Ouachita County Louisiana Archives Obituaries.....CLAYTON, LAURIE ETHEL BROWN WALLACE May 5, 2010 ************************************************ Copyright. All rights reserved. http://www.usgwarchives.net/copyright.htm http://www.usgwarchives.net/la/lafiles.htm ************************************************ File contributed for use in USGenWeb Archives by: Gina Brown http://www.genrecords.net/emailregistry/vols/00025.html#0006026 June 23, 2010, 6:18 am News Star World - June 20, 2010 LAURIE ETHEL BROWN WALLACE CLAYTON Mulhearn Funeral Home West Monroe, LA Mother was a fearless hard worker. Her life was filled with many obstacles, but her tenacity prevailed. She had to be - she was raising twin daughters, virtually alone and with the help of her mother, but more importantly she loved the Lord. In 1943, she pursued a job at Todd Johnson Shipyards and later at Delta Shipyards in New Orleans and became an accomplished welder/burner. But first she attended Gretna Welding School donning blue dungarees, sport shirt, welding helmet, shields and goggles. This six week intensive training gave her the know-how to guide an acetylene torch in sharp, clean lines through heavy metal. An article in The Times-Picayune New Orleans newspaper called "Girls Carry Torch-to Burn Axis" referenced an interview with Laurie Ethel Brown, her friends called her "Billie". She went on to say how this new job is to her like a dream come true. She remarked "That I've been more or less of a tomboy all my life" screaming to make herself heard above the roar of the welding machine motors. "As a kid I never liked dolls. Use to ride bikes and play marbles and row a boat in the bayou. It is a grand feeling when I cut through metal with this acetylene torch." The instructor at this school said the women don't mind getting dirty as coal miners and are much more adaptable and easy to teach. At first they are a little afraid but after ten hours their fear is gone. They learn how to handle electric welding torches in flat, vertical, horizontal and overhead positions. The instructor asked for a report after their first day on the job. He was told the young women worked so fast and furious they had to be slowed down. In a second article in the "Delta Shipbuilder" dated November 4, 1943, said Miss L. "Billie" Brown is Delta Shipyards' first woman burner. Mother would on occasion talk about how she burned 3" beams in the hull of ships. REMEMBER- women in those days were working for "Victory" while our men were away fighting for our country. After her daughters were born she worked for the Department of the Army, Defense Subsistence Supply Center Headquarters in a capacity of Teletype Communications, which will later come to be known as the Naval Base in New Orleans. She retired in 1972. Mother was full of life and a prankster at times. Mom tried to provide every opportunity to give her daughters a better life than she had. In fact, she managed to purchase a rental property to support her income. Keep in mind she did the majority of the repairs such as hanging 4'x12' sheetrock and floating, plumbing, painting, installing different types of flooring, repairing windows, etc. She was quite good at her endeavors. About the only repair she didn't tackle was roofing. Mrs. Clayton was born November 26, 1918, in Tampa, FL and passed away at Glenwood Hospital in West Monroe, LA on May 5, 2010. Mrs. Clayton was cremated following her death. She was a former resident of New Orleans from 1945 to 2005. She was a member of Mid-City Baptist Church in New Orleans, LA. Mrs. Clayton is preceded in death by her parents, William K. and Annie Laurie Chambers Brown; two brothers, William H. Brown, Sr. and wife Irene of Baton Rouge, LA, and C. Vernon Brown and wife Gloria of Tampa, FL, son-in-law, E. Lester Little of Monroe, LA. Survivors include her two twin daughters, Barbara W. and husband Dewaine Lenard of West Monroe, LA and Brenda W. Little of Monroe, LA; cousin, Jean M. Byrd of Winter Park, FL; and nieces and nephews: W. Riley Brown and wife Bettye of Tampa, FL, John L. Brown and wife Bev of Clearwater, Fl, Clint V. Brown and wife Marsha of Tampa, FL, Carol B. Phillipe and husband Allen of St. Rose, LA, William H. Brown, Jr. and wife Katie of Baton Rouge, LA, Cynthia J. Brown of Baton Rouge, LA, Robert M. Brown and wife Patricia of Houston, TX, Jo Ann Brown Robinson of Gonzales, LA; and numerous grandnieces and grandnephews. File at: http://files.usgwarchives.net/la/ouachita/obits/c/clayton806nob.txt This file has been created by a form at http://www.genrecords.net/lafiles/ File size: 4.6 Kb