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Dec. 29, 1945- Jan. 24, 2020

Starlynn “Star” Burleigh DeBlanc, 74, passed away on Friday, Jan. 24, 2020, at 12:30 a.m. at Our Lady of Lourdes Hospital after a brief illness.
She was preceded in death by her parents, father, Albert H. Burleigh and mother, Gladys Voorhies Burleigh.
Star always considered herself an Air Force brat, having traveled the world with her parents. She graduated high school at Wheelus Air Force Base in Tripoli, Lybia, attending USL in Lafayette, La.
Star was a retired business owner, having owned Star True Value Hardware in Abbeville, La.
Star was a dedicated, caring and loving wife, mother, grandmother, sister and friend.
She is survived by her husband and best friend, Louis J. DeBlanc; son, Jerrell Horaist; daughter-in-law, Jackie Horaist; grandson, Andrew Horaist; and brother, Brent Burleigh.
Star was an avid swimmer and reader of books.
She was always willing to learn about outer space, medicine and willing to help others, therefore she donated her

September 14 1925 - February 26, 2020

Funeral services will be held Saturday, February 29,2020 at a 10:00 a.m. Mass of Christian Burial in St. Peter Roman Catholic Church in Carencro for Mr. Richard Dale Nunez, age 94, who departed this life peacefully on Wednesday, February 26,2020 at his home in Lafayette.
Interment will be in St. Peter Catholic Cemetery in Carencro. The Very Reverend Father Chester Arceneaux, VF, Rector of the Cathedral of St. John the Evangelist Catholic Church, will officiate at the services.
Mr. Nunez was born in Lake Arthur, Louisiana and resided in Lafayette for most of his life. He was a veteran of World War II serving in the U.S. Navy in the Pacific Theater, including Japan and the Philippine Islands. He was aboard the amphibious attack ship, OTTOWA, during Operation Crossroads at Bikini Atoll and earned three distinguished service awards: Plank Owner, Shell Back and Order of the Golden Dragon.
After the war, he returned to Lafayette and attended Southwestern Louisiana Institute, earning a degree in Agricultural Engineering in 1948. In 1951, he decided to return to college and to pursue a degree in education in order to embark upon a lifelong career as a teacher. While at Carencro High School, he was promoted to an administrative position as Assistant Principal. From 1972-1976, Mr. Nunez was Principal at Myrtle Place Elementary in Lafayette and from 1976-1980, he was Principal at J. Wallace James.
During his teaching career, he continued his military service in the Naval Reserve and retired after 31 years with the rank of Lieutenant Commander. As a native French speaker and educator, Mr. Nunez was a staunch supporter of CODOFIL. He befriended many teachers from France, Canada and Belgium who had come to Louisiana to work in the schools. He loved the classroom so much that he continued to serve as a substitute teacher in Lafayette Parish well into his 80s, touching the lives of many, even 25 years past his retirement.
Mr. Nunez was active in the community serving on the Lafayette Municipal Service Board and the Lafayette Parish Board of Health. He remained closely connected to his military brothers and sisters in arms in associations such as the Veterans of Foreign Wars, the Quarante Hommes et Huit Chevaux ("The Forty and Eight") and was awarded the Arthur J. Webb, Jr. Memorial Award from the American Legion Post 69 in 2010. Most recently, he and seven other local veterans were honored at the National World War II Museum in New Orleans.
Survivors include his son, Danny Nunez of Lafayette; his sister, Rosa Belle Clostio of Kaplan; his niece, Charlotte Detraz (Johnny) of Abbeville; and his nephew, Regan Clostio of Kaplan, as well as their children.
Mr. Nunez was preceded in death by his wife of 67 years, Lena Grace Kilchrist Nunez; his parents, Rodolph Cody Nunez and Irene Seaux Nunez; his brothers, Saul Sonnier, Reule Sonnier, Harry Sonnier and Minos Sonnier; his sister, Yvonne Sonnier Broussard (Leo); and his niece, Tina Clostio Broussard and her husband, Johnny.
On his behalf, the family would like to extend a heartfelt thank you to his personal caregivers, especially Felecia Sellers, Ms. Liz, Ms. Rose, Ms. Lena and Stacie as well as the staff and volunteers of Hospice of Acadiana.
A rosary will be prayed at 6:00 p.m. Friday at the funeral home. The family requests that visiting hours be observed from 5:00 p.m. until 8:00 p.m. Friday and will continue from 8:00 a.m. until service time on Saturday. Memorial contributions in the name of Richard D. Nunez may be made to Hospice of Acadiana online at Hospice of Acadiana Donation Page or by mail to 2600 Johnston St. Suite 200, Lafayette, Louisiana 70503. Melancon Funeral Home, Evangeline Memorial Gardens Chapel, 4117 N. University Ave., Carencro, Louisiana (337) 896-3232 is in charge of arrangements.

The Abbeville High gymnasium will be busy Friday and Saturday with the 2020 LHSPLA West Regional Power Lifting Meet.
For the first time, the high school will be hosting the two-day event.
The girls will begin lifting Friday at 10 a.m., and it will go until around 5 p.m., and around 100 girls are lifting.
Saturday morning will be busy with more than 200 male powerlifters. That meet will go until around 7 p.m.
Vermilion Parish will be well represented. They will have athletes from Gueydan, North Vermilion, VC, Erath, Abbeville and Delcambre competing. They will be going up against lifters from New Iberia Senior High, Southside, Iota, Mamou, Sam Houston, Beau Chene, ChurchPoint and St. Louis to name a few schools.
Travis Werner, Abbeville High’s powerlifting coach, said the lifters will be competing in different weight classes. They will compete in the bench press, squat and deadlift events.
He gave the example that 11 girls from all of the high schools will be competing in the 114-pound weight class. The schools range from New Iberia Senior High to Mamou.
An Erath lifter may finish fifth at regionals in her weight class, her total lifts may be in the top 10 in Class 3A, earning her a bid to state.
Werner said there would be more than 100 volunteers helping with the two-day powerlifting regional meet.

Parish Athletes Competing

Parish girls
97 pounds - Alison Phillips (AHS), Gracie Simon (GHS), Shay Roberston (AHS), Thoazy Tran (Erath), Lacey Daigle (NVHS) Kelsie White (NVHS)
105 pounds - Arielle Harrison (NVHS), Braiana Tomino (AHS), Sydnie Simon (GHS),
114 pounds - Lydia Shields (NVHS), Angela Brailey (AHS),
123 pounds - Heavyn Westly (AHS)
132 pounds - Adrienne Williams (DHS), Trynidi Hebert (EHS), Maggie Callahan (EHS), Braelee Batiste (NVHS), McKenzie Griffin, (VC)
148 pounds - Bella Ritchy (EHS), Emily LaCombe (GHS), Katlyn Blanchard (NVHS), McKenzie Stutes (EHS)
165 pounds - Natalie Reboul (NVHS), Haylee Bourque (AHS), Summer Bonvillion (GHS), Kaelyn Bertrand (GHS)
181 pounds - Nygene Williams, (AHS), Kelsi Fanguy (VC), Hailey Landry (EHS), Kendra LaCombe (GHS), Kaylie Vincent (GHS), Angel LeBouef (NVHS), Alyssa Vincent (EHS), Marcela Marquez (AHS), Brinkley Mayard (NVHS), Jaida Istre, (VC);
198 pounds - Caitlyn Touchet (NVHS), Jolie Vincent (EHS), Ferrah Russo (EHS), Hannah Burnett (AHS)
220 pounds - Grace JeJeune (GHS), MacKenzie Pillette (EHS), Gabby Ardion (NVHS), Jayla Reaux (AHS), Leshay Lebet (AHS),
SHW - Cambry Lewis (DHS), Aniya Martin (EHS)

Parish boys

114 pounds - Peter Nguyen (AHS), Sahil Patel (VC), Colt Saunier (DHS), Gavin Laviolette (NVHS)
123 pounds - Chuck Ford (AHS), Gavin Hanks (VC), Garrett LeBlanc (GHS), Shawn Broussard (VC), Jimmy Mao (AHS)
132 pounds - Rylan Frederick (AHS), Brock Bourque (VC), Caleb Arnould (NVHS),
148 pounds - Miguel Hernandez (DHS), Brennan Viator (EHS), Noah Bouillion (EHS), Christian Alvarez (AHS), Adam Thompson (NVHS), Julien Breaux (GHS)
165 pounds - Kevin Linton (AHS), Lane Breaux (GHS), Noah Richard (NVHS), Ashton Belaire (VC)
181 pounds - Joseph Theall (AHS), Zachary Broussard (VC), Tyrese Landry (AHS), Ever Palacios (EHS), Logan Suire (NVHS), Jamian Guy (DHS),
198 pounds - Addison Gaspard (AHS), Aaron White (NVHS), Jarrod Motty (VC), Phillip Savoie (EHS), Gabe Carlson (GHS)
220 pounds - Aaron Bertrand (VC), Lucien Rodriguez (VC), Avery Toups (EHS), Marlon Coco (AHS), Gavin Broussard (EHS), Hunter Stelly (NVHS),
242 pounds - Cade Renard (EHS), Caleb Garcia (AHS), DJ Toups (EHS), Viterral Cooper (NVHS),
275 pounds - Daniel Rigsby (NVHS), Colin Mier (VC), Braden Sellers (NVHS),
SHW - Cade LaSalle (EHS),