L’Observateur / March 19, 2000

BAILEY LAPLACE – Ethel Harris Bailey, 81, a native of Montz and resident of Norco, died March 15. She was the wife of the late Peter Bailey.She was also the daughter of the late Lilly Fenroy and Willie Harris and the sister of Evelyn Carter, Edna Williams and the late Earl Smith, Alexander Smikth Sr. and the late Willie Harris.Services are today at 11 a.m. at the Greater Good Hope Baptist Church,Norco, with interment at Montz Memorial Cemetery, Montz. Visitation beginsat 10 a.m.

BENN CONVENT – Robert Benn Sr., 86, a native and resident of Convent, died March11. He was the husband of Irene Stewart Benn and father of Robert Benn Jr.He was also the son of the late Oliver Sr. and Mary Carter Benn and brotherof Irma Johnson and the late Andrew and Oliver Benn Jr.

He is also survived by nine grandchildren and 17 great-grandchildren.

Services were held March 16 at St. James Methodist Church, Convent, withinterment at the church cemetery.

CHAMPAGNE EDGARD – Felton “Champ” Champagne, 34, a native and resident of Edgard, died March 13. He was the husband by first marriage of Constance MollChampagne and by second marriage of Mary Edwards Champagne.

He was also the father of Qiana and Brianna Champagne and step-father of Jeanette Lumar and Tashika and Shamica Edwards.

He was also the son of Joyce Champagne and the late Felton Champagne Sr.

and the brother of Tanzer Lorio, Nedra Harper, Renee Jones, Theron Simon and Dawn Champagne.

Services were held March 17 at the St. John the Baptist Church, Edgard, withinterment at the church cemetery.

COOPER LAPLACE – Lawrence “Larry” Cooper, 52, a native of Gramercy and resident of LaPlace for the past 15 years, died March 13. He was the husband ofJenny Lirette Cooper and the father of Daron and Dominic Cooper, Raynell Turner and the late Lawrence Jackson.

He was also the son of Eula Myles Cooper and the late Lloyd Cooper.

He is also survived by four grandchildren.

Services are today at 11 a.m. at Bethlehem Missionary Baptist Church,Reserve, with interment at St. John Memorial Gardens Mausoleum, LaPlace.Visitation begins at 9 a.m.

FALGOUST DESTREHAN – Louis H. Falgoust, 98, a native of Vacherie and resident ofNorco, died March 14. He was the husband of the late Agatha Weber Falgoustand father of Lois Morici, Doris Bertucci, Audrey Naquin and David, Robert, George and the late Louis and James Falgoust.

He was also the son of the late Louis H. and Sophie Amedee Falgoust andbrother of Anne Hymel, Edith Hepler, John Falgoust and the late Stanley and Willis Falgoust.

He is also survived by 25 grandchildren, 42 great-grandchildren and six great-great-grandchildren.

Services were held March 16 at St. Charles Borromeo Catholic Church,Destrehan, with interment at St. Peter Cemetery, Reserve.

GEORGE LAPLACE – Gail Conlee George, 58, a native of New Orleans and resident of LaPlace for 28 years, died March 13.

She was the wife of Wayne George, mother of Cindy Gillies, Joey Scontrino III, Joy Scontrino and Chandra Fisher and step-mother of Kendra Toney, Cheryl Ricca and Bonnie Hempstad.

She was also the daughter of the late Bonalee and Rachel Conlee and sister of Bonalee Conlee.

She is also survived by seven grandchildren, nine step-grandchildren and one step-great-grandchild.

She was a member of the St. John the Baptist Parish Zoning Board.Services were held March 16 at First Baptist Church, LaPlace, with interment at St. John Memorial Gardens, LaPlace.

LEBLANC PAULINA – Irene M. LeBlanc, 80, native and resident of Paulina, died March15. She was the wife of Augustin “Shy-U” LeBlanc and mother of JaniceSchexnayder and the late Lynn LeBlanc.

She was also the daughter of Edward and Annette Martin and the sister of Micole Martin, Ethel LeBlanc, Hilda Waguespack, Enola Duplessis, Edna Melancon, Lucille Babin and the late Nicole Martin and Ethel LeBlanc.

She is survived by four grandchildren and nine great-grandchildren.

Services are today at 11 a.m. at Our Lady of Prompt Succor Chapel, Lutcherwith entombment in St. Joseph’s Mausoleum. Visitation begins at 8 a.m.

MELANCON GONZALES – Margaret Bahm Melancon, 81, a native of Lutcher and a resident of Gonzales, died March 15. She was the mother of Dolores Acosta, NellaSherman and Norman, Shelton and the late Larry and Don Melancon.

She was also the daughter of the late Porter Bahm and Levada Everette Babin and the sister of Evelyn Jackson.

She is also survived by 11 grandchildren and 15 great-grandchildren. She waspreceded in death by one grandchild.

Services were held on March 17 at Holy Rosary Catholic Church, St. Amant,with interment at Hope Haven Cemetery in Gonzales.

MOORE GARYVILLE – Cynthia Williams Moore, 40, a native and resident of Garyville, died March 14. She was the mother of Laykette and Samantha Moore andLarry Williams.

She was also the daughter of Glendora Warren and Johnny Miliken and the stepdaughter of Lawrence Hensley. She is the sister of Amelia Keller andAlexis and Jonathan Miliken.

She is also survived by one grandchild.

Services are today at 11 a.m. at the True Light Baptist Church, Garyville,with interment at Zion Traveler’s Cemetery, Reserve.

ROUSSEL VACHERIE – Rita G. Roussel, 71, a native of Wallace, former resident of NewOrleans and resident of Vacherie for 10 years, died March 14. She was thewife of Clifton Roussel and mother of Patricia Stroud, Annette Parker and Allen, Wayne and Clifton Roussel Jr.

She was also the daughter of the late Kliebert and Pauline Laurent Guidry and sister of Lilly Rose Mercier, Joyce Armstrong, Pearl Folse and Daniel, Kirby, Kliebert Jr. and the late Leon Guidry.She is also survived by 12 grandchildren and one great-grandchild.

Services were held March 16 at St. Phillip Catholic Church, Vacherie, withinterment at the church cemetery.

SIMMONS GONZALES – Bertha Mae Simmons, 53, a native and resident of Convent, died March 13. She was the mother of Amanda Domino, Lina Tureaud, SharonWilliams, Peter and Andrew LeBlanc, Bobby Simmons and the late Buster LeBlanc Sr.

She was also the daughter of the late Frank and Dannie Lee Simmons.

She is survived by 10 grandchildren and one great-granchild.

Services are today at 10 a.m. at the Young Pilgrim Baptist Church, Convent,with interment at the Hopeful Cemetery, Hilleryville.

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