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Nancye Joan Duhon

Fri, 12/19/2025 - 10:43am

April 27, 1947 - December 18, 2025

A Mass of Christian Burial will be held on Monday, December 22, 2025, at 2 p.m., in St. Peter the Apostle’s Catholic Church for Ms. Nancye Duhon, 78, who passed away on Thursday, December 18, 2025, at Gueydan Memorial Guest Home Nursing Home.
Visitation will be held on Monday, December 22, 2025, from 9 a.m. to 1:30 p.m., at Matthews Funeral Home in Gueydan, LA.
A rosary will be recited on Monday, December 22, 2025, at 11 a.m., at Matthews Funeral Home in Gueydan, LA.
Reverend Stephen Irudaysamy will be officiating her services.
Graveside Services will take place in the Gueydan cemetery following her mass.
Nancye Joan Tucker was born on April 27, 1947, in Henderson, TX, to the late Jack Tucker originally from Oklahoma and the late Josephine Cimino Tucker originally from Baltimore, MD. Due to the nature of her father’s work in the oilfield, Nancye moved many times throughout Texas in her youth, and the family ultimately settled in Baton Rouge, LA. Nancye graduated from Lee High School in Baton Rouge in 1965.
She went on to earn a bachelor’s degree and master’s degree in education, followed by 30+ hours, from Louisiana State University. She later earned a Specialist Certification in Gifted and Talented education.
Nancye married Whitney J. Duhon, Jr. from Abbeville, LA, in 1968, after being set up on a blind date by their friends at LSU. In 1969, while still in Baton Rouge, they welcomed a son, Whitney (Trey) Duhon III. After finishing at LSU, they moved to Gueydan, where Whitney (with the help of his father) bought a local hardware store and fuel distributorship, Commercial True Value Hardware, which he owned and operated for 54 years, until selling the business last year.
Nancye was a respected and talented educator who spent her early years teaching first grade at Jesse Owens Elementary School in Gueydan, LA.
After 7 years, she stepped away from education to open Trendsetters Boutique with her sister Judy Schoolcraft, which they owned and operated for 14 years in Gueydan, LA.
Her true calling was to be an educator, so she returned to the classroom after getting certified in Gifted and Talented, and spent the remainder of her career teaching the Gifted program at Rene Rost Middle School in Kaplan, LA. While there she did everything possible to enrich the lives of her students, and to expose them to the world. This involved many field trips around Louisiana and to Houston, TX, to explore the various attractions and museums, with each trip meticulously planned. She took great pride in seeing her students grow in their creative and intellectual pursuits. Her efforts were recognized by her colleagues and her students when she was selected Teacher of the Year.
Nancye was a beautiful woman, a great cook, a voracious reader, and she loved to travel. She traveled to Indonesia, Chine, Greece, Turkey, and various European countries, notably Belgium and Holland.
She pursued her civic interests in Les Dames de Gueydan and the Gueydan Art Lovers Association (GALA), whose efforts helped to restore the old Bank of Gueydan into a museum showcasing the unique aspects, history, and people of the area.
She was happy and always had a pleasant disposition. She cultivated life-long friendships and had a genuine interest in the well-being of others. Some of her most cherished memories include her and Whitney’s time spent tailgating the home football games at Tiger Stadium with their friends, which they did for over 40 years.
She is preceded in death by her parents, Jack Junius Tucker and Josephine Cimino Tucker; her sisters, Judy Schoolcraft (Mike) and Jacki Sue Hungerford (Maxi); her nephew, Louis Boyd (Jacki’s son)
Nancye is survived by her husband of 57 years, Whitney J. Duhon, Jr.; her only son, Whitney (Trey) Duhon III and his wife Carla Lahaye Duhon; her three grandchildren, Logan Lahaye Clothier of Lafayette, LA, Whitney (Tucker) Duhon IV of Laurel MD, and Mason Dane Duhon of Santa Rosa, FL. She is also survived by her nephew Stephen Gregory Schoolcraft of Mahomet, IL and his wife Kristina, and their daughters, Raquelle and Michaela; her brother-in-law Bernard Duhon and his wife Jeanelle Simon Duhon of Abbeville, LA.
Pallbearers chosen to carry Ms. Nancye to her final place of rest will be Logan Clothier, Whitney (Tucker) Duhon IV, Mason Dane Duhon, Scott Hollier, Jody Simon and Kenneth Martin. Honorary Pallbearer will be Stephen G. Schoolcraft.
The family would like to extend heartfelt thanks to the administration and staff of the Gueydan Memorial Guest Home for the exceptional care provided to Nancye in the recent three and a half years; as well as her caregiver, Ms. Kathy Martin, for being a wonderful companion and personal sitter for all these years. The family also thanks Lamm Homecare and Hospice for keeping Nancye comfortable in her final days.
In lieu of flowers, the family requests donations may be made to the Gueydan Museum, www.gueydanmuseum.com
Arrangements have been entrusted to the Matthews Funeral Home GUEYDAN, 514 Second Street Gueydan, LA 70542

In Loving Memory JIMMY Harrington

Fri, 12/19/2025 - 10:41am

September 7, 1972 ~ June 27, 2025

Jimmy Harrington, age 53, passed away on June 27, 2025, in Washington State.
He is lovingly remembered by his siblings, Meline Hernandez, Don Harrington, Shannon Duhon, and Francis Duhon; and numerous nieces and nephews.
He was preceded in death by his parents, Clifford and Audrey Harrington; his siblings, Arma Harrington, Eddie Harrington, and Barbara Harrington; his nephew, Xander Hernandez; and his niece, Brittany Hopper.

Lafayette Superintendent Francis Touche is a former teacher and principal in Vermilion Parish.

Attorney General’s Office launches corruption probe in Lafayette school system under leadership of Francis Touchet

Wed, 12/17/2025 - 12:34pm

This story was first reported by The Current and republished with permission.

Written By Leslie Turk
The Current

The Louisiana Office of the Attorney General is investigating the Lafayette Parish School System, according to sources with knowledge of the inquiry.
Word of the new investigation, described as a public corruption probe, comes after the Lafayette Police Department confirmed to The Current that it has closed its investigation into forged quotes for Lafayette schools’ construction projects. The Current’s reporting has uncovered more than two dozen quotes from contractors who said they did not vie for the projects noted on school district documents bearing their letterhead.
That forgery investigation, launched by LPD on June 18, led to the August arrest of Robert Gautreaux, LPSS’s former director of construction, facilities and maintenance, on state felony charges of filing false public records and injuring public records. Gautreaux has not yet been charged and continues to work for the school district under a non-disclosure agreement.
On Dec. 3, LPD Public Information Officer Sgt. Robin Green told The Current that the department had forwarded the Gautreaux case to the 15th Judicial District Attorney’s Office that same day — even though District Attorney Don Landry’s office had not yet requested the investigative file, months after the arrest.
Sources say the AG’s office is investigating whether anyone higher up than Gautreaux was involved in the alleged forgeries or had knowledge that quotes were being manipulated in order to direct school work to favored contractors. Investigators are also looking into whether any school officials benefited financially from relationships with vendors, according to those sources.
Consistent with standard practice, the AG’s office would neither confirm nor deny the existence of an investigation into the local school system.
LPSS Superintendent Francis Touchet, then-Construction Director Robert Gautreaux and the wife of a metal building contractor doing business with the school system signed up for a cruise that set sail in late March of this year.
The Current reported in July that Superintendent Francis Touchet, Gautreaux and their wives, along with the wife of LPSS contractor Butch Bergeron, joined a Facebook group for passengers of a five-day, four-night Carnival Lines cruise that set sail in March from Galveston to Cozumel, Mexico. Both Touchet and Gautreaux declined to confirm whether they went on the cruise or who paid for it.
Bergeron, a metal building contractor who has been awarded no-bid construction work worth approximately $3 million at Lafayette schools for at least 55 projects since Touchet was named permanent school superintendent in late 2023, has acknowledged social relationships with school officials. He also sponsored a customer appreciation event at Lafayette Parish School Board member Jeremy Hidalgo’s Broussard bar last year. The Louisiana Board of Ethics says such sponsorships violate the state’s ethics code.
The Current’s inquiry into school construction conflicts was prompted by findings in LPSS’s annual audit. The school district is now in the process of replacing its longtime independent auditors, having recently issued a request for proposals from interested firms.
Auditors at Kolder, Slaven & Co. flagged multiple construction projects that should have been combined and put out for bid, including several awarded to Bergeron. Follow-up reporting on construction projects by The Current revealed the use of an unlicensed contractor for a drainage repair project at an elementary school in 2024, prompting an investigation by the state’s licensing board for contractors.
The licensing board was first to identify that competing quotes for that project had not actually been submitted by the two local companies whose letterhead they were on.
Don Landry said Monday that the Gautreaux case had not been assigned to an assistant district attorney for prosecution. It’s unclear whether the AG will take over that case.
In early October, Landry confirmed to The Current that he met with Superintendent Touchet on June 25, while the LPD criminal probe was underway. “I believe we discussed truancy and we discussed the bids issue,” the district attorney said in an email.
“Because there is a pending investigation on the issue of the bids, I cannot comment on that issue,” he said at the time. He did not respond to followup questions about the appropriateness of discussing an active investigation with the superintendent.
“As required by the Legislative Auditor, the matter was referred to the District Attorney,” Touchet told The Current in a text message Friday morning. “There was a brief conversation that included this issue and a discussion of truancy. The matter is now solely in the hands of the legal system.”
Last week, the Lafayette Parish School Board gave Touchet a glowing evaluation, awarding him a score of 3.8 out of 4, and will soon meet with him to discuss possible contract amendments. His current contract — carrying a salary of $235,000 plus an annual stipend of $20,000 — runs through May of 2028.
The board had similarly praised Gautreaux’s work after The Current reported on the hiring of the unlicensed contractor, Bosco Oilfield Services. At that time, School Board President Britt Latiolais encouraged Gautreaux to continue hiring Bosco, even as the licensing board investigation was underway.
As a condition of his continued employment, Robert Gautreaux signed what sources have described as a confidentiality agreement. The school district denied The Current’s request for a copy of the agreement. Photo by Robin May
Gautreaux, who was placed on administrative leave the day Lafayette police took over the forgery investigation, was allowed to return to the system July 1, albeit transferred with a pay cut to his old job teaching agricultural science. As a condition of his return and continued employment, Gautreaux was required by Touchet to sign an agreement that sources described as a form of confidentiality or non-disclosure.
Multiple sources told The Current the superintendent was aware by July 1 that Gautreaux may be charged, and knew the construction director was a target when he put him on leave and handed the probe over to LPD.
In fact, records obtained by The Current show that just days after LPD took over the case in mid-June, school officials asked their attorneys to research whether it was mandatory to fire an employee convicted of a felony.
The school system declined The Current’s request for a copy of Gautreaux’s transfer agreement, saying if such a record exists, it would be in his personnel file and exempt from production.
“Any next steps will be determined by the District Attorney, the Attorney General, and the Legislative Auditor,” Touchet wrote in his text response. “The school system is not involved in the legal process and will not be commenting further.”

Brent Indest is returning to Abbeville.

Brent Indest returns to Abbeville High as football coach

Wed, 12/17/2025 - 12:24pm

Geauxpreps first broke the story that Brent Indest is the new head football coach at Abbeville High.
Here is the story courtesy of GeauxPreps.com

by William Weathers // GeauxPreps.com Contributor

Nearly two weeks ago, Brent Indest received a picture for an advertisement circulating online for a new football coach at Abbeville High.
His golfing buddy, Keith Carona, a former state championship coach at Independence High, was responsible for submitting the job opening at a place Indest knew very well. He served for a total of 12 years at the Vermilion Parish school, leading the Wildcats to the state playoffs in seven of the eight years as head coach.
Twenty-two years since his departure Indest, head coach at Lakeshore High in Mandeville the past four years, has accepted an overture Wednesday to return to Abbeville, where his coaching career began 35 years ago.
“He said he remembered those days,” Indest said of Carona. “That kind of got things rolling. I was contacted by some of the powers that be in the parish. One thing led to another. I talked to my wife (Tina) to see if it’s doable. Every day it seemed to make a little more sense that hey, ‘this is something I really want to do.’”
Indest, 59, said he will fulfill his obligation to Lakeshore through the remainder of the school year, including his role as track coach. He intends to make periodic trips to Abbeville and will attempt to conduct a version of spring training in May.
“It’s more about honestly getting back home,” said Indest, a native of Catholic-New Iberia. “We had four great years on the Northshore with probably the best administration I’ve ever had the pleasure of working with. They’ve treated me and my wife (the school’s bookkeeper) both wonderfully.
“It’s gotten to a point where you miss home, you miss your family,” Indest said. “Most of all of my brothers and sisters still reside in the New Iberia area. We knew when we went to the Northshore, it wasn’t forever. This seemed like a great opportunity to be able to move back home.”
The move to the Northshore, following two years in private business, was a departure for Indest, who spent the majority of his 28-year head coaching career in the Acadiana area, which included stops at five schools.
Indest’s one of the state’s accomplished football coaches, currently ranking 43rd overall on the state’s all-time wins list with a 219-99 record. He’s the state’s eighth active winningest coach, two wins ahead of Calvary Baptist’s Rodney Guin (217-79).
The crown jewel of his career was leading Catholic-New Iberia, his alma mater, to the 2017 Division III select state championship, the school’s first in 55 years. He retired from coaching in 2019 and entered the private business sector, where he grew antsy working and playing golf.
Lakeshore, 11-11 before his arrival, went 32-14 during Indest’s tenure. The Raiders were 8-3 and fell to Cecilia in the Division II non-select state regionals this season.
“I had 192 wins or in that range,” Indest said of 2019 retirement. “A bunch of my friends said you’re so close to 200, that’s usually the number for the (LHSAA) Hall of Fame. I had a state title. That was something that had never really motivated me. I didn’t think about it. But it’s amazing how my attitude changed when I got back in.
“Over the two years that I was out, I realized that I was a ball coach, I’m pretty darn good at something, and that’s what I needed to do.” Indest coach. “That’s when I started looking and wondering about how cool it would be to get 300 wins. It would even be cooler to get 350 wins.”
Indest uses Louisiana Sports Hall of Fame coach Lewis Cook of Notre Dame as an example he would like to follow. The 74-year-old Cook completed his 41st season as a head coach and is the state’s third-winningest coach with a record of 419-104, including 29 years at Notre Dame, where he’s 321-59 with four of his five state championships.
“He’s been blessed with good health, and if I’m blessed with the same health of coach Cook, I’d like to think that I could coach well into my 70s,” he said. “That’s the plan.”
The return to Abbeville is reminiscent of two of his more enjoyable coaching experiences at Crowley and Kaplan.
The ability to play a positive role and create winning cultures remains atop Indest’s wish list, and that’s what he’ll find waiting at Abbeville. Since the departure of Roy Moy, who was 29-12 at Abbeville in four years, the Wildcats went through a stretch of 14 straight losses under Jonathan Zenon, who was relieved of duties after the team’s fourth game last season.
The school’s basketball coach, Trevor Eaton, helped to guide the Wildcats to three victories and a Division II state playoff berth against Franklin Parish.
“I got to watch Abbeville on film a couple of times this year,” Indest said. “I know they only won three games, but I do see a lot of potential there. They have a lot of good young players, and I think there’s a chance to be successful.”
Prior to Indest’s arrival, Crowley was 0-10 and became a 10-0 district champion three years later, winning 22 games in three seasons. Kaplan failed to win any district games over a stretch of years until Indest came on the scene, and the Pirates won 14 games in two years.
“We basically built programs from scratch,” he said. “We immediately became good there, and in a couple of years, we got really good. I don’t know if I’ve ever had more satisfaction than those situations.”

Catholic High, where he spent seven years, had moderate success with several regional appearances, but the Panthers were 72-17 during Indest’s stay, which included a state title in ’17. The Panthers were also twice state runner-up and played in three semifinals.
“We were able to take Catholic High to a whole new level,” Indest said. “Lakeshore had gone 11-11 in the two seasons before I got there. It was nice to get that thing going again. To go into a program without a lot of discipline and structure and really build that thing from scratch really gets me excited.”
Indest, who spent one season as an assistant at Louisiana Tech, also led Carencro to a Class 5A state runner-up finish in 2011.
Indest, a three-time LSWA Coach of the Year, got a good view at Abbeville during the 2025 season, getting an advanced look at the Wildcats’ non-district opponent, Franklinton, a District 7-4A opponent of Lakeshore.
He was impressed with the Wildcats’ play in the 33-30 defeat.
“The game was in doubt in the fourth quarter,” he said. “I’m not a Wing-T guy anymore, we’re in the gun. It’s still Wing-T principles. I really think this system is going to fit these kids. With the quarterbacks and receivers that we’ll have there, we’re going to be able to be pretty explosive in the passing game.
“I did my homework,” he said. “They’ve got a really nice mix of size and skill coming back. I’m really excited about that.”
Indest became the winningest coach in Abbeville High history with a 60-34 record, leading the Wildcats to several quarterfinal appearances and a home state semifinal against John Curtis.
He’s looking to replicate more of those memories in his return.
“It’s the challenge of it and the potential,” Indest said. “I see so much potential there. I still think Abbeville’s a great football community. (Division IV select state champion in 2024) Vermilion Catholic’s had great success recently. I think we can rally the troops. I’ve got a lot of former players that have kids playing there now, as well as guys I think will want to get involved. I look forward to that as well.”

There will be a new face leading the Abbeville Wildcats in 2026.

Nine apply for head coaching job at Abbeville High

Tue, 12/09/2025 - 11:22am

The applying process is over for the new head football coaching job at Abbeville High and there are there are nine applicants.
The school district closed the application process at noon on Monday and the school administrators and school district administrators are expected to begin interviewing the candidates by the end of the week or next week.
Two of the applicants are already on the AHS football coach staff, while only one is coaching in the Acadiana. The rest are coaching or have coached at different parts of the state.
Three applicants have head coaching experience.
The two AHS assistant coaches who applied are: Allen Arclies and Donald Fuselier.
•Arclies coached at JH Williams Middle School before moving up to the high school team during this season.
• Fuselier was the offensive coordinator who brought a wide-open spread offense to the Wildcats in 2025. For the first time in years, AHS had a 2,000 yard passer and a 1,000 yard receiver.
• Taylor Latiolais. He is the offensive coordinator at St. Martinville High School, which competed against Abbeville.
• Andy Boone. He is the most experience coach with head coaching experience. Boone spent 15 years as the head coach at Avoyelles High School (81 wins at the school) and then took a head coaching job at Lakeview High in 2023 and Liberty Magnet High in 2024. He went 3-7 with Liberty High in 2024 and parted ways with the school after only one year.
• Joshua Jetton. He is the assistant football coach and the head baseball coach at Pickering High School.
• Lavelle Wilson. He is the assistant football coach at Richwood High School.
• James Dartez. He stepped down as the Baker High School head coach before this season due to family issues in South Louisiana. He had been the head coach at Baker for two years and won a district title each year.
Before accepting the head coaching job at Baker, he was the head football coach at Bolton High for two years and prior to that, he was the offensive coordinator at Northside High School and assistant football coach at Northwestern High School, Madison Prep (offensive coordinator) and Southern Lab.
He has 13 years of coaching experience.
• John Kavanaugh. He was the head football coach at Fontainebleau High School for three years and posted an 8-22 record. He has more than 20 years of coaching experience and eight as a head coach. He was let go as the head football coach in November.
Prior to Fontainebleau, he was a successful coach as Class 2A North Caddo, where he won district titles his final three years and five consecutive playoff appearances.
• Glen Logan. He did not coach any where in the LHSAA last year.

Gavin Garnica suffered a black eye caused by the car accident on i-10 last week, during a high speed chase.

Alivia Garnica is alleged to have driven her brother Gavin to Houston after he escaped from the parish jail.

Vermilion Parish sheriff fixes ‘deficiencies’ that allowed Garnica to jump over fence, go missing for eight hours before learning he had escaped

Tue, 12/09/2025 - 11:20am

Each new sheriff in Vermilion Parish faces challenges like this and learns from them.
Sheriff Eddie Langlinais and his deputies are now facing tough lessons similar to those of the previous administration.
During his 20 years in office, former Sheriff Mike Couvillon had at least two prisoners escape from the correctional center.
One escape occurred in 2013, when Christopher Dyson, a trusty, climbed the fence during work duty.
In 2015, 26-year-old Carl Striggow ran away while working in the 20-acre garden.
They were all captured not long after they escaped.
Nearly 10 years after Striggow’s escape, another prisoner got out of the correctional center.
Gavin Garnica, who is from Vermilion Parish, escaped last Wednesday at approximately 11:15 p.m. He remained undetected for 8.5 hours and was captured around 48 hours after his escape.
According to Langlinais, deputies at the correctional center did not notice he was missing for 8.5 hours.
During regular bed checks throughout the evening, corrections deputies believed Garnica was asleep and fully covered in his assigned bunk. Later, a review of surveillance footage showed that Garnica had scaled the perimeter fence on the east side of the jail at approximately 11:45 p.m. and fled on foot, but this was discovered only after his absence was noticed.
Because of Garnica’s escape, the Sheriff said his department is correcting the mistakes made at the correctional center that enabled it.
“There were some deficiencies that we later identified,” said Langlinais. “He was in an area he should not have been in. Why did that happen? And then the area he was in, why was it not more secure? But we are looking at hardening those areas and making it better for the public so that it doesn’t happen again.”
Langlinais met with the media on Monday to explain that, when he learned that Garnica had escaped, he called on his connections at the Federal Marshal’s Office and the FBI for help.
Within hours of the phone call, FBI and agents and deputies from the Marshal’s Office were on the ground searching for Garnica outside of the parish.
“By the time we were notified (of his escape), we knew there was no public safety issue. We knew he was not in the area. We knew we tracked him to the Houston area,” Langlinais said.
Langlinais’s deputies found out that Garnica had left the parish and gone to Houston.
Garnica’s sister, Aliva Garnica, is accused of driving him there.
No horn from the jail was sounded to alert the public, because by the time the Sheriff learned of the escape, Garnica was already confirmed to be in Houston.
Langlinais said he felt the public was in no danger because several hours had passed since the escape.
Langlinais indicated that upon assuming office, his primary objective was to protect Vermilion Parish residents. He described public safety as his top priority, followed by ensuring Garnica’s return to custody.

Police arrested Gavin Garnica after he was involved in solo accident on I-10 last week.

Escaped Vermilion Parish inmate leads police on high speed chase on I-10

Tue, 12/09/2025 - 11:16am

The inmate who escaped from the Vermilion Parish Correctional Center on Dec. 3 was caught after leading police on a high-speed chase from Jennings to Rayne.
Gavin Garnica, 23, was caught Friday night in Rayne after a two-day search, according to Jennings Police Chief Danny Semmes.
Jennings police worked with Vermilion Parish and federal authorities to find Garnica on Friday.
Chief Semmes said that around 11:30 p.m. Friday, someone told a Shop Rite security guard that they were scared of the person they had picked up in their car.
When officers arrived, Semmes said Garnica ran away on foot, crossed the street to a nearby hotel, carjacked a vehicle, and then led police on a high-speed chase on I-10 until he was stopped in Rayne.
Garnica was arrested and taken to a hospital in Lafayette before being handed over to Vermilion and federal authorities, Semmes said.
Garnica was hurt in the accident, suffering a black eye and a cut on his nose and cheek.
Garnica’s sister, 18-year-old Aliva Garnica, of Lafayette, has been arrested and booked with simple escape and aggravated escape in connection with her brother’s escape. She allegedly drove Gavin to Houston after he escaped.
Her bond was set at $25,000, and she bonded out on Monday.
Vermilion Parish Sheriff Eddie Langlinais and his deputies arrived at the scene soon after the accident.
After he was released from the hospital over the weekend, he was booked again into the Vermilion Parish Correctional Center.
He was charged with aggravated escape over the weekend. The Jennings Police Department and the FBI are expected to file more charges.
Sheriff Langlinais thanked all the police departments and agencies for their help in finding and arresting Garnica.
Here is a list of agencies provided by the FBI that played a role in finding Garnica:

•Vermilion Parish Sheriff’s Office
• Louisiana State Police
• Calcasieu Parish Sheriff’s Office
• Jennings Police Department
• Acadia Parish Sheriff’s Office
•Lafayette Police Department
• Lafayette Sheriff’s Office
• U.S. Marshal’s Service
• FBI Houston
•U.S. Attorney’s Office for the Western District of Louisiana

Garnica was a wanted fugitive in 2022
In 2022, Garnica led police from Lafayette, Vermilion Parish, the state police, and Abbeville on a high-speed chase that ended when the Vermilion Task Force boxed him in.
Three law enforcement agencies charged him with 30 crimes, including carjacking, resisting arrest, aggravated kidnapping, attempted first-degree murder, battery of a dating partner, and simple escape.

Maurice man killed in pedestrian crash in Lafayette Parish

Tue, 12/09/2025 - 10:14am

On Dec. 7, shortly after 8 p.m., Louisiana State Police Troop I began investigating a single-vehicle fatal crash involving a pedestrian on US Highway 167 near Leblanc Road in Lafayette Parish.
The crash claimed the life of 37-year-old Ricky Verret of Maurice.  
The preliminary investigation revealed that Verret was initially walking on the right shoulder of US Hwy 167 southbound. At the same time, a 2002 Jeep Wrangler towing a trailer was traveling south on US Hwy 167. For reasons still under investigation, Verret entered the roadway into the path of the approaching Jeep and was struck.
Verret sustained fatal injuries and was pronounced deceased on the scene. The driver of the Jeep was properly restrained and not injured.
Impairment is not suspected to be a factor in this crash; however, routine toxicology samples were collected for analysis. This crash remains under investigation.
Troopers urge all pedestrians and motorists to remain vigilant and aware of their surroundings at all times. Pedestrians should cross roadways at well-lit intersections and wear reflective clothing when walking near traffic, especially at night. These safety practices are critical in reducing preventable tragedies on our roadways.

Ruby Hebert Primeaux

Mon, 12/08/2025 - 12:33pm

March 12, 1932 ~ December 4, 2025

ABBEVILLE — A Mass of Christian Burial officiated by Reverend Matthew Barzare will be held at 11 a.m., Tuesday, December 9, 2025, at St. Mary Magdalen Catholic Church, honoring the life of Ruby Hebert Primeaux, 93, who passed away on December 4, 2025, at Eastridge Nursing Center, surrounded by her loving family. She will be laid to rest at St. Paul Cemetery alongside her husband. Readers will be Rachel Frederick and Monica Meyers and Gift bearers will be Madison Primeaux and Jillian Primeaux. Serving as pallbearers will be Toby Primeaux, Drew Primeaux, Tommy Primeaux, Chance Thomas, Ronny Bedford and Lonnie Duhon. Honorary pallbearers will be Larry Primeaux and Mark Broussard (godchild).
A visitation will take place at Vincent Funeral Home of Abbeville, 209 S. Saint Charles St., Abbeville, on Monday, December 8, 2025, from 5 p.m. until 9:00 p.m., with a rosary being prayed at 5:30 p.m. (early for those who do not drive at night). The visitation will continue on Tuesday, December 9, 2025, from 8:00 a.m. until 10:45 a.m., when the procession departs for the church.
Ruby Hebert Primeaux, a beloved mother, friend, and esteemed member of the Abbeville community. Ruby was born on March 12, 1932, in Abbeville, Louisiana, and she lived a full, vibrant life until her peaceful passing.
Ruby dedicated her life to learning. She was not afraid to try new activities and had no fear of failing the first attempt. She was an avid flower and vegtable gardener. She enjoyed reading, painting, and she loved baking and trying new recipes. She enjoyed a career in the retail industry, where she loved connecting with countless customers and leaving a lasting impression through her warm spirit and unwavering kindness. Her commitment to family and community was evident throughout her life, and her memory will linger in the hearts of those she touched.
In this time of mourning, we reflect on Ruby’s remarkable life and the joy she brought to all who knew her. Her warmth and compassion will be dearly missed, yet her spirit will undoubtedly live on in the memories shared by those she loved and the lives she inspired.
She is survived by son, Larry Primeaux of Lafayette; her daughter, Lisa Bedford and her husband, Ronny of Houston, TX; daughter-in-law, Cleo Primeaux, three grandchildren, Toby Primeaux (Allison), Jenny Primeaux (Tommy), and Jillian Primeaux; six great grandchildren, Drew Primeaux (Lacey), Madison Primeaux (Daks), Gracie Primeaux (Drake), Bayne Primeaux, Brett Primeaux, and Alaina Primeaux; one great grandchild, Maverick Primeaux and siblings, Rita Marceaux of Kaplan, Rena Duhon and her husband, Larry of Maurice, Roland Hebert of Abbeville, and Richard Hebert of Abbeville.
She was preceded in death by her husband, Pervis Jean Primeaux; son, Randy Primeaux; daughter-in-law, Toni Touchet; parents, Whitney Hebert, Jr. and the former Louisette Richard; and siblings, Renis Hebert, Raymond Hebert, Shirley Broussard, and Rose Belle Stansbury; sisters-in-law,Velma Hebert and Noella Hebert; and brothers-in-law, Rixby Marceaux and Paul A. Broussard.
The family would like to extend their heartfelt gratitude and appreciation to Michelle Broussard and Louise Broussard for daily care visits during Ruby’s stay at Eastridge, Lamm Hospice (especially April) and Eastridge Nursing Home (too may to thank individually, each caring team member is greatly appreciated) for their compassionate care and unwavering support. She loved and respected each of you. Your kindness has brought comfort during this difficult time, and we are forever grateful.
All funeral arrangements are being conducted by Vincent Funeral Home - Abbeville (337) 893-4661.

William Mercer Hall III

Mon, 12/08/2025 - 8:27am

August 29, 1942 - November 30, 2025

ABBEVILLE — William Mercer Hall III passed away on November 30, 2025, at his home at the age of 83.
He was born in Abbeville on August 29, 1942. He spent his early years in Lake Charles, Louisiana, and graduated from Lake Charles High School in 1960. He graduated from Louisiana State University in 1965 where he was a member of Sigma Chi fraternity. Upon graduation from LSU, he served three years in the U.S. Army, including a tour in Vietnam (1967) as a pilot with the 71st Assault Helicopter Company. Captain Hall left the service in 1968 and pursued a career in Petroleum Land Management and Trust Banking. He was a dedicated LSU fan and enjoyed playing golf for many years. He will be dearly missed.
He is survived by his wife of fifty-five years, Shelia Faye Walker Hall; his son, William Mercer Hall IV; his daughter, Elizabeth Ann Hall Johnson; two granddaughters, Katie Hall and Ellie Hall; as well as his brother, John Robert Hall (Evelyn Champagne Hall).
He was predeceased by his parents, William Mercer Hall Jr. and Ann Laura Smith Hall; as well as his son-in-law, Jed Johnson.
A private graveside service will be held at a later date for the immediate family.
Arrangements have been entrusted to Cypress Funeral Home & Crematory, 206 W. Lafayette St., Maurice, LA 70555.

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