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August 27, 1934 ~ August 3, 2019

On Saturday, August 3, 2019, Lorris John Morvant, 84, died at his residence after a very lengthy battle with cancer.
He is survived by two daughters, Nanette Comeaux and Debra Morvant, both of Abbeville; son, Christopher John Morvant and husband, Dr. Alan Leung of San Francisco, California; two brothers, Ray Morvant of Kaplan and Jimmy Morvant of Lafayette; three grandchildren, Damanica, Damion and Danielle Comeaux, all of Abbeville; thirteen great grandchildren, Ajah Cox, D.J. Campbell, Kameron Levine, Damion Comeaux, Jr., Niles Comeaux, Ahna Fletcher, Dillon Comeaux, Dre’ah Comeaux, Owen Stephens, Dawsyn Comeaux, Nettie Comeaux, Donny Comeaux, and Drew Comeaux.
He was preceded in death by his wife, Shirley Broussard Morvant; parents, Onedias and Nella Hebert Morvant; in-laws, Marcel and Lelia Broussard; four sisters-in-law, Goldie Broussard, Brenda Broussard, Peggy Cook Morvant and Marylin Demarcy Morvant.
The family would like to thank Hospice Compassus, Brother Dave Rousse – Chaplin, Lauren, Caleb, Ashley, Lisa and Karen for all their love and support of our loved one. May God always bless them.
Condolences may be sent to the family at www.vincentfuneralhome.net.
All funeral arrangements are being conducted by Vincent Funeral Home of Abbeville, (337) 893-4661.

ERATH — A Mass of Christian Burial for Adley Desormeaux Touchet, 93, will be at 11:00AM Thursday, August 8, 2019 in Our Lady of Lourdes Catholic Church with Father Andre Metrejean and Deacon Andrew Killeen officiating. Interment will follow in Migues Cemetery in Delcambre.
Visitation will be in David Funeral Home of Erath Wednesday, August 7, 2019 from 5:00PM until 9:00PM with recitation of the rosary at 7:00PM. Visitation will resume Thursday from 8:00AM until service time.
Adley, a native and life resident of Erath passed away Monday, August 5, 2019. She loved to play Bouree and was an avid reader. She enjoyed spending time with her family, especially her many grandchildren.
She is survived by 3 sons, Rodney Touchet and wife Janet of Erath, Wayne Touchet and wife Liz of Abbeville, Jeffery Touchet and wife Susan of Maurice; 2 daughters, Wendy T. Parich and husband Michael Sr., of New Iberia, Donna T. Fleming and fiancé Schuyler Porche of Abbeville; 2 sisters, Lillie Trahan of Erath, and Dassie Darby of New Iberia; 28 grandchildren; 51 great grandchildren; and 7 great great grandchildren.
She is preceded in death by her husband of 44 years, Joseph Villy Touchet Sr., her parents Fernance and Sedia Dore Desormeaux; 2 sons, Anthony “Tony” Touchet and Joseph “Joey” Touchet Jr.; a son in law, Bubba Fleming; a daughter in law Mary Alice Touchet; 4 brothers and 7 sisters.
Serving as her Pallbearers will be Rodney Touchet, Wayne Touchet, Jeffery Touchet, Cade Touchet, Jacob Fleming, and Michael Parich Jr.
Serving as her Honorary Pallbearers will be her grandsons.
Condolences may be shared with the family at www.davidfuneralhome.org
David Funeral Home of Erath is in charge of arrangements 209 East Putnam Street Erath, LA 70533 (

ERATH - The most successful baseball coach at Erath High School has stepped down, as of Thursday.
Jeremy Picard, who has been a non-faculty head baseball coach for the EHS baseball program, met with EHS Principal Marc Turner on Thursday and turned in his resignation.
“I learned Thursday that Coach Picard was resigning as head baseball coach,” said Turner. “The disappointment has created havoc in a community amongst parents, players, and baseball fans. These players respect and love Jeremy. The void with his leaving will have an impact on the entire EHS athletic community.”
Picard made his announcement on his Facebook Page on Thursday night.
Picard wrote: “Four years ago I embarked on a new journey in hopes to make a program better then I found it, and with the hope that I could help the athletes that came through my program become better young men. As of today, I have decided it is in the best interest of my self and my family to step down as the Head Baseball Coach at Erath. This decision for me was one of the toughest I have ever made, but one I felt needed to be made as certain stipulations have been made by our school board that has now made it virtually impossible for a non-faculty coach to be a head coach or any type of coach in our parish.”
In his four years at EHS, he posted a record of 95-49. Erath averaged 23 wins and a playoff berth each year. This past year, the Bobcats posted a 27-7 record and 11-1 in district. They reached the second round of the Class 3A playoffs for the fourth year in a row.
“Erath Baseball will always hold a special place in my heart, and I wish them continued success,” said Picard.
Recently the school board adopted a new policy when it comes to paying high school non-faculty coaches.
The new policy puts a cap on how much non-faculty coaches can be paid.
A non-faculty head baseball coach can be paid up to $3,157 and an assistant non faculty coach can be paid up to $2,368.
It is the same pay scale for non faculty softball, track, power lifting, soccer, wrestling and volleyball coaches.
The school board also created a policy saying a non-faculty coach can not receive funds from a booster club, as well as, the school. The volunteer coach has to select which pay method he or she wants to receive.
Turner added, “Coach Picard shared that his resignation comes from pressure and changes implemented by a VPSB vote that created a policy for non-faculty coaches and sponsors. He expressed that the new policy is not cohesive with the ability to run a top notch, disciplined program inclusive of being able to fundraise and manage a program. “
The Meridional contacted Picard for an explanation as to why he stepped down.
“This decision was never about the money,” said Picard. “It was about being able to do all the things necessary to build and run a successful program and with the stipulations put in place by the school board, that would not allow me to continue to run the type of program I feel Erath baseball has become.”
As of Friday, he was not willing to release the name of who will be the head baseball coach.
“I will have to regroup internally with our athletic director and coaching staff to vet out details and determine who will run the program. This is not a decision that will be made immediately,” Turner said.

Vermilion Parish School Board Vice President Kibbie Pillette made a comment on TV accusing the Abbeville Police Department of not doing its job when it comes to arresting Superintendent Jerome Puyau.
On Friday, there was a small demonstration in front of the School Board Central Office. A group of fewer than 10 people gathered to draw attention to the fact that Puyau is going to work despite being put on administrative leave by the school board.
At the demonstration, School Board President Laura LeBeouf and Pillette were in the parking lot at the central office. 
The two school board members, who were not acting on behalf of the school board, wanted the Abbeville Police Department to remove Puyau from office.
Abbeville Police Chief Bill Spearman told News 15 TV station, “Before I remove him I want to dot my I’s and cross my T’s, and make sure that we have a legal justification for doing this.”
Pillette said during a phone interview with the TV station, “If the superintendent would be a black man, he would’ve been out of that office on Friday,” said Pillette in the interview. 
“It has nothing to do with race. It has absolutely nothing to do with it,” said Spearman.
Pileltte’s comments about if Puyau would have been a black man, the superintendent would have been out of office, did not sit too well with two school board members and Puyau.
School Board member Jason Roy said, “Mr. Pillete’s comments that he made in regards to the chief of police not taking action in removing the superintendent because of the color of the skin is absolutely ridiculous.”
School Board member Dale Stelly added, “I wish he would not have said it, but he did,” said Stelly. “Can not unring a rung.”
Raymond Frederick, a citizen who attends the school board
meetings, was upset with Pillette’s statement.
“That was a racist statement,” said Frederick. “I can’t believe he said that.”
The Superintendent said Pillette’s comment is not what Vermilion Parish Public School system is about.
“Many Central Office personnel spent Friday building on our employees strengths through professional development,” said Puyau. “A positive message of unity and teaching ‘every child, everyday’ was the foundation of the training. The comments made Friday by Mr. Pilette are hurtful, incorrect and impede our unified mission to educate all students. Vermilion Parish support staff, teachers and leaders are united for ‘Our Students’ and ‘Our Vermilion.’ We will continue to teach everyday to improve ourselves and unify the district.”