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LeBlanc Elementary French Immersion students lead the parade downtown Abbeville.

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A crowd gathered at Magdalen Square for the opening ceremonies.

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Ryan Abshire and Jason Harrington, members of the Envies band, performed at the Grand Reveil Acadien Saturday in Abbeville.

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Jackie and Douglas Vincent of Erath stand under the Erath booth that highlighted the town of Erath’s history. They are standing behind the Hadacol’s collection collected by their son, the late Robert Vincent.

Vermilion Parish showcased: Great Acadian Awakening kicked off in Abbeville on Saturday

The Grand Reveil Acadien/Great Acadian Awakening will undoubtedly end up as its name indicates.
On Saturday, Abbeville and Vermilion Parish helped set a tone for the multi-day event.
Downtown Abbeville served as the site for the opening ceremonies for the event, held every five years and initially scheduled for 2020. From morning through Saturday night, music, food, and a celebration of Cajun culture filled Magdalen Square.
Abbeville Mayor Roslyn White said she is proud of the work everyone involved put in to highlight the area in front of the Cajun world.
“The team did a great job,” White said. “I think the event was a wonderful showcase of our culture and all our parish offers. My favorite part was showcasing the French immersion children and their excitement over being part of the day. In addition, I visited with both local and international guests, who all shared their appreciation for the program.
“It was a great day for Abbeville and Vermilion Parish.”
Councilman Brady Broussard Jr. couldn’t agree more.
“The grand opening of the 2022 Great Acadian Awakening in downtown Abbeville exceeded all expectations as a tremendous success,” Broussard said. “Crowds and participation did reach and likely exceeded the pre-event estimates of 1,000 visitors who filled Magdalen Square to reconnect with Acadian cousins and neighbors. At the same time, the highest caliber of our legendary Cajun music was played from morning until evening.”
Abbeville Main Street Manager Charlene Beckett said she spent the entire day speaking to many visitors. How she talked to them is part of what made the day extra special for her, personally.
“I had so much fun speaking French to all these people,” Beckett said. “I also met some cousins I didn’t know I had.
“It was a terrific event and wonderful to showcase the parish.”
Alison Miller, Vermilion Parish Tourist Commission Executive Director, said this event did allow Vermilion Parish to be placed front and center.
“It was a great day to showcase what Vermilion Parish offers,” Miller said. “The weather was beautiful. The food was delicious. The music was outstanding and the crowd was tremendous.”
Broussard echoed the sentiment of White, Beckett and Miller.
“This was for all of Vermilion Parish,” Broussard said, “and we were pleased for our neighbors in Erath, Kaplan and Maurice who participated and contributed to this success.”
Broussard added that it is an honor for Abbeville to have kicked things off.
“In Abbeville, we are thankful for the Louisiane-Acadie board who chose us for the grand opening of this week’s activities.”
St. Martinville, New Iberia, Arnaudville, Rayne, Church Point, Houma, Thibodeaux, Lafayette, Broussard and Port Allen will serve as other locations. Closing ceremonies, set for Sunday, Oct. 9, will include a 9 a.m. French mass at St. John’s Cathedral in Lafayette, followed by a Tintamarre to Warehouse 535 and concluding activities at St. Luc’s Immersion School in Arnaudville.
“The Grand Reveil continues this week throughout Acadiana,” Broussard said, “but the memories of the grand opening here in Abbeville will not be forgotten.”

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Jim Bradshaw

Mowata, the other story

Several weeks ago, I reported the oft-told story that the Mowata community in Acadia Parish got its name because nobody could find a board long enough to print the original name of Morewater.
I have long suspected that the story was suspect, but had never heard anything to contradict it. Erich and Kathryn Loewer have heard another version, and it seems a lot more likely.
They say the area was known as Mowata long before the railroad even thought about crossing the Acadia prairie and that it was named for a band of Mowata Indians that had been forced out of Alabama, maybe at the same time as the Coushatta, probably later.
The Coushatta (known as Koasati in their native language) came here after the Treaty of 1763 ended the war between France and England that, among other things, had been the excuse for the Acadian exile. Under that treaty, the French, who first settled in 1699 in the Mobile area, gave England all of its territory east of the Mississippi River, except for New Orleans.
As a result, French families such as Fontenot, LaGrange, Brignac, Bonin, and others decided to move across the Mississippi into French Louisiana. The Coushattas had been friendly with the French, and they were also pressured to move from the territory now held by England.
In 1797, the influential Coushatta chief Stilapihkachatta (Red Shoes), led 400 followers across the river, and another 450 Coushattas joined them in the spring of 1804.
Over the next several decades, the Coushattas moved their villages from place to place near the Red, Sabine, and Trinity rivers, until, finally, in the 1880s, they used homestead laws to establish a community at Bayou Blue in Allen Parish, three miles north of Elton.
It’s not perfectly clear how or when the Mowata band became associated with them, apparently briefly and in small numbers. The Mowata are not mentioned by Fred B. Kniffen, who did voluminous research on the historic Indian tribes of Louisiana. They were apparently a small band allied with the Choctaws who hid in the woods in Alabama to avoid removal with other tribes to the Indian Territory (Oklahoma) in the 1800s.
They may have come here after the Civil War. According to one history, they “remained in the forest until the mid-1880s, when northern timber companies moved into the area to exploit Alabama’s abundant pine forests. Discovering that Indian families lived there, lumber company officials enlisted the aid of L. W. McRae, a state senator … [who] knew the people were Choctaws, but he wanted to bring industry to the region and use them as a source of cheap labor. To facilitate the acquisition of land, he suggested calling them ‘Cajuns,’ believing that the Choctaws looked like the descendants of French-speaking Louisiana Acadians. Given this new ‘Cajun’ identity, the Indian population was included in the U.S. Census, made to pay taxes.”
There doesn’t seem to have been any connection between the Mowatas and the real Cajuns, but, according to the Loewers, a small band called Mowata seems to have been established in the area of the old Jones plantation (the area around the present Mowata community) by the time Erich Loewer’s family emigrated to the area in the early 1900s.
“My family (Loewer and Bieber) migrated from Germany in 1905. Some of us still own land that was originally part of the Jones Farm,” he writes. “Several years ago, we were visiting with some elderly neighbors, Rae and Bruce Faulk. She told us how her grandfather on occasion had to ride his horse through the area inhabited by the Mowata Indian Tribe. He was fearful and tried to look straight ahead, not too much to the left or the right. Rae was a Reed, and if I recall right, her grandfather was also a Reed.”
Kathryn Loewer writes, “I can add a bit more detail from the conversation with Mrs. Rae. The Mowata Indians were eventually relocated to the Coushatta Reservation but they did not exactly get along with them — some drama over an Indian princess. …. I do believe the train did stop there for water, but the area was known as Mowata before the railroad came.”
You can contact Jim Bradshaw at jimbradshaw4321@gmail.com or P.O. Box 1121, Washington LA 70589.

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Bryan Golden

Don’t Sabotage Your Success

Most people profess a desire for success and happiness. Surprisingly, it’s not uncommon for someone to sabotage their own chances for success. This usually happens subconsciously and the person is probably not even aware of it.
There are numerous reasons for this, all of which are correctable. Striving for success entails venturing out from your comfort zone. It may mean working for a promotion, going back to school, changing jobs, starting your own business, making new friends, finding the right romantic relationship, or any one of a virtually endless array of possibilities.
Regardless of how an individual defines success, they have the potential to undermine it if they are not careful. Working towards success involves a perceived risk of failure. This being the case, someone can sabotage their success through behavior that will enable them to justify why they didn’t succeed without having to admit failure.
Here are some examples. Ralph really wants to get a promotion at work. He is competent, reliable, and conscientious. His company routinely posts listings of available positions. Ralph watches the bulletin board for jobs he would like to move into.
Over the last several months, Ralph spotted three openings he was especially interested in. But he didn’t want to rush into things and apply until he was absolutely sure it was the right decision. So Ralph always waited several weeks before submitting his name.
Each time, he was too late and the job had already been filled. Each time Ralph had diminished his chances for success by procrastinating. In Ralph’s mind, he was doing everything he could to get promoted. But due to circumstances beyond his control, (someone else was selected) he couldn’t catch a break. From Ralph’s perspective, he had not failed.
Irene, in her early forty’s, wants to go back to college part time to complete her degree. It had been over twenty years since she was in school, and Irene was insecure about her ability. Each semester Irene found some “legitimate” reason not to take a class. She motivated herself by committing to start the following semester.
But each time something “unexpected” emerged, forcing Irene to once again postpone her plans. Just like Ralph, Irene sabotaged her chances for getting her degree in a manner that absolved her from blame. By never taking a class, she avoided having to face the unknown of how she would fare in school.
Jim has been divorced for about a year and wants to start dating. It had been over 15 years since he asked someone out. He’d always been shy and was afraid of being rejected. Jim spends all his free time doing things with his friends or by himself. He never became involved in any activities where he would have an opportunity to meet other singles.
Jim has also sabotaged his success. By avoiding any situation where he may fail, he eliminated any chance of success. Just like Irene and Ralph, Jim was able to justify his stagnation by pointing out how difficult it was to meet someone.
In all of the above examples, the people did not consciously or intentionally sabotage their success. Rather, they created reasons and excuses to justify not risking failure. We all have this tendency.
To avoid sabotaging your success, don’t make excuses to avoid reaching for your goals. Although it may be easier and more comfortable to eschew the unknown, the results are 100% predictable; nothing will be accomplished.
Every person who succeeded at attaining their goals had to first venture where the outcome was not guaranteed. You can accomplish virtually anything if you will simply take the first step.

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Marc Turner

Marc Turner named 2022 Erath High Homecoming Grand Marshal

Marc Turner has been named 2022 Erath High Homecoming Grand Marshal. Homecoming is Friday, October 7, 2022. Turner will lead the parade and participate in Homecoming festivities throughout the day as an honored guest, possibly proving he cannot skip the local holiday known as Erath Homecoming after serving as the Principal of Erath High from 2013 through June of 2022.
An Erath High School graduate from the class of 1994, Turner joined the Marine Corps shortly after graduation, upon his return in 1998 he attended the University of Louisiana at Lafayette and obtained his Bachelor of Arts in Elementary Education, in 2003 and his Master’s Degree in Educational Leadership from McNeese State University in 2008, and in 2011, his Specialist
Degree in Educational Leadership, McNeese State University.
Turner’s professional experience began with his 2003 student teaching at Dozier Elementary and then in 2004, he became an 8th-grade teacher at JHW.
After a National Guard deployment to Iraq in 2004, he returned to his roots serving at Dozier Elementary as a 3rd-grade teacher in 2005. From there, he moved on to Eaton Park from 2006-2011 teaching 4th and 5th grade.
As Assistant Principal tenure at Kaplan High in 2011 he remained a Pirate until May 2013. In the fall of 2013, Mr. Turner returned to his alma mater as the Principal from 2013 until June 2022.
During Turner’s leadership at EHS, he was awarded the Vermilion Parish High School Principal of the Year honor three times: 2014, 2020, and 2021 school years. Turner retired from the Louisiana Army National Guard with over 20 years of service in 2015.
EHS was the #1 public high school in the state every year under his leadership. EHS was also awarded the “National Blue Ribbon” Award in 2020.
On July 1, 2022, Marc became the Vermilion Parish School System Assistant Superintendent where he presently serves.
He is married to the former Tiffany Lee, who is also in education as a teacher in Erath. Together their blended family consists of four children, Jackson, Averi, Olivia, and Ahni. Turner is the son of Mitzi Dugas Turner, a retired Dozier educator, and Floyd Turner. He has two siblings, Andrea Turner Ford (who is the Principal at Dozier Elementary), and Matthew
Turner.

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Miss Taylor Elizabeth Baudoin and Mr. Chance Michael Desormeaux

Engagement Announced for Miss Taylor Elizabeth Baudoin & Mr. Chance Michael Desormeaux

Mr. and Mrs. Mark Baudoin of Abbeville are pleased to announce the engagement and forthcoming marriage of their daughter, Taylor Elizabeth Baudoin, to Chance Michael Desormeaux of Henry.
Chance is the son of Mr. and Mrs. Michael Desormeaux of Henry.
The wedding will take place on Saturday, November 5, 2022, at L’Eglise in Abbeville, Louisiana.
Grandparents of the future bride are Mary Vice and the late Calvin Vice and the late Jack and Cecile Baudoin. The bride is a 2016 graduate of Erath High School and a 2022 graduate of UL Lafayette where she graduated with a Bachelor of Science degree in
Liberal Arts with a minor in Psychology and Child and Family Studies.
Grandparents of the groom are Mr. and Mrs. Delfred Romero of Henry and Mr. and Mrs. Roland Desormeaux of Kaplan. Chance is a 2017 graduate of Erath High School and is currently employed with Enterprise Marine Products.

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Carole R. Durke

August 17, 1941 ~ October 1, 2022

ABBEVILLE — Funeral services will be held at 1:00 PM on Tuesday, October 4, 2022 at Vincent Funeral Home - Abbeville honoring the life of Carole Rowell Durke, 81, who died Saturday, October 1, 2022. She will be laid to rest at Graceland Cemetery with Rev. Pres Riley officiating the services. Pallbearers will be Joshua Durke, Landon Meaux, Brock Clark, Brant Cabrol, Peyton Durke, Hayden Durke, and Jax Harrington. Honorary pallbearers will be Coy Durke II, Eric Durke, Brody Clark, Jacob Durke, and Drew Durke.
She is survived by her four sons, Coy J. (Tangee), Aaron T. (Carrie), Brian K., and Colby W. (Tanya) Durke; two daughters, Heidi D. Clark (Hayward) and Stephanie L. Harrington; 16 grandchildren, Kalli Monceret, Landon Meaux, Brittany Clark, Brody Clark, Brock Clark, Coy Durke II, Eric Durke, Joshua Durke, Peyton Durke, Jacob Durke, Briannie Durke, Brant Cabrol, Alexis Darbonne, Jax Harrington, Hayden Durke, and Drew Durke; 26 great grandchildren; one great-great grandchild; and one sister, Louise Rowell Baranik (Bill).
Carole was born in Martinez, CA. and later moved to Abbeville La. where she met her husband, Pep and started her family.
She was preceded in death by her husband, Al (Pep) Durke; two sons, Clay Durke and Guy Duhon; grandson, Clay Allen Durke; her parents, William H. and Jessie Pearl DeVaney Rowell; and ten brothers and sisters.
The family requests that visiting hours be observed at Vincent Funeral Home - Abbeville, 209 S. St. Charles St., on Tuesday, October 4, 2022 from 9:00 AM until time of service.
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.

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Joyce Fontenot Istre

June 13, 1931 ~ October 2, 2022

KAPLAN — A Mass of Christian Burial will be held at 2:00 PM on Tuesday, October 4, 2022 at Our Lady of the Most Holy Rosary Roman Catholic Church honoring the life of Joyce Fontenot Istre, loving mother and grandmother who passed away on October 2, 2022 at the age of 91. This date is significant because it was her 74th wedding anniversary to her beloved husband who was waiting for her in heaven. She will be laid to rest at Our Lady of the Most Holy Rosary Cemetery with Reverend Mark Miley officiating the services. Serving as pallbearers will be Hilton Waits, Ronny “Blue” Zaunbrecher, Daniel Zaunbrecher, Kevin CormierJohn Wayne Fontenot and Jason Suire.
Joyce was born June 13, 1931. She lived most of her life in Gueydan where she worked as a housekeeper and raised two daughters with her husband Otto. She was a devoted mother and wife and the love she had for her family will live on forever. She was an avid reader and loved crocheting items to share with her family. She enjoyed holding holiday family gatherings in her home and was a beautiful hostess. She poured her love into all those around her and lived a joy-filled, faithful life.
She is survived by one daughter Peggy Istre Suire (Lloyd) of Gueydan; five grandchildren, Shannan Suire Zaunbrecher Waits (Hilton), Andrea Suire Zaunbrecher (Ronny), Jason Suire (Darla), Heather Fruge Cormier (Kevin), Bonnie Fruge Monceaux (Casey); ten great grandchildren; and many beloved nieces, nephews and friends.
She was preceded in death by her husband, Otto Istre; her parents, Clemence Fontenot, Sr. and Agnes Elizabeth Hebert Fontenot; one daughter, Brenda Istre Fruge; one son-in-law, Lawless Fruge; four brothers, Mervis Joseph “Joe” Fontenot, Dallas Anthony Fontenot, Clemence Fontenot, Jr., and Robert John Fontenot, Sr.; three sisters, Marjorie Marie Fontenot, May Rose Fontenot Abshire and Ella Jane Fontenot Landry.
The family would like to thank the Kaplan Hospital, Kaplan Nursing Home, and Lamm Family Care Hospice for the care she received.
The family requests that visiting hours be observed at Vincent Funeral Home - Kaplan, 300 N. Eleazar Ave., on Monday, October 3, 2022 from 4:00 PM until 9:00 PM with a rosary being prayed at 6:00 PM; Tuesday, October 4, 2022 from 9:00 AM until the procession departs for the church at 1:45 PM.
All funeral arrangements are being conducted by Vincent Funeral Home of Kaplan, (337) 643-7276 [Service Information 225-5276]. Condolences may be sent to the Istre family at www.vincentfuneralhome.net.

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Lawrence J. Gautreaux

Lawrence J. Gautreaux, 98, of Bristol RI, died September 25,2022.
Born in Abbeville, Louisiana, Larry (also known affectionately by his family and friends as L.J., Frenchie, and Reb) lived most of his life in Pawtucket Rhode Island.
He was married to Annette M. Moreau, the love of his life. They met in 1945 while serving in the Navy during WW II while stationed in Hawaii. Annette, a native of Central Falls, R.I. was a WAVE and Larry was a Sea Bee (Construction Battalion).
For the past three years, they have resided under the excellent care of the Bristol Veterans Home, where Annette still lives.
They were married for 76 years and had seven children (Lawrence Jr., Michael, David, Russell, Don, Nancy Harritos, and John along with 11 grandchildren, and 3 great grandchildren.
He was predeceased by his parents, Sidney and Edith Gautreaux; and siblings, Sidney Gautreaux Jr., Ella Mae Gautreaux, Whitney Gautreaux and Hester Broussard.
Larry and Annette were lifelong parishioners of St. Cecilia’s Church in Pawtucket. His final resting place will be at the RI Veterans Cemetery.
A chapel service will be held at the Veterans Home 480 Metacom Avenue Bristol, RI on Sunday October 9, 2022 at 1:00 pm. Military Honors will be held at 12:45 pm prior to the chapel service.
In lieu of flowers, donations can be made to the Bristol Veterans Home - Activities Department.

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Lauren Bercier (Junior Achievement of Acadiana Board President), Dr. Vincent June (SLCC Chancellor), and Paula Dawson (President of Junior Achievement Greater Baton Rouge and Acadiana) signing the Memorandum of Understanding between the two organizations

SLCC, Junior Achievement team up to provide tuition discounts

A new partnership offers tuition discounts for some Junior Achievement students at SLCC’s campuses.
Junior Achievement of Acadiana and South Louisiana Community College have teamed up for the program, which is part of the JA Be Entrepreneurial Program.
The tuition assistance, which applies to SLCC’s for-credit courses that lead to technical diplomas and associate degrees, will begin for the current Fall 2022 semester. JA Be Entrepreneurial Program participants who register as full-time students at SLCC can apply for $500 per semester for up to four semesters. Tuition discounts of $250 (for up to four semesters) will be available for those participants attending SLCC on a part-time basis.
Participants in the JA Be Entrepreneurial Program learn about the mindset and skills needed for success by aspiring entrepreneurs and innovators. Through the program, students are able to evaluate their personal strengths for entrepreneurship and areas for refinements, as well as a develop a personal action plan.
“Junior Achievement of Acadiana is thrilled about all the opportunities this partnership will bring to our students. We are confident that, given the tools and resources by SLCC, our students will thrive and be better prepared to succeed as adults.” Lauren Fitts, JA of Acadiana Development Director.
“With Junior Achievement’s mission of ‘inspiring and preparing young people for success,’ I cannot imagine a better partnership to continue promoting that success,” said Dr. Vincent June, SLCC chancellor. “Obtaining a higher education after high school is part of that success. We gladly welcome JA participants to any of our nine campuses to give them the knowledge and skills they need to be successful as young adults.”
To take advantage of the tuition discount, JA Be Entrepreneurial participants need to identify themselves as such when completing the admissions and financial aid processes at SLCC.
Since 2019, SLCC has solidified similar educational partnerships with Boys and Girls Clubs of Acadiana, as well as MacLaff, Inc., and Miller Management, Inc., family-owned businesses of local McDonald’s restaurants throughout South Louisiana.
South Louisiana Community College is a comprehensive community college that operates campuses in Abbeville, Crowley, Franklin, Lafayette, Morgan City, New Iberia, Opelousas, St. Martinville, and Ville Platte. The college serves more than 15,000 students annually and offers an array of academic programs. Students earn associate degrees, technical diplomas, certificates, and industry-based certifications.
Junior Achievement of Acadiana is a youth development organization serving elementary, middle, and high school students throughout the Acadiana region. Junior Achievement has over 100 local JA Areas across the nation, and together is the nation’s largest organization dedicated to giving young people the knowledge and skills they need to own their economic success, plan for their futures, and make smart academic and economic choices. JA’s programs—in the core content areas of work readiness, entrepreneurship and financial literacy—ignite the spark in young people to experience and realize the opportunities and realities of work and life in the 21st century.

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Paul Allen Richard

ERATH – A Mass of Christian Burial for Mr. Paul Allen Richard, 73, will be held at 2:00PM on Tuesday, October 4, 2022 at Our Lady of the Lake Catholic Church with Fr. Buddy Breaux officiating.  Interment will be at Our Lady of Lourdes Cemetery.
Visitation will be at David Funeral Home of Erath on Tuesday, October 4, 2022 beginning at 9:00AM until the time of the services with a recitation of the rosary at 11:00AM.
A native and resident of Erath, Mr. Richard died at 12:31PM on Wednesday, September 28, 2022.  Paul was the youngest of five children. He grew up surrounded by a big loving family. He proudly joined the U.S. Navy at the age of 21 and served for a little over nine years. He was a proud veteran of the Vietnam War. During his service time he was stationed in Hawaii, where he met and married his wife Mary Linda Freitas. They were married until her passing in 2007. He still bought her flowers every anniversary and birthday. They shared two children, Marie Richard Champagne and her husband Kiley Champagne and Adam Richard and his wife Devan Richard. He was a loving Poppie to his two grandsons, Jaylon Paul Champagne and Bryson James Champagne. He spoiled them every chance he got.  He was also survived by a brother, John Ervon Richard.
His favorite thing to do was cook for his family. He learned his cooking skills in the Navy and continued his cooking career in the oilfield industry. He retired as a butcher at the age of 71. He was also an avid animal lover, who loved his grandpups and cats tremendously. He was a very generous person, willing to give and help in any way. He loved his westerns and the New Orleans Saints, which along with his Hallmark movies were his favorite things to watch. Paul was also a very humorous person, who loved a good joke. He will be greatly missed by his family and friends.
He was preceded in death by his wife, Mary Linda Freitas; his parents, Paul Minus and Lucille Delahoussaye Richard; a granddaughter Sawyer Elizabeth Richard; a brother, Ronald Richard; and two sisters, Yvonne R. Roy and Annie Lee Broussard.
Serving as pallbearers will be Lance Richard, Wayne Roy, Greg Roy, Lynn Roy, Marcus Roy, and Jacob Falgout.
Serving as honorary pallbearers will be Tyler Cunningham, Jaylon Champange, and Bryson Champange.
You may sign the guest register book and express condolences online at www.davidfuneralhome.org
David Funeral Home of Erath at 209 E. Putnam St. (337)937-0405 will be handling the arrangements.

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Vermilion Today

Abbeville Meridional

318 N. Main St.
Abbeville, LA 70510
Phone: 337-893-4223
Fax: 337-898-9022

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Kaplan, LA 70548