps in November 1929 and became superintendent of Virginia Military Institute. He died Nov. 20, 1942, and is buried at Arlington National Cemetery.
A statue next to the courthouse in New Roads stands as one of the reminders of Lejeune’s life and career. For other heroes this Memorial Day we have these poetic lines:
We cherish too, the Poppy red
That grows on fields where valor led,
It seems to signal to the skies
That blood of heroes never dies.
You can contact Jim Bradshaw at jimbradshaw4321@gmail.com or P.O. Box 1121, Washington LA 70589.