ERIK SANZENBACH / L’Observateur / September 29, 1999

BRANCH LAPLACE – Wilburn T. Branch, 79, a native of Hemp Hill, Texas, and aresident of Reserve for 35 years, died Sept. 27. He was the husband ofChristene Branch and father of Gail and David Branch.

He was also the brother of Mae Hammons, Merle McDowell, Cecile McCarty and Anderson, Elton and Darvin Branch.

He is also survived by three grandchildren.

Services are today at 8 a.m. in the chapel of Millet-Guidry Funeral Home,LaPlace, with interment at Oak Grove Cemetery, Oak Grove. Visitationstarts at 7:30 a.m.

CAREY LAPLACE – Odette Mury Carey, 95, a native of Vacherie and a resident of LaPlace for six years, died Sept. 25. She was the wife of the late LouisCarey.

She was also the daughter of the late Wilson and Alice Mury and sister of the late Eva Scioneaux and Lucia and Armond Mury.

Services were held Sept. 27 in the chapel of Millet-Guidry Funeral Home,LaPlace, with interment at St. Peter Cemetery, Reserve.

ELFER COVINGTON – Shirley Landry Elfer, 81, a native of Norco and a resident of Covington for 39 years, died Sept. 27. She was the wife of Edward A. Elferand mother of June Luck.

She was also the sister of Wanda Manard, Catherine Messer, George and Allen Landry and the late Rosemary Hertel and Leon Landry.

She is also survived by two grandchildren.

Services are today at 11 a.m. in the chapel of E.J. Fielding Funeral Home,Covington, with interment at Pinecrest Mausoleum. Visitation starts at9:30 a.m.

GRAY BOUTTE – James Gray Sr., 85, a native of Raceland and a resident of Lulingfor five years, died Sept. 25. He was the father of Earl Lawless, AudreySmith, Ernestine Jones, the Rev. James Gray Jr. and the late Bobby Gray.He was also the son of Jimmy and Annie Gray and the brother of Freddie Gray, the late Elizabeth Perkins, Mary Williams, Pearlie Coleman, Lillie Vallence and Earl, Elijah and Clarence Gray.

He is also survived by 15 grandchildren and 60 great-grandchildren.

Services were held Sept. 28 at Mt. Airy Baptist Church, Boutte, withinterment at the church cemetery.

KELLER HAHNVILLE – Erna Nicholas Keller, 76, a native and resident of Hahnville, died Sept. 26. She was the wife of Stanley F. Keller Jr. and mother of CarylSpurgeon, Stanley III, Marvin and Gail Keller and the late Donald Ray Keller.

She was also the daughter of the late Leon and Philonise Friloux Nicholas and sister of Vivian Verdin, Dorothy Durapau, Minnie Verdun, Gerald and Roy Nicholas and the late Sidney and Earl Nicholas.

She is also survived by 20 grandchildren and 18 great-grandchildren.

Services were held Sept. 28 at Our Lady of the Most Holy Rosary CatholicChurch, Hahnville, with interment at the church cemetery, Taft.

LAMBERT PAULINA – Patricia Accardo “Patty” Lambert, 53, a native of Hester and a resident of Paulina, died Sept. 25. She was the wife of Edward Lambert IIIand mother of Tracy George, Laurie Coupel and Eddie IV and Chad Lambert.

She was also the daughter of the late Pasqual and Una Arceneaux Accardo and sister of Iris Roussel and Joseph, Jules and Lynn Accardo.

She is also survived by five grandchildren.

Services were held Sept. 28 at St. Joseph Catholic Church, Paulina, withinterment at the church mausoleum.

PHILLIPS NEW ORLEANS – Elvira Phillips, 88, a native of Convent and a resident of Chicago for 30 years, died Sept. 20. She was the mother of Norma Jules,George and Charles Phillips and the late Irene Phillips.

She was also the daughter of the late Eugene and Marie Porter and sister of Walterine Wagner and the late Fabiola Ruffina and Eugene Porter.

She is also survived by 10 grandchildren and 14 great-grandchildren.

Services were held Sept. 28 at St. Monica Catholic Church, New Orleans,with interment at St. Michael Catholic Cemetery, Convent.

ROUSSEL PAULINA – Edmee A. “Noon” Roussel, 85, a native and resident of Paulina,died Sept. 24. He was the husband of Leola G. Rossel and father of CarolynBourgeois, Linda Poche, Tina Lear and Paul Roussel.

He was also the son of the late Armand and Florisca Roussel and brother of the late Elmire Zeringue, Camille Booth, Mae Kroll, Louisiana Deslattes and Hamilton, Vincent, Wilfred, Herbert and Maximillian Roussel.

He is also survived by 17 grandchildren and 20 great-grandchildren.

Services were held Sept. 27 at St. Joseph Catholic Church, Paulina, withinterment at the church mausoleum.

ROUSSEL RESERVE – Marsha Richard Roussel, 40, a native of Reserve and a resident of Springfield for six years, died Sept. 27. She was the wife of Gary”Nucky” Roussel Sr. and mother of Timberly and Gary Roussel Jr.She was also the daughter of Charles and Kathleen Richard and sister of Kitty Villeret and David, Roger, Terry and Kent Richard.

Services are today at 10 a.m. at St. Peter Catholic Church, Reserve, withinterment at the church cemetery. Visitation starts at 8 a.m.

SCHMALTZ METAIRIE – Arthur Joseph Schmaltz Sr., 74, a native of New Orleans and aresident of St. Rose for 31 years, died Sept. 22. He was the husband ofAudrey Bonomo Schmaltz and father of Kathleen Vix, Janet Poche, Sharon Robin, Janet Poche, Julie Casanova and Arthur Schmaltz Jr.

He was also the son of the late Anthony and Elfrieda Von Wolff Schmaltz and brother of Dorothy Corcoran, Alma Estopinal, Anna Bodker, William Schmaltz and the late Frank Schmaltz.

He is also survived by nine grandchildren and two great-grandchildren.

Memorial services were held Sept. 27 at Kingdom Hall of Jehovah’sWitnesses, Metairie.

SCORSONE LAPLACE – Frank J. Scorsone, 73, a native of New Orleans and a resident ofLaPlace, died Sept. 25. He was the husband of Antoinette Millet Scorsone.He was also the son of the late Joseph Sr. and Mary Cabibi Scorsone andbrother of the late Salvador Sr. and Joseph Scorsone Jr.Services were held Sept. 27 at St. Joan of Arc Catholic Church, LaPlace,with interment at Garden of Memories Cemetery, Metairie.

SONGY EDGARD – Gladys Guidry Songy, 85, a native of St. James and a resident ofEdgard, died Sept. 23. She was the wife of the late Luke Gerard Songy andmother of Gladys Bass, Shirley Perret, Brenda Simon, Dianna Jackson and Earl, Carroll, Leonard and Gayle Songy.

She was also the daughter of the late Klibert and Estelle Caire Guidry, step-daughter to the late Pauline Laurent Guidry; sister of Marie Laurent, Duffy Guidry and the late Delton Guidry.; and step-sister of Lilly Mercer,Mae Roussel, Joyce Armstrong, Pearl Folse, Daniel, K.U. and Kirby Guidry,and the late Stela Borne and L.J. Guidry.She is also survived by 19 grandchildren and 23 great-grandchildren. Sheis preceded in death by one great-grandchild.

Services were held Sept. 27 at St. John the Baptist Catholic Church,Edgard, with interment at the church cemetery.

WALKER NEW SARPY – Patricia Brown Walker, 50, a resident of New Sarpy, died Sept. 24. She was the wife of Leonard Walker Sr. and mother of DesmondBrown and Leonard Jr., Udonavon and Leneski Walker.She was also the daughter of Junious Brown Sr. and the late Rosalee Brownand sister of Junious Brown Jr. and the late Margie Brown.She is also survived by 10 grandchildren.

Services were held Sept. 29 at New Jerusalem Baptist Church, New Sarpy,with interment at New Sarpy Cemetery.

WEMPREN LAPLACE – Frances Bossier Wempren, 74, a native and resident of LaPlace, died Sept. 27. She was the wife of Roy Wempren and mother of SueEspoeito, Kim Cox and Dane, Rodney and Todd Wempren.

She was also the daughter of the late Joseph and Coralie Bossier and sister of Georgina Weber, Mary Lee Berthelot, Georgine Dennis, Leroy and Henry Bossier and the late Peter and Walter Bossier.

She is also survived by six garndchildren and one great-grandchild.

Services were held Sept. 28 in the chapel of Millet-Guidry Funeral Home,LaPlace, with interment at St. Peter Cemetery, Reserve.

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