LEONARD GRAY / L’Observateur / February 16, 2000

LULING – Nobody can say Kenneth and Shirley Gaubert aren’t in the carnival spirit. Their home, after all, is decorated in purple, green and gold lights,adorned with plastic cups.

The newly-selected King and Queen of Lul, who will enjoy their carnival ball Saturday at Esperanza Banquet Room, will reign over the 28th annual Krewe of Lul parade March 4. The parade starts at 1 p.m.”It’s fun, but it’s a lot of work!” Ken Gaubert said, holding aloft his royal scepter. Shirley, meanwhile, beamed under her royal crown.Ken, 59, has lived in Luling all his life, except for the eight years he spent as a mechanic on B-52s in the Air Force. The son of Edward and Leona Gaubert,he graduated from Hahnville High School in 1958.

As a teen-ager he met a young waitress at Naquin’s Restaurant in Paradis, and they married in 1959.

Shirley Haynes Gaubert first came to Luling in 1955 to live with her sister and brother-in-law, Agnes and Dennis Friloux, and met the young Ken Gaubert.

Soon after the wedding he joined the Air Force, and they lived the military life for eight years until Vietnam loomed and he decided to return home and raise a family.

A week after arriving home Ken was at work at Occidental Chemical and has remained there for 34 years, with plans to retire in August. He is also avolunteer loan officer for the credit union and reporter for the maintenance department for the Taft News plant newsletter.

Ken and Shirley have three sons – Kevin, 40, Ricky, 39, and Kenneth Jr., 35.Kenneth Jr. and his wife, Darlene, have two children, Brandi, 17 and Brock,10. Kevin is married to Kelly Gaubert, and Ricky is married to CarletteGaubert.

They’ve lived a fairly quiet life on Gassen Street, raising their children, fishing, enjoying yard work and cooking. He plays with the stock market as ahobby, and she has volunteered at St. Charles Parish Hospital for many yearsand as a choir member (soprano) for St. Anthony of Padua Catholic Church.Ken and Shirley, selected last November to reign over this year’s parade, have taken their royal responsibilities seriously, though. They designed theirown scroll, adorned with their family’s photos, and their own cups.

In recognition of the name “Gaubert,” they will also be throwing little toy carnival bears.

“I’ve bought some on the internet,” Ken said. “We’re giving some to all thepast kings and queens.”They’re also designing their own float and will ride in glorious splendor with Grand Marshal Dorothy Roux St. Amant, 85, of Luling.”It’s gonna be fun!” Shirley exclaimed. “I’m looking forward to it!”

Return To News Stories