TERREBONNE and LAFOURCHE Parishes, La. OBITUARIY for SAINT, VERNON DAWSON Submitted by: Louis Lavedan Published in Houma Today & The Daily Comet from July 15 to July 16, 2013 ============================================================================= Copyright. All rights reserved. http://usgwarchives.net/copyright.htm http://www.usgenweb.org/volunteers/copyright.shtml ============================================================================= SAINT, VERNON DAWSON ========== A photo is available for this file. Please go to http://usgwarchives.net/la/lafourche/obits/dateobits/2013/f1307.htm and click on the name of interest. ========== On April 12, 2013 one of the loveliest ladies who graced the banks of Bayou LaFourche, Vernon Louis Dawson Saint, passed away in her home surrounded by dear friends, Nobbie Ordogne, Edmond Adams, Barbara Ledet, and devoted caregivers, Angela Morrison, Renee Kimble, and Iris DeLatte. A celebration of her life and spirit will be from 4 to 7 p.m. Saturday, August 3, 2013, at the Dansereau House at 506 St. Philip Street in Thibodaux. Vernon is survived by her two sisters, Eleanor Gour, of New Orleans, and Barbara Currier, of New York; two nieces, Denise Gour and Henrietta Currier; nephew, Tom Currier; two grandnieces, Ariel and Phoebe; two grandnephews Ry and Finn; as well as cousins, Sherry Johnson, and Jeanine, Joey, Luke and Tessa Wilson. Vernon was first of four children, born July 27, 1922, in Norco to Corrine Estelle Bates and Louis Walter Dawson of Mississippi. She attended Destrehan High School and graduated from Soulé College in New Orleans. She earned her nickname "Butch" for her cavalier, positive, no-whining-allowed attitude when on a Lake Pontchartrain sailing date, the pair ended up drenched in mud. And Butch didn't complain to her very last breath; she knew how special her life experience was, with each person and each moment. Her generous heart and kind advice drew friends and family close to her. Working as a secretary in Lafayette, she spoiled her younger siblings with presents and movie money every weekend when she came home to New Orleans. She had a wonderful deep bond with her sisters and their families. Both sisters visited often and each was lucky to have spent a lot of time with Butch up until her passing. In 1946, Vernon was married to Archie Saint after his return from the Pacific where he served in the U.S. Navy during World War II. They settled in Thibodaux, where they built their home and began a life dedicated to family, friends, and the Thibodaux community. She was predeceased by her husband, who served as Judge of Thibodaux for more than 20 years. Vernon was devoted to her only son, Charles Saint, a NSU graduate whose talents lay in restoring beautiful historic homes in New Orleans until his untimely death from cancer in 2000. When Vernon sold the New Orleans Bed and Breakfast her son had restored to John Crew and Gil Rome, they said they were lucky because the home came with a mother. Many of Charlie's friends and neighborhood children lucky enough to grow up near Vernon recall her generous, warm heart and sensible advice often referring to her as their "second mama." Vernon worked with her husband to establish and grow his law practice and supported his campaigns for City Judge. When her son was young, she taught at nursery school because the hours allowed her to raise her son. Later she became a research assistant at the NSU library. Once retired from NSU in 1987, then Mayor Warren Harange hired her, he was well familiar with her accomplished administrative professional skills, as well as her gentle grace, humor, and ability to exude a level headed calm under pressure. Throughout her long life Vernon generously volunteered her skills for a variety of organizations including Thibodaux's First Presbyterian Church, Thibodaux Regional Hospital, and the New Comer's Club in Thibodaux. Vernon was a dedicated yoga student for more than 30 years, and also a devote of Pilates. She loved to travel and she had taken trips with her sister, Eleanor, to Miami, with her sister, Barbara, to the Caribbean and Europe, visiting family in Natchez, Portland, San Francisco, New York, Virginia, Napa and Nantucket. A clothes horse, she loved shopping at Thibodaux's House of Fashion. Actually her whole extended family loves shopping at the House of Fashion; Sheila Boudreau has dressed us all. And who can forget the Holy Hour at Angelina Mitchell's with her daughters, Angela and Linda, Frankie Jones, and other dear friends, like Dot Kleinpeter! Vernon had cut a rug many times at the Dansereau House when the Caldwells owned it and held grand dinner parties with live bands and dancing till dawn; we look forward to seeing friends there and hearing your stories of Vernon Saint. Landry's Funeral Home is in charge of arrangements. ======================