Obituaries, 1978, Tangipahoa Parish, Louisiana Submitted to the USGenWeb Archives by Sandra McLellan, Feb., 2004 ************************************************ Copyright. All rights reserved. http://usgwarchives.net/copyright.htm http://usgwarchives.net/la/lafiles.htm ************************************************ Obituaries orginally published in The Ponchatoula Enterprise in 1978 Recapped in 25 Years ago in 2003 BONICARD, CHARLES C., 29 Nov 1978 Charles C. "Doc" Bonicard, 75, died Wednesday night in a local nursing home. He was the father of Ponchatoula Mayor Collins Bonicard and died following a lengthy illness. He was a native of Ascension Parish and a resident of Ponchatoula. BOOTH, CLARENCE JAMES, 12 Jul 1978 78, were July 11 from Harry McKneely Funeral Home. Survivors include his wife, Mrs. Jane Elizabeth Holden Booth of Ponchatoula; five sons, Harold Booth of Gulfport, Miss., Kenneth Booth of Salem, Utah, Roy Booth of Flint, Mich., Frank Booth of Davison, Mich., and Truman Booth of Albany; a sister, Mrs. Florence Barber of Seattle, Wash. DUPLESSIS, ALFARO, 25 Oct 1978 Alfaro "Static" Duplessis, 62, a native of Duplessis, a resident of Ponchatoula, and a motivator in local baseball programs died Sunday in Hammond. He is survived by his wife, Mrs. Rita Alphonso Duplessis; six daughters, Mrs. Cecile Lea, Mrs Nat (Judy) Monistere, Mrs. Mary Ridgdell, Mrs. Joseph (Katherine) Juhasz, Miss Delores Duplessis and Miss Norma Marie Duplessis, two sons, Alfaro Duplessis Jr., and Glenn Duplessis, five brothers, Alton, Alter, Lawrence, Wickliff and Troy Duplessis; four sisters, Mrs. Bert Morse, Mrs. Edith Mercier, Mrs Oscar Ernest and Mrs. G. C. Joiner; 18 grandchildren and a great-grandchild GALATAS, HESTER ROGERS, 4 Jan 1978 Funeral services for Mrs. Hester Rogers Galatas, 76, were held from Harry McKneely and Son Funeral Home Chapel here. Survivors are a son, Conrad H. Galatas, and four grandchildren. GRANTHAM, BETTE McMAHAN, 20 Dec 1978 Services for Bette McMahan Grantham were held at the Thomas Funeral Home Chapel Dec. 13. She is survived by her husband, James Anthony Grantham Sr. of Florence, a daughter, Toni Lynn, and a son, James Anthony Jr. Her mother, Mrs. Rosie Parker McMahon of Ponchatoula; sisters, Mrs. Jerry (Margaret) Wells of Ponchatoula, Mrs. Errol (Linda) Brescher of Ponchatoula, Mrs. Larry (Ethel) Perrilloux of Ponchatoula, and Mrs. Darrel (Madeline) Register of Ponchatoula; 0brother, James Lee McMahon of Ponchatoula. GREST, GOTFRIED, JR, 9 Aug 1978 Funeral services for Gotfried Grest Jr., a local contractor, were held Tuesday in Ponchatoula. He is survived by his wife, Audrey Grest; a daughter, Miss Dana Grest of Bedico; four sons, Gary Stephen Grest of Chicago; Davis Gordon Grest of Hammond; Kevin Michael Grest of Chalmette; and Eric Richard Grest of Ponchatoula. HANO, CLIFFORD ROY, 28 Jun 1978 79, died June 21 at Seventh Ward General Hopsital. Local suvivors are: his wife, Mrs. Olivia LeBlanc Hano, Ponchatoula; sons, Ray and E. J. Hano of Ponchatoula; daughters Mrs. Mary Majesty and Mrs. Birdie Adams also of Ponchatoula. HAYES, MRS. MATTIE HILTON, 22 Mar 1978 78, a native of Walker, and former resident of Ponchatoula and Mandeville, died March 19 in New Orleans. She was the owner of Hayes Dairy Products of New Orleans and Ponchatoula. HEBERT, CHARLES BENTLEY, 15 Feb 1978 Charles Bentley Hebert, 76, died Feb. 6 in Baton Rouge Hospital. Survivors are three sons, state Rep. Dennis Hebert and Vernon Hebert, both of Ponchatoula, and Charles B. Hebert Jr. of Springfield; three daughters, Mrs. Joe (Myrtis) Meyn, Mrs. Pete (Frances) Valanti, and Mrs. Ronnie (Diane) Wright of Ponchatoula; two brothers, Louis Hebert and Murphy Hebert of Ponchatoula; three sisters, Mrs. Dennis Rottman and Mrs. Homer Fendlason of Ponchatoula and Mrs. Perry Whitfield, of Slidell; a half brother, Alfred Shetzler of New Orleans; 20 grandchildren and 21 great-grandchildren. HEITMAN, WILLIAM B., 21 Jun 1978 Funeral services were held Monday for William B. Heitman, 64, a native and resident of Ponchatoula, who died Saturday, Jun 17. He was retired and a veteran. He is survived by his wife, Mrs. Gloria Tucker Heitman, Ponchatoula; two daughters, Misses Cynthia and Judith Heitman, both of Ponchatoula; for sons, Timothy E. Heitman, Baton Rouge, Gerald, William Randall and James Daniel Heitman of Ponchatoula; five sisters, Mrs. George Cotton, Mrs. Percy Duvic, Mrs. Clara Heitman, all of Ponchatoula, Ms. Merle Hosch and Miss Elvira Heitman, both of New Orleans; three brothers, Dr. Henry S. Heitman and Authur J. Heitman, both of Baton Rouge, and Alex Heitman, LeCompte; and one granddaughter, Trace L. Heitman. LUCAS, TOMMY, 7 Jun 1978 died at 2:50 p.m. Monday, June 5, at Seventh Ward General Hospital. He is survived by his wife, Mrs. Teresa Meyers Lucas; one son, Thomas Wagner Lucas; his mother Mrs. Dolly Brescher Lucas; and one sister, Mrs. Bryant (Jackie) Poche, all of Ponchatoula. MURRAY, DAN PAT, 30 Aug 1978 died Aug 28 in St. Charles Parish. He was 48, and a native and resident of Ponchatoula. He is survived by his mother, Mrs. Tessa Poche Murray, Ponchatoula; three sisters, Mrs. Lila Rose and Mrs. Tessa Stoecker, both of Ponchatoula, and Mrs. Augusta Grand , New Orleans; two brothers, Hugh Murray, New Orleans, and Edward Murray, Ponchatoula. NEWMAN, ALBERT JESSIE, SR., 12 Jul 1978 Services for Albert Jessie Newman Sr., 75, were Friday at the Harry McKneely and Son Funeral Home chapel in Ponchatoula. Survivors include his wife, Mrs. Jenny Perrin Newman of Ponchatoula; five sons, Albert J. Newman Jr., Ralph Newman, and Dan Newman, all of Ponchatoula, Charley Newman of Houston and Raymond Newman of Harahan; three daughters, Mrs. James (Ruby) Byers and Mrs. James W. (Elaine) Byers, both of Bedico, and Ms. Victor H. (Bobbie Jean) Abel of Covington. PERILLOUX, BENJAMIN EARL "BENNIE", 12 Sep 1978 died at 7 pm. Sunday, Sept. 10, 1978 at Seventh Ward General Hospital, Hammond. He is survived by his wife, Mrs. Barbara Derks Perilloux, Bedico; five daughters, Mrs. Joseph (Patricia) Griffin, Ponchatoula, Mary Louis, Debbie Jo, Sandra Sue and Linda Marie Perilloux, all of Bedico; two grandchildren, Christi Renee Griffin and Jimmy Joe Griffin, both of Ponchatoula; a sister Mrs. Irene Bates, Kenner; three half sisters, Mrs. Inez Lavigne, Mrs. Dally Byers, and Mrs. Mae Byers, all of Bedico POCHE, CORA PERRIN, 2 Feb 1978 Mrs Cora Perrin Poche, 98, died Jan. 31. Survivors are four sons, Homer "Pete" Poche, Elmer "Bill" Poche, and Hollis Poche of Ponchatoula, and Mel Poche of Truth or Consequences, N.M.; three daughters, Mrs. Pleze (Elsie) Brumfield, Mrs. Martin (Edna) Gillman, and Mrs. Frank (Estelle) Brescher; and one sister, Mrs. Elsie Ferrant. She was preceded in death by her husband, Paul Melville Poche, one son, J. A. Poche, and one daughter, Edith Weir. PUSEY, MARY THERESA, 24 May 1978 Funeral Services were held Thursday for Mary Theresa Pusey, 76, a native and resident of Ponchatoula. Survivors include sister, Mrs. Henry (Hazel) Roussel of Ponchatoula; and a brother, Merlin N. "Sam" Pusey of Ponchatoula. STIRE, ALVIN, 17 May 1978 Funeral services for Alvin Stire, Tangipahoa Parish Clerk of Court, were held Monday at Thomas Funeral Home in Hammond. Mr. Stire died in a Covington hospital from injuries received in a car accident. VICKNAIR, BERTHA MAY POCHE, 6 Sep 1978 Funeral services for Mrs. Bertha May Poche Vicknair, 62 were held Monday at the Harry McKneely Funeral Home Chapel here. She is survived by her husband, Willie L. Vicknair of Ponchatoula; two daughters, Mr.s Gary (Willie May) Cummings and Mrs. Richard (Virgie Nay) Byers, both of Ponchatoula; two brothers, Joseph and William Poche, both of Maurpas. VINYARD, OSCAR H., 25 Oct 1978 Services for Oscar H. Vinyard were held Monday from McKneely and Son Funeral Home here. Mr. Vinyard was a Ponchatoula native. Survivors are three daughters, Mrs. Suzanne Johnson of Gretna, Mrs Barbara Burke of Marrero, and Mrs. Betsie Guidry of Houma; three sisters Mrs. Francis (Edith) Liles of Ponchatoula, Mrs. Virgil (Myrtle Jane) Newman of Long Beach, Miss., and Mrs. Hollis (Belle) Cowen of Wesson, Miss.; and a brother, Walter "Winks" Vinyard of Ponchatoula WOOD, DALLAS SIM, 24 May 1978 Funeral services for Dallas Sim Wood, 68, owner of Cave Tangi and long-time resident of Ponchatoula, were held May 6 at Harry McKneely and Son Funeral Home in Ponchatoula. A native of Tangipahoa and a former resident of Franklinton, he attend Tulane University. He was actively engaged with Huey P. Long in the former governor's campaign throughout the state. Wood moved to Ponchatoula in 1938 and opened Cave Tangi. He had been a resident of Ponchatoula for 40 years. Survivors include a daughter, Mrs. Debie Wood Hilbun of Ponchatoula; a sister, Mrs. Clara Wood Hollis, Ponchatoula; and a grandson, Kris Hilbun of Ponchatoula.