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August 23, 1938 ~ April 18, 2025

It is with heavy hearts that we announce the passing of Norris Paul Baudoin, who left us on April 18, 2025, at the age of 86, in his home in Abbeville, Louisiana. Born on August 23, 1938, in Erath, LA, Norris was a devoted husband, father, grandfather, and friend to many. He is survived by his beloved wife of 53 years, Eve Adams Baudoin; his granddaughters, Elizabeth Ashleigh Baudoin and Nicki Woodward; his great-granddaughters, Riley and Rowen Woodward; and his caring sisters, Emily Norris and Dianna Boger.
Norris was preceded in death by his parents, Noah and Thelma LeBlanc Baudoin; his son Christopher Baudoin; his step-son Ronald Benoit; his daughter Pauline Trump; and his brother Robert Baudoin.
A true people person, Norris never met a stranger. He had a zest for life that was evident in his love for dancing and his passion for playing Bouree with friends. Known for his green thumb, he tended a remarkable four-acre garden every year, proudly sharing his much-loved okra crop with neighbors and friends. He also ran a lawn service, always finding joy in maintaining the beauty of the outdoors.
The family will welcome friends and loved ones for visitation at Vincent Funeral Home in Abbeville on April 22, 2025, beginning at 9 a.m. A funeral service celebrating his life will follow at 1 p.m. beginning with a recitation of the rosary. Norris will be laid to rest at St. Paul Cemetery. Deacon William "Billy" Vincent will officiate the services.
Pallbearers will be Beau, Jacob, and Kasen Benoit, Luke Trahan, Tommy Menard, and Colbi Meyers.
Norris Baudoin will be dearly missed and fondly remembered by all who knew him.
All funeral arrangements are being conducted by Vincent Funeral Home - Abbeville (337) 893-4661.

July 28, 1937 — April 16, 2025

ERATH — Funeral Services for Mrs. Dorothy Duhon Mergist will be held at 10 a.m. on Wednesday, April 23, 2025 at Out Lady of Lourdes Catholic Church with Father Clinton Sensat officiating. Interment will follow at Our Lady of Lourdes Mausoleum.
Visitation will be held from 4 p.m. until 8 p.m. on Tuesday, April 22, 2025 with the recitation of the rosary at 6 p.m. Visitation will resume on Wednesday, April 23, 2025 at 8 a.m. until the time of service.
Frioux-David Funeral Home of Erath, 209 East Putnam Street, (337) 937-0405 will be handling the arrangements.

KAPLAN - The Kaplan Pirates baseball team has made history this season, and they likely do not even realize it.
The LHSAA recently released the Division III Non-Select Playoffs, and the Pirates (19-12)  are seeded No. 5.
The high seed earned them a first-round bye, and they will play the winner of No. 12 Caldwell and No. 21 Church Point in the second round. 
Being ranked No. 5 is the highest ranking for the baseball program since the LHSAA began ranking teams.
The Pirates are coached by three non-faculty members, who all graduated from Kaplan High.
Jake Faulk is in his first year as the head coach. He spent five years as an Kaplan assistant coach. Teal Richard and Romy David are the assistant coaches.
“I love the five seed,” Faulk said. “It is better than I thought we would be. I will take it.”
When the Pirates went to the semifinals in 2008, they were ranked No. 11; the following year, they were ranked No. 7.
When they reached the semifinals in 2003, the LHSAA did not have a ranking system.
They have won eight out of their last nine games, including six straight. 
The team’s success combines good chemistry and the squad willing to go the extra mile.
“I am not surprised by our success,” Faulk said. “These young men have worked hard. They matured from their freshman and sophomore years and became young men. They have grown up at the end of the season.”
The team consists of four senior players who have played as starters for three years.
The four senior starters are Hayes Mire (pitcher/center fielder), Remy Broussard (catcher), Carter Petry (right field) and Karter Meaux (pitcher/first base).
The junior starters are Aiden Gaspard (shortstop) and third baseman Sabe David.
Owen Marceaux (left field), Gage Guidry (pitcher), and Trent Guidry (outfielder) are the three sophomore starters.
The only freshman starting is Hayden Gaspard at second base. Hayden is the younger brother of Aiden, the starting shortstop.
Kaplan has a .301 team batting average. 
Meaux leads the team with a .438 batting average and has knocked in 31 runs. He has six hits in the last two games.
Petry is hitting .368 with a team-leading 39 runs batted in.
The Pirates have a few arms to use in the playoffs.
Ayden Gaspard is 4-1. He shut down Central Catholic last week. He threw five innings and only allowed one hit, walked one, and struck out eight in Kaplan’s 12-1 win.
Sabe David’s pitching record is 3-2, Karter Meaux’s is 4-2, and Hayden Mire’s is 2-5.
The playoffs will start this week, and it is a three-game series. Faulk said that what day Kaplan plays in the second round will be determined by who wins between Caldwell and Church Point. If it is Caldwell, the first game will likely be played on Friday, followed by a doubleheader on Saturday.
If the Pirates have to play Church Point, it could be a Thursday, Friday, and Saturday if needed.
Faulk said having the first-round bye is positive because Kaplan has a few players dealing with injuries.
Shortstop Aiden Gaspard is nursing a leg injury he injured on a second-base play against Erath. 
Hayden Mire could use the rest to nurse a shoulder injury.
“The extra week off is fine,” Faulk said.  “We are going to rest some players.”

5 Teams in Playoffs

Five Vermilion Parish teams in the LHSAA Baseball Playoffs.

Division II - Non Select

No. 23 Beau Chene at No. 9 North Vermilion
(First Game, Friday, 6 p.m..; Second game, Saturday, Noon: Third game if needed, 3 p.m. Saturday

Division III - Non Select

No. 2 Erath drew a bye first round
No. 5 Kaplan drew a bye first round

Division IV - Non Select

No. 23 at No. 10 Delcambre: Game April 25, 6 p.m. in Delcambre

Division IV - Select

No. 2 VC drew first round bye. The Eagles’ second round playoff game will be on April 29-May 3.

June 23, 1941 — April 11, 2025

KAPLAN — A Funeral Service officiated by Reverend Suresh Mathangi will be held at 1 p.m., Wednesday, April 16, 2025, at Vincent Funeral Home of Kaplan honoring the life of Gordon Paul Bourque, 83, who passed away on April 11, 2025.
A visitation will take place at Vincent Funeral Home of Kaplan on Wednesday, April 16, 2025, from 9 a.m. until service with a rosary being prayed at 10 a.m. Burial will follow at Sacred Heart Cemetery in Pecan Island.
He is survived by his stepchildren, Mona Hebert (husband Geoffrey), Irma White (husband Michael), Bonnie Wainwright (husband Walter), and Kimberly Vincent (wife Sandy); his brother, Jesse Warren Bourque; his sisters, Helen Stanisky, Veronica Touchet (husband Glenn), Ruby Bourque, and Judy Shipperbottom.
He is preceded in death by his wife, Dainty Hardin Bourque; his parents, Murphy J Bourque and Electa Sturlese Bourque; his brothers, Eugene Collins, Norman Wilmer, Donald James, and David Wayne Bourque; his sisters, Catherine Miller and Patricia Harrington.
Gordon served in the Army from 1964 to 1966. He worked for Broussard Brothers and then at Fresh Water Locks for the US Army Corp Engineers for 19 years.
Gordon said when he was a boy and would get off the bus from school, he was handed a sweet potato to eat and then sent to the cotton fields until dark. It took him a long time to eat sweet potatoes again.
Gordon enjoyed gardening and raising ducks and chickens. One day he told me he didn't need any more baby chickens, but they brought him joy, so he bought them anyway. He was so proud when a big hurricane came through and all his ducks and chicken survived. When we visited him, he would be shelling pecans or peas, cutting okra or bell peppers.
After one hurricane he lost 3 freezers full of food. It was hard for us to convince him to downsize because he came from a very large family and food was important to them.
Gordon was a very selfless individual. He physically and financially cared for his siblings and his mother. When he married my mother, Dainty, he accepted me and my siblings as his children. He always remembered birthdays and holidays. He loved all children and enjoyed buying snacks for them.
Pallbearers will be Corey Gaspard, Mike Touchet, Chad Touchet, Norman Bourque, James Hammett, Jimmy Vincent, Joey Bourque, and Chad Bourque.
All funeral arrangements are being conducted by Vincent Funeral Home - Kaplan (337) 643-7276.