Iris Rosteet Miller

Iris Rosteet Miller was born on December 17, 1918 and was the third child of four children born to Charles Murphy Rosteet and Alberta Hartman Rosteet of Lake Charles, LA. She passed away quietly at the home of her son, Roland Miller, of Abbeville, LA, on Wednesday, February 25, 2009, after having her 90th birthday, celebrating Christmas with her family and seeing the arrival of her first great grandchild, Haley Anne Heslep on February 13, 2009.

Iris was preceded in death by her husband, Marsden Miller, Sr., parents, Charles and Alberta Rosteet; brother, Roger “Bub” Rosteet; sister, Doris Rosteet Smith; daughter-in-law, Anne Couvillion Miller; and nephew, Conway Rosteet.

She is survived by her brother, Ernest Rosteet and wife Katie; sons, Marsden “Bill” Miller, Jr. and wife Linda Malin of Lafayette, LA and Roland Miller of Abbeville, LA; daughter, D’Lane Miller and husband Ed Chandler of Fort Walton Beach, FL; grandchildren, Robert Manson Miller of Dallas, TX, Matthew Rosteet Miller of Lafayette, LA, Holly D’Lane Miller and husband, Hugh Heslep of Houston, TX, Romeny Kip Miller of Oklahoma City, OK, Lauren Ashley Chandler of Baltimore, MD, Mikaela Jeanette Chandler of Los Angeles, CA, and Karyn Nicole Chandler of Santa Barbara, CA; great-granddaughter, Haley Anne Heslep of Houston, TX; and her loving nephews and their families, Fred and Gaynell Rosteet, Roger John Rosteet, Sidney and Cathy Rosteet, Charles and Paula Rosteet, Scott and Jane Rosteet, and Jerry and Chris Rosteet, all of Lake Charles, LA.

Iris was a member of two founding families of Lake Charles – the Rosteet Family and the LeBleu Family – who contributed to the local area through donations of land for schools and a church and who were actively involved in the local and state politics of Louisiana. Those who know Iris during her early adult life can remember the unique Sunday afternoon political discussions at the home of “Charlie” and Alberta. Iris attended Rosteet Elementary and graduated from Lake Charles High School in 1925. She then worked in the retail business for a short time, before marrying her high school sweetheart, Marsden Miller, Sr. Marsden was the youngest son and the 11th child of Titus and Grace Miller, who were the founders of T-Miller and Sons Lumber Company of Lake Charles. The couple then lived primarily in Lake Charles, with short stays in Kaplan, LA, to follow Marsden’s construction work; St. Paul, Minnesota, to follow Marsden’s duty station during World War II and Monroe, LA, again to follow Marsden’s work then as a draftsman in the field of civil engineering. Summers often were spent at “Big Lake,” now Hebert’s Landing, where Iris and Marsden kept a camp since 1949. Many can still remember summers with the fresh shrimp and crabs, the hand-churned home-made ice cream that Iris loved to share with all, visits with family members who also had camps at “Big Lake” and the Fourth of July fireworks from the wharf.

Iris was a person who truly enjoyed people and being involved in her community. She along with her sister, Doris Smith and her sister-in-law, Lillian Rosteet worked for several years as the Director of the St. Henry’s School of Religion. Iris also was actively involved for many years with the St. Henry Catholic Church Alter Society and later in life volunteered her time at the Immaculate Conception Church. Iris followed her own public service interests through her work with the League of Women’s Voters through which she registered new female voters and worked frequently as a poll clerk during elections. During the late 1950’s and the early 1960’s, Iris, who was a dedicated mother and who believed strongly in the importance of an education, was active in the Parents Teachers Association at both the local school level and at the state level. In her later years, after Marsden had passed away, Iris returned to “Big Lake” and became an active member of the Hebert’s Landing Residence Association where she again shared her interest in “politics” with others and enjoyed the friendship of her neighbors. Iris was a person who enjoyed traditions and believed deeply in the importance of family and friends. She spent many hours with her girlfriends and other local friends each week at the “Wednesday morning coffee,” looked forward to time with her movie buddies, shared Saturday Morning Breakfast with the Rosteet family and friends, and was always there for the 3 o’clock coffee where family and friends gathered daily to share laughter and the ups and downs of their daily lives (a tradition that began with her great-grandmother). To those closer to Iris, she was known as “Bongee,” a nickname created by her first grandson, Manson, before he was 2 years old. And one special tradition that all of Bongee’s family enjoyed with her was her love of ice cream, either a malt at Watsons or later Huggie Bear’s or that nighttime snack before bed.

Her funeral service will be at 12:00 PM on Saturday, February 28, 2009 at the Johnson Funeral Home Chapel. Monsignor Harry Greig will officiate. Burial will follow in Highland Memory Gardens. Visitation will be at the funeral home on Saturday from 9:00 AM until the start of the service.

Words of comfort to the family may be expressed at www.johnsonfuneralhome.net

Agnes Abshire Trahan

July 30, 1915 ~ February 24, 2009

Abbeville—Funeral services was held Thursday, February 26, 2009 at a 11:30 am Mass of Christian Burial at St. Alphonsus Roman Catholic Church honoring the life of Agnes Abshire Trahan, 93, who died Tuesday, February 24, 2009 at her residence.

She was laid to rest at St. Alphonsus Cemetery with Reverend Joseph Breaux officiating the services. pallbearers are Damon Trahan, Rendell Trahan, Matt Landry, Eric Landry, Riley Landry, Curney Landry and honorary pallbearers will be Jarrod Broussard and P.J. Lege.

She is survived by her husband, Thear J. Trahan, Maurice; one son, Paul Donald Trahan of Maurice; one daughter, Lee Anna Trahan Landry of Abbeville; daughter in law, Elda Jane Hebert of Maurice; four grandsons, Riley James Landry, Curney Joseph Landry, Damon Trahan and his wife, Katharina, and Rendell Trahan, all of Maurice; two step grandsons, Jarrod and Bruce Broussard, both of Maurice; six great granddaughters, Amber Landry, Abbeville; Danielle Lege and husband, P.J., Lani Trahan, Kristy Trahan, Kayla Trahan and Paige Trahan, all of Maurice; and two great grandsons, Matt and Eric Landry of Abbeville.

She was preceded in death by a son, John Leeward Trahan, son-in-law, Dudless E. Landry, granddaughter, Linda Gail Landry, father, Onedias Abshire, mother, Elita Frederick Abshire, brother, Daltia Abshire, two sisters, Mrs. Dulpha(Aglea) Touchet and Mrs. Mrs. Lenes (Gladys) Duhon.

Condolences may be sent to the family at www.vincent-abbeville.com.

All funeral arrangements are being conducted by Vincent Funeral Home of Abbeville (337) 893-4661.

Patrick Castile

Funeral services are pending for Patrick Castille, 64, who passed away at 8:08 p.m. on Wednesday, Feb. 25, 2009 at his residence.

C.M. Butler Funeral Home of Abbeville is charge of the arrangements.