LEONARD GRAY / L’Observateur / February 11, 2000

PARADIS – Murphy Cortez will celebrate his 74th birthday in a unique way this year – by riding as King of the Krewe of Allemands along with his wife of 54 years, Minnie.

“We’ve never had a fight yet,” Murphy declared with a huge smile.

“It’s never too late,” Minnie cautioned with an equally huge smile.

The couple will first be honored tonight from 8 p.m. to 1 a.m. at the Kreweof Allemands Ball at the Father Mac Community Center of St. GertrudeCatholic Church.

Also honored will be grand marshals Vivian Comardelle and Sadie Fanguay.

Then, on March 5 at 2 p.m., the Cortezes will ride the streets of DesAllemands in the sixth annual carnival parade which starts at 2 p.m.Murphy and Minnie met when her father, the former agent at the Southern Pacific Railroad’s Des Allemands depot, relocated his family to the area from Centerville, near Franklin, in 1943. He was a young, smitten fisherman, theonly child of Albert and Malvina Loupe Cortez.

“That’s the hardest life you can have,” Murphy said of those years he spent making a living on the water.

The couple married in 1945 and soon produced their five daughters – Bonnie Benoit, Susan Candies, Melinda Fahrig, Linda Ayo and Rachel Matherne.

Finally, after 1965’s Hurricane Betsy’s devastation to the area, Murphy came off the water, joined a union local and spent the next 20 years as a carpenter helping rebuild the shattered community.

“That was the best 20 years of my life,” he said.

The family moved to Paradis in 1972 after 26 years in Des Allemands, but retain deep roots there. The Cortez family dates back to colonial days in St.Charles Parish. They now have 15 grandchildren and 18 great-grandchildren -“and counting!” she added.

Now, they will ride through Des Allemands, tossing beads and cups, in a homemade float.

“I’m ready to walk through the streets right now,” Murphy said, wearing his kingly crown proudly.

Return To News Stories