John Noel, 'Mr. Gumbo,' Dies From Carbon Monoxide
06-09-1996 Times Picayune

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His recipe was famous John B. Noel, known in Bridge City as "Mr. Gumbo," died
of carbon monoxide poisoning as he slept on his brother's houseboat in the
Atchafalaya Basin on Thursday night. He was 70.

The retired mechanical engineer and father of seven was responsible for the
Bridge City Gumbo Festival's main ingredient - a gumbo so famous his time-
tested recipe has been circulated nationally.

"I can't believe how well-known he was," said one of his daughters, Kathy Ray.
"His recipe for gumbo was published in Reader's Digest."

Mr. Noel had gone on a fishing trip in Henderson with his 73-year-old brother,
Lester Noel, Ray said.

When the brothers turned in for the night, they used a small generator to
power the houseboat air conditioner. The carbon monoxide fumes from the
generator apparently were sucked into the houseboat by the air conditioner,
she said.

John Noel was found dead Friday morning, Ray said. Lester Noel is in stable
condition, recovering in a hyperbaric oxygen chamber in a St. Landry Parish
hospital, she said.

The Noel family gathered in Bridge City to mourn the unexpected death of their
patriarch, Ray said. "You just never expect something like this to happen."

But the chairman of the gumbo festival and Mr. Noel's longtime friend,
Monsignor J. Anthony Luminais of the Holy Guardian Angel Church, felt there
was something spiritual about Noel's presence in his final year.

"It was almost like he had a premonition," Luminais said.

For the first time in his 20 years as Mr. Gumbo, Mr. Noel took on an
apprentice last year and chronicled all the preparations necessary in creating
his famous 400-gallon batch.

"His spirit certainly will live on," Luminais said. "The next Gumbo Festival
will be dedicated to him."

Mr. Noel, a native of Arnaudville, was a retired salesman for Avondale
Shipyards. He lived in Bridge City for 43 years.

He was a member of Veterans of Foreign Wars, Knights of Columbus Council No.
3091 and Holy Guardian Angels Men's Club. He was a president of the Men's Club
from 1991 to 1993 and was named the church's Father of the Year in 1988 and
its Senior Citizen of the Year in 1990.

Survivors include his wife, Geraldine Lavergne Noel; a son, Terrel Y. Noel;
five daughters, Gloria Aymond, Kathleen Wray, Melissa Noel, Claire Daigle and
Dana St. Pierre; five brothers and sisters; 15 grandchildren; and two great-
grandchildren.

A Mass will be said Monday at noon at Holy Guardian Angels Catholic Church,
1701 Bridge City Ave., Bridge City. Visitation will be held Sunday from 6 to
10 p.m. at the church. Burial will be in Our Lady of Prompt Succor Mausoleum
in Westwego. Mothe Funeral Home is in charge of the arrangements.