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Cecil Bruce Gremillion Jr.

February 11, 1948 ~ May 11, 2018

ABBEVILLE—A Mass of Christian Burial will be held at 2:00 PM on Tuesday, May 15, 2018 at St. Mary Magdalen Catholic Church honoring the life of Cecil Bruce Gremillion Jr., 70, beloved husband, father, and grandfather, and motivated businessman, who passed away after an intense battle with renal cancer on Friday, May 11, 2018 at his home in Abbeville.
He will be laid to rest at St. Mary Magdalen Cemetery with Reverend Louis Richard officiating the services. Pallbearers will be Teddy Eastin, Rock Eastin, Shelby Eastin, Jim Murnane, Brian Gremillion, Jed Gremillion, and Brown Fortier. Honorary pallbearers are Honorable John Conery, Frank Summers II, and Jude Broussard.
A native of Abbeville, Louisiana, Bruce’s roots were in Vermilion Parish, where he made contributions to the community through his design and building skills. He appreciated the culture and richness of this area. He was grateful for the travel that He and Liz and the kids were able to do. Bruce was a great storyteller and brought to life the interesting aspects of his experiences. He met and married Elizabeth Eastin from St. Martinsville when they were students at USL in 1968. Bruce and Liz are lifelong members of St. Mary Magdalen Parish.
In his twenties he was the manager and supervisor of the company, Three Friends Homebuilders. They produced hundreds of movable homes. These affordable homes that could be moved onto the homeowner’s land were stylish, strong and durable, and brought success to the concept of movable homes. Three Friends Builders also bought and developed the Big Woods Subdivision south of Abbeville. Bruce and his son, Cecil, built the Community house at Big Woods Mission Base. He went on a mission to Coatzacoalcos, Mexico as a consultant in establishing a base there. Later business ventures included Riptide Seafood, Bruce’s Home Improvement and recently Bayou Screens and Patios.
He had so many interests and pastimes: hunting, deep-sea fishing, swimming, reading, and being a fan of the Saints and LSU football. He loved to spend time hunting with his son and friends in Gueydan and especially enjoyed his annual dove hunt trip to the 74 Ranch in Camp Bellton, Texas. (near San Antonio.) Bruce also loved to dance, and spent many hours dancing in the kitchen with Crystal and Liz.
Bruce gave his heart and devotion to his family. He inspired in his children and grandchildren a love for family as well. His dedication to hard work, excellence and a finished product of superior quality. He and Liz kept the family close together by celebrating occasions with Barbeque and Pork Roast on their wonderful deck, lovingly built by him.
Bruce is survived by his devoted and beloved wife of forty-nine years, Liz E. Gremillion; his son, Cecil Bruce Gremillion, III and his wife Joni and Cecil’s daughter, Zoe Gremillion; his daughter, Crystal G. Wisser and her children, William and Wade Wiser; his sister, Genie G. Summers, and two brothers Brian Gremillion and Jed Gremillion. He will also be missed by many nieces and nephews, great nieces and nephews and lifelong friends.
He was preceded in death by his first born son, Michael Joseph; his parents Cecil and Beverlee Gremillion; and sister, Rachel G. Broussard.
The family requests that visiting hours be observed at Vincent Funeral Home - Abbeville, 209 S. St. Charles St., on Monday, May 14, 2018 from 4:00 PM until 9:00 PM with a rosary being prayed at 7:00 PM; Tuesday, May 15, 2018 from 9:00 AM until 1:45 PM when the procession departs for the church.
The Gremillion family extends thanks to Dr. Cain and his staff at Abbeville Cancer Center as well as all of the wonderful support group from Hospice of Acadiana. In lieu of flowers the family request donations be made to Hospice of Acadiana, 2600 Johnston Street Lafayette, LA 70503.
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.

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Linda C. Porter

A Home-going Celebration will be held for Linda C. Porter 67 at 11:00 A.M. Saturday, May 12, 2018 at Faith Hope Christian Fellowship with Bishop B.K. Stevens, officiating.
She will await the resurrection at Faith Hope Cemetery in Grosse Isle.
A gathering of family and friends will begin at 8:00 A.M. Saturday at the church until time of service.
A native and resident of Abbeville, LA she passed at 1:21 A.M. Thursday, May 3, 2018 at her residence.
She was a member of Faith Hope Christian Fellowship. In addition, she was a former member of Rose Hill Baptist Church for many years where she served as an usher and choir member.
She leaves to cherish her memory, one daughter, Christine C. (Clyde) Joiner of Abbeville, LA; four grandchildren, Junus Christopher Derouen, Stella Nechel Derouen and Michael Charles Jacquet, Jr., all of Abbeville, LA and Faith Renee Joiner of Carrollton, TX; one brother, Lenwood Collins of Abbeville, LA; one aunt Lucille (Norman, Sr.) Williams of Abbeville, LA; three cousins, loved like a sister and brother, Viola Sonnier of Abbeville, LA, Norman Williams of Abbeville, LA and Alex Brailey of Corpus Christi, TX; two godsons, Anthony Reco Bessard and Leshawn Paul Meaux of Abbeville, LA; a special longtime friend, Michael Tauriac, Sr. of New Iberia, LA and a host of other relatives and friends.
She was preceded in death by her parents, Walter Collins and Stella Levine Collins; one infant sister; maternal grandparents, Howard Levine, Sr. and Rozena P. Levine; paternal grandparents, Monroe Collins and Annie Collins; maternal aunts: Lizzie L. Levy, Lilly L. Sonnier, Alice L. Captville and Ada L. Bessard; maternal uncles: Howard, Jr., Herbert Sr., George, Sr., Eddie, Jimmy, Roy, James and William Levine; paternal aunts: Eldora, Louetta, Lovenia, Nolia, and Octavie Collins; paternal uncles: Amos, Andrew, James, Linas, Robert, Rodney and Thomas Collins and godmothers, Neda L. Brailey and Mamie Harrison.
Active Pallbearers are Anthony R. Bessard, Jerome B. Bessard, Junus C. Derouen, Jakobie Huntsberry, Jayiris Maze and Blaine Williams.
Honorary Pallbearers are Lenwood Collins, Clyde Joiner, Alex Brailey, Sr., Renard Davis, Norman Williams, Sr., Norman Williams, Jr. and Sterling Johnson.
Funeral arrangements are entrusted to Fletcher Funeral Home 1116 Greene Street Abbeville, LA 70510.
Condolences may be expressed at www.fletcherfuneralhomes.org.

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Gueydan senior Ashari Terry and other Gueydan seniors slap the hands of the elementary students in Gueydan.

More than 750 ready to graduate in Vermilion Parish high schools

Approximately 754 students are graduating this year, leaving behind many memories, and creating new ones. All but one school has exceeded last year’s number of graduates; that one school had a difference of 2.
Gueydan High School has 39 high school students graduating Thursday night at the Bill Searle Gym at 7:00 pm. Gueydan is one of the many schools who’s graduates are increasing in number.
Abbeville High School is saying goodbye to 162 graduates. 32 more than the previous year. Weather permitting, the graduation will be held at the JHW football field. If rain does seem to make it in the forecast, it will be held in the gymnasium instead. Graduation will begin on Friday the 11th at 7:30 pm.
Another school setting off a total of 134 grads on Friday is Kaplan High School. The graduation will begin promptly at 7:30 in the Ed Douglas Memorial Stadium.
Delcambre High has 64 graduates departing from their high school years. In the school’s gymnasium, friends and family will see each student receive diplomas, beginning at 6:00 p.m. on Friday, May 18.
North Vermilion High School is holding their graduation in the school’s gymnasium. 159 students are receiving their long awaited diplomas on Saturday, May 12 at 5:30 pm.
Also receiving diplomas on Saturday the 12th are students at Erath High School. Beginning at 7:30 pm, 138 students will be lining up in the school’s gymnasium to receive their diplomas.
To wrap up the ceremonies, VC is holding their graduation at St. Mary Magdalen on May 21. Handing out diplomas to 59 graduates is set to begin at 7:00 pm.
Congratulations to all the graduates, and congratulations to Vermilion Parish for far exceeding last year’s numbers where student excellence is the number one goal.

High school graduations

Tonight
Gueydan
(gym)
7 p.m.

Friday
Abbeville
(stadium)
7:30 p.m.

Kaplan
(stadium)
7:30 p.m.

Saturday

NVHS
(gym)
5:30 p.m.

Erath
(gym)
7:30 p.m

(May 18) Friday
Delcambre
(gym)
6:00 p.m.

(May 21) Monday
VC
St. Mary Magdalen
7:00 p.m.

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The UL Lafayette Alumni Association recognized Outstanding Graduate and Outstanding Master’s Graduate award honorees during ceremonies Monday at the Alumni Center. Top row, from left, are Alumni Association President Kyle Bacon, Jordan Richardson, Jennifer van Alstyne, Jesse Delgizzi, Healy Carden, Jaden Danos, Elizabeth Larmann and University President Dr. Joseph Savoie. Bottom row, from left, are Matthew Furka, Samuel Riehl, Anne LeBlanc, Mallory Landry, Elizabeth Ruehl and Mary McMahon. Richardson, van Alstyne, Delgizzi and Larmann are the Outstanding Master’s Graduate Award honorees. Carden, Danos, Furka, Riehl, LeBlanc, Landry, Ruehl and McMahon were recognized as their respective colleges’ Outstanding Graduates. (Photo credit: Erica Falgout / UL Lafayette Alumni Association)

Abbeville’s LeBlanc among top UL Lafayette grads

Anne LeBlanc is among the top spring graduates of the University of Louisiana at Lafayette who will be honored on Friday.
Electrical engineering major Matthew Furka is the UL Lafayette’s Outstanding Graduate.
Furka will be among eight award finalists who will be recognized during the Spring 2018 Commencement General Assembly. The ceremony begins at 11 a.m. on Friday at the Cajundome.
Each spring and fall semester, deans from the UL Lafayette’s academic colleges nominate a student as an Outstanding Graduate. Nominations are based on leadership, scholarship and service. An Alumni Association committee interviews the candidates and selects one to receive the overall award.

Here’s a look at the Spring 2018 Outstanding Graduates.

University College named Anne LeBlanc as its Outstanding Graduate.
Her major is general studies, with a concentration in behavioral science. LeBlanc has a 3.93 GPA.
She is a member of the UL Lafayette Honors Program, Collegiate 4-H and the Ragin’ Cajun Catholics student organization. She is a parishioner at Our Lady of Wisdom Catholic Church.
LeBlanc serves on the board of directors for the Abbey Players in Abbeville, Louisiana, and heads the community theater’s membership committee.
In 2014, she began volunteering with Faith Camp, a Catholic organization for junior high school students. She plans to work full time at the Abbeville nonprofit after graduation from UL Lafayette.
LeBlanc reigned as the 2014 Vermilion Parish Farm Bureau queen and placed in the Top 10 in the Louisiana Farm Bureau Pageant.
She is the daughter of Manique and Steven LeBlanc of Abbeville.

Healy Carden is the B.I. Moody III College of Business Administration’s Outstanding Graduate. She is an accounting major and has a 3.94 GPA.
She is a member of Sigma Alpha Pi, a national leadership society; the Moody College’s Student Advisory Council; the Society of Louisiana Certified Public Accountants; and Kappa Delta Sorority.
She serves as the UL Lafayette Student Government Association’s College of Business Administration president and is the PanHellenic Council’s judiciary vice president and recruitment counselor.
Carden’s community service includes volunteering with the Girl Scouts of America; Faith House of Acadiana; and The Big Event, which encourages service projects among UL Lafayette’s student body. She also raised funds for the Huntsman Cancer Institute in Salt Lake City, Utah.
After graduation, Carden plans to pursue an MBA at UL Lafayette. She is the daughter of Chip and Kelly Carden of Wetumpka, Alabama.

The Ray P. Authement College of Sciences named Jaden Danos its Outstanding Graduate.
He is a biology major and has a 4.0 GPA.
Danos was among the College of Sciences’ top 50 scholars in his junior year and ranked in the top 10 as a sophomore.
He is a member of the University’s Honors Program; the Pre-Professional Society; the UL Lafayette National Society of Leadership and Success; Phi Kappa Phi honor society; and Sigma Alpha Lambda, a national leadership and honors organization.
Danos traveled to Florence, Italy, as part of the Study Abroad Program.
He provided after-school care to children affiliated with Mother Teresa Missionaries of Charity and volunteered with the organization’s summer camp.
Danos will attend LSU’s School of Dentistry after graduation. He is the son of Stacey and Emmett Danos of Breaux Bridge, Louisiana.

The College of Engineering selected Matthew Furka as its Outstanding Graduate. He is also the overall Outstanding Graduate Award winner.
An electrical engineering major, Furka has a 4.0 GPA.
He is a member of the UL Lafayette Engineering Ambassadors and the Louisiana Engineering Society. He is vice president of the campus chapter of Eta Kappa Nu, the Institute of Electrical and Electronics Engineers’ international honor society.
Furka presented research during the College of Engineering’s yearly Engineering and Technology Week. One presentation explained communication between swarm robots, a collection of robots that work in tandem.
He is a parishioner at Our Lady of Wisdom Catholic Church and is a second-degree Knight of Columbus.
After graduation, he plans to work with Harris Corporation, a technology company where he is employed part time in its electronics warfare division.
He is the son of Marie and Joseph Furka of High Bridge, New Jersey.

Mallory Landry is the College of Nursing and Allied Health Professions’ Outstanding Graduate. She has a 3.56 GPA.
She is a member of Delta Eta Chapter of Sigma Theta Tau International Honor Society in Nursing and is president of the UL Lafayette Student Nurses’ Association. She previously served as the group’s marketing chair.
Landry is on the college’s Dean’s Advisory Board and its program evaluation committee.
Her community service includes work the Juvenile Diabetes Research Foundation’s Walk for Childhood Diabetes. She’s also volunteered at area nursing homes and with charities that benefit teenagers with special needs.
Landry teaches swimming and water safety to children under the age of 12. The American Heart Association has certified her in basic life support and advanced cardiac life support.
Landry will join the oncology nursing staff at Lafayette General Medical Center following graduation. She is the daughter of Kim and Kevin Landry of New Iberia, Louisiana.

Mary McMahon is the College of Liberal Arts’ Outstanding Graduate.
Her major is speech pathology and audiology. She has a 4.0 GPA.
McMahon is Student Government Association president. She previously served as SGA vice president and as Liberal Arts and freshman senator. She serves on the Louisiana Board of Regents’ Council of Student Body Presidents and is its parliamentarian.
McMahon was a member of the 2017 Homecoming Court.
She holds memberships in the Phi Nu chapter of Delta Delta Delta sorority; Rho Lambda Leadership Society; Phi Kappa Phi and Alpha Lambda Delta honor societies; and the University’s chapter of the National Student Speech, Language and Hearing Association.
McMahon participated in research at the UL Lafayette Speech, Language and Hearing Center and presented seminars on how people perceive stuttering.
After graduation, McMahon plans to pursue a master’s degree. She is the daughter of Lynn and Philip McMahon of Houma, Louisiana.

The College of Arts selected Samuel Riehl as its Outstanding Graduate.
He is an industrial design major. He has a 3.9 GPA.
Riehl received design awards from the School of Architecture and Design in 2016 and 2017, and was its finalist for the 2018 Industrial Designers Society of America Student Merit Award.
He served as the Student Government Association’s freshman class president; the College of the Arts’ senator and president; and as SGA chair of community service and outreach.
The National Institutes of Health’s Office of Extramural Research awarded Riehl a lifetime certification to conduct studies involving multiple participants.
He and two other UL Lafayette students placed 15th among 200 teams that participated in the Red Bull Can You Make It? European Challenge earlier this year. The teams traveled from Rome to Amsterdam using only cans of the energy drink as currency.
Riehl is an accomplished blacksmith. He is the son of Angela and William Riehl of Lafayette.

Elizabeth Ruehl is the College of Education’s Outstanding Graduate.
She is an exercise science major and has a 3.93 GPA.
At age 3, Ruehl lost her lower right leg in an accident. She later counseled pre-teen girls at the Paddy Rossbach Youth Camp. The nonprofit Amputee Coalition sponsors the summer camp for children and teens who have experienced limb loss.
Her explorations of the history and construction of prosthetic limbs were designated as the University’s Honors Program’s best seminars for two consecutive years.
She amassed more than 1,200 internship hours as a technician at the Alabama Artificial Limb and Orthopedic Service. She also tested prosthetic feet and mobility as a volunteer at Alabama State University in Montgomery.
Ruehl has been accepted into the Feinberg School of Medicine at Northwestern University in Chicago. She will pursue a master’s degree in the school’s prosthetic and orthotic program.
She is the daughter of Raquel and Lt. Col. William Ruehl of Prattville, Alabama.

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Roger Dale Menard

October 8, 1948 ~ May 3, 2018

ABBEVILLE — Funeral services will be held at 2:00 PM on Friday, May 11, 2018 at Vincent Funeral Home - Abbeville honoring the life of Roger Dale Menard, 69, who died Thursday, May 3, 2018 at his daughter’s residence. He will be laid to rest at St. Paul Cemetery with Rev. Patricia Graham Frederick officiating the services.
Roger was born and raised in Abbeville. For the last decade he resided in Kaplan. He was a disabled Vietnam Veteran and a licensed minister.
Roger is survived by his wife of 21 years, Theresa Touchet Menard; two sons, John Menard and his wife Jamie of Kaplan, and Matthew Menard and his girlfriend Kayla of Kaplan; one daughter, Raissa Menard of Kaplan; two sisters, Sherrie Menard (goddaughter) and Kathleen Menard Perry; five brothers, Chris Menard, Kirk Menard, Charles Menard, Peter Menard and Patrick Menard; and grandchildren, Cayden, Londyn, Maleah, Maleik, Treyton, Talan, Josh, Megan and Addison.
He was preceded in death by his parents, Elie Joseph Menard and the former Jeanne Broussard.
The family requests that visiting hours be observed at Vincent Funeral Home - Abbeville, 209 S. St. Charles St., on Friday, May 11, 2018 from 9:00 AM until time of services.
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.

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Annie Lou Weekly Broussard Black

May 3, 1939 ~ April 30, 2018

ABBEVILLE — Funeral services will be held at 1:00 PM on Saturday, May 12, 2018 at Vincent Funeral Home - Abbeville honoring the life of Annie Lou, 78, who passed away peacefully at Brian Center East in Hickory, North Carolina, with her loving daughter, Cheryl by her side. She will be laid to rest at Lafayette Memorial Park Cemetery.
She is survived by her daughter, Cheryl Garnett of Hickory, NC and her husband Bret; brother, Calvin John Weekly and his wife Kim of Abbeville; and two grandchildren, Charlie and Grace Garnett of Hickory, NC.
She was preceded in death by her husband, Joseph Roland Broussard, Sr.; son, Joseph Roland Broussard, Jr.; and parents, Lawrence Weekly and the former Lydie M. Segura.
The family requests that visiting hours be observed at Vincent Funeral Home - Abbeville, 209 S. St. Charles St., on Saturday, May 12, 2018 from 9:00 AM until time of services.
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.

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The new shredder called the “Terminator” can grind up anything from tires, to wood to freezers. It can also be moved to any location at the landfill.

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Vermilion Parish Police Jury buys $700,000 shredder to preserve the life of the parish landfill

This past week, the mean-green “Terminator” arrived at the Vermilion Parish Solid Waste Department (the landfill). The terminator is a portable ...

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Jane Ellen Abshire

Jane Ellen Abshire
December 21, 1953 - April 23, 2018

Jane Ellen Abshire was a pretty baby who arrived shortly before Christmas of 1953, just hours after midnight of her father‘s birthday. She was the youngest child of Dr. and Mrs. Gaulman Abshire. She had thick hair, large alert eyes, plump cheeks, and a tiny nose. Her family joked when she was a toddler that they could not find her nose to wipe it. She grew into a sweet little girl, and a beautiful woman.
At Kaplan High School, her senior class voted her the most beautiful and she was also the homecoming queen. On the night of the homecoming game it rained, but in every picture Jane is smiling and seems delighted as she was escorted by her father in the homecoming court.
Jane was fun-loving, adventurous, and independent. She liked people and took up for the underdog. She enjoyed sports, traveling, artistic pursuits, horseback riding and many other outdoor activities. She played basketball. In third grade she won the hoola hoop contest, in ninth grade she won the turkey shoot. She taught swimming and enjoyed skin diving. She liked fishing offshore with her father and friends. Jane always caught a lot of fish, even if the person standing next to her never got a nibble.
She graduated college at St. Mary’s Dominican College with a degree in art education. A few years later she finished a program in architecture studies at Louisiana Tech University in Ruston.
By midlife she was troubled by health issues. It was a cross to bear that increased in her remaining years, but she is with her parents now, and free of pain.
She died in her sleep from bone cancer on April 23, 2018 after many loving visits with siblings and relations. She was anointed by her friend and priest Father Bill Ruskoski during her last illness. She was laid to rest with her parents, Dr. Gaulman Abshire and Mrs. Helen Abshire, following a private service.
She is survived by her siblings Dr. Stephen Abshire (Martha), Linda Abshire, and Richard Allen Abshire (Karen). She was close to her nephews Stephen Myers (Sarah), Hampton Myers who was her godson, and Nate Abshire. She had three beautiful nieces, twins Christine and Catherine, and Selia, as well as many dear cousins.

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