ST. MARY PARISH, LA. Obituary for: DYSON, JAMES ALLEN, SR. Submitted by: Louis Lavedan. Source: Hargrave Funeral Home, Morgan City, La. Died: Friday, July 25, 2014 ======================================================================= Copyright. All rights reserved. http://usgwarchives.net/copyright.htm http://www.usgenweb.org/volunteers/copyright.shtml ======================================================================= DYSON, JAMES ALLEN, SR. October 20, 1931 - July 25, 2014 ========== A photo is available for this file. Please go to http://usgwarchives.net/la/stmary/obits/dateobits/2014/sm1407.htm and click on the name of interest. ========== James Allen Dyson, Sr., died Friday, July 25, 2014, at The Crossing of Clarity Hospice in Baton Rouge, Louisiana, at the age of 82. He was a native of South Carolina and a former resident of Morgan City, Berwick, Gibson, and Gonzales, Louisiana. James was born in Bishopville, South Carolina, on October 20, 1931. James and his wife Martha Nell Sanford began their married life in Charleston and moved with their three young children to Morgan City in 1961 where he began a career in the commercial diving industry in Louisiana. He was employed by Sanford Bros. Divers until 1967 when he and several partners began Continental Diving Service. That company was sold in 1993 when he retired to Gibson where he enjoyed fishing in his pond and growing a prolific garden. During his lifetime, James enjoyed bowling, hunting, and fishing, and he was an avid fan of youth and high school sports. He could often be found at baseball, football, and basketball games in the Morgan City area and across the state. He was a member of the Woodmen of the World and the Masons. He and Martha traveled across the United States and especially enjoyed a family land trip and cruise to Alaska in 2008 and their many family vacations to Navarre Beach. They took their grandchildren to Disney World and to visit their families in Charleston many times over the years. James's life was a true testament to the strength and resiliency of the human spirit. James is survived by his children and their spouses: Mary Lou and Lucien Cutrera of Baton Rouge, Frances and Jim Opitz of New Orleans, James Allen Jr. and Melissa Driskill Dyson of Gonzales, and Lynne and Brian LeBlanc of Matthews, North Carolina. His grandchildren are Vince, Dylan, and Jeffry Cutrera; Shawn Campo, Ashley Campo Souza, and Chloe Broussard; and Brianne and Nicole LeBlanc. He is also survived by six great grandchildren, by his sisters- in-law Susie Sanford of Morgan City and Lucille Sanford of Stephensville, and by numerous loving nieces and nephews. He was preceded in death by his wife of 63 years, Martha Nell Sanford Dyson, his parents Jacob Allie Dyson and Minnie Louise Driggers Dyson and by six brothers, Coley, Elbert, Lawrence, Archie, Wade, and John Dyson and by his sister Sadie Riley Loveless. In keeping with his long expressed desire, James will be cremated. A memorial service will be held in Morgan City on Saturday, August 9 at Hargrave Funeral Home. Visiting will begin at noon with the service to begin at 1:00. The family requests that memorial donations be sent to Tiger Athletic Club c/o Morgan City High School, 2400 Tiger Dr., Morgan City, LA 70380 or to The Kidney Cancer Association ===================