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Richelieu Leger Family Association
Richelieu Leger Family Association Richelieu Leger Family Association Richelieu Leger Family Association
Richelieu Leger Family Association
Officers
Board
Committee Chairs
Membership: ........................ Connie Lege Rost - email
Genealogy:..................................... Lou A. Leger - email
Reunion: ........................ Joycie Lege. Broussard - email
and Sue Lege Neveaux - email
Web Master: .................................Lou A. Leger - email
and Shannon Neveaux - email
Facebook Manager: ......... Monica Lege Theriot - email
Publicity: ........................................ Gwen Leger - email
Newsletter:............................ Shannon Neveaux - email
Sales..............................Janetta & Kelly Touchet - email
Familiar Faces
Gene Whitten-Lege
Who is "Gene"?
Eugene Lourice Lege, a descendant of Michel Prosper, Alexandre Leger, was born in Abbeville, Louisiana.
He married Margaret Minor, then, subsequently married his long time wife, Patsy Ann Whitten.
Gene and Pat are long time residents of Houston Texas , where they have built and run their own business.
Gene is a valued member of the Richelieu-Leger Family Association. He has always contributed his time, ideas, and and money to make the association a wonderful way to reunite extended family members.
With all his many activities, he never forgets his Louisiana connections to his family and the Richelieu Leger Association and is a familiar face at meetings and reunions.
Familiar Face - Arine
Arine Leger Prejean
Who is "Arine"
Arine LÈGER PREJEAN Arine, a descendant of Michael Prosper Leger, is currently a Board member of the Richelieu Léger Family Association. She was born in Duson, LA, and lived on a farm. She graduated from high school, having played basketball for four years, making All-Stars and All-State. Arine married, had her first child, then moved to New Orleans, where she had another child. She moved back to Lafayette in the mid sixties where she is currently living. She now has six children who are all grown and live away with busy lives of their own. Three children are married and she has three grandchildren. Her youngest child is in the military. Arine is a seamstress who makes unique and personal craft items, quilts of all sizes, including T-shirt quilts. In her spare time, she likes to type and play games on the computer, do gardening and work in her yard with all kinds of plants. She particularly likes houseplants. Her husband has been known , which he often does, to pick up dead plants that stores throw out and take them home to Arine so she can see if she can revive them
Familiar Face - Lou
Lou Leger
Who is "Lou?"
Lou A. Leger was born to a Leger descendant of Michel Prosper Leger and a Broussard in Duson La. Lou was the eleventh of twelve children. nine of the twelve siblings survived to adulthood. Lou lived with her parents on a tenant farm until the death of her father in 1953, She then moved with her family to Lafayette, where she went to High School. After graduation, she worked for the phone company for a few years. She then moved to New Orleans and began a job with Shell Oil Co., where she worked her way up from a clerical position to Sr. Geophysical Technician. Lou retired in 1991 and helped care for her aged Mother until her death. Lou then went back to Shell for a few more years until her final retirement in 1999. Lou now spends her time traveling, birding, reading, growing Bonsai, doing Genealogical research and overall, just enjoying time with family and friends. Even though she has no children, she has taken in numerous stray animals throughout the years and given them a good home. Lou has been a member of the Richelieu Leger Family Association and has served on the Board of Directors As well as Genealogist, Web Master, and Publishing the Associa on’s Books.
Familiar Face - Joycie
Joycie Lege Broussard
Who is "Joycie"
Joycie Lege Broussard Joycie was born to Percy “Kaplan” Lege and Zoie LeBlanc Lege who were tenant farmers on Coulee Kinney Road in Abbeville. She attended Abbeville High School and graduated with honors. Immediately after graduation, Joycie married James Curtis Broussard and moved to Venice, La. Since Curtis was in the oilfield for 45 years, they moved around for 17 years to different cities in Louisiana and then To Houston Texas until they came home in 1972 after Curtis’ father died. Joycie babysat everywhere they lived to help supplement their income. She operated her own day care center where they live now from 1994 to 2000. In 2000, her husband retired and they started traveling. They own a 5th wheel camper and belong to the Good Sam Organization. Curtis is President and Joycie is Secretary of the local Acadiana chapter. They also belong to the state chapter and staff, helping to organize Samborees for hundreds of campers twice a year. Joycie serves in public relations where she helps put on tours. She also belongs to Vermillion Volunteers for Family and Community, Inc. (VVFC), a woman’s organization that works towards funding scholarships for girls and boys interested in education. Joycie lives on a farm between Abbeville and Maurice where they raise cattle, only four miles from the farm where she was born and grew up. She and Curtis have six children, fifteen grandchildren, seven great-grandchildren and are expecting three more. Joycie is a Charter member of the Richelieu Leger Family Association and has been a member of the Reunion Committee since 2001. She is currently Co-chair and has been a board member since 2002. She currently serves as Secretary for the Association. Joycie has graciously opened her home for every Annual Membership meeting that has not taken place at a reunion, as well as most of the Board of Directors meetings. Her contribution to the association has been greatly appreciated.
Familiar Face - Evelyn
Evelyn Leger
Who is "Evelyn"?
Evelyn (Perry) Lege was born in Honolulu, Hawaii, and is a Pearl Harbor survivor. Hawaii had very strict war-time conditions throughout the war: blackouts, gas/food rationing, barbed-wire beaches, dusk curfews, air raid drills, and even at schools, many buildings were used by the many services. Working for the war effort was uppermost in everyone's minds during those war years, and Evelyn was no exception. Immediately after graduating from High School, she went to work at the Pearl Harbor Naval Shipyard, eventually becoming personal secretary to five different Rear Admirals who were successive Shipyard Commanders. Shortly after WWII began, she met a young sailor, a submariner from Abbeville, La. (John Lege) who became her husband in Honolulu shortly after the end of the war. They eventually settled in Napa, California when John began work for the Mare Island Naval Shipyard. He retired as a Project Engineer in the Design Division. They have four sons and now have four grandsons. Over the years Evelyn gave private piano lessons, and eventually retired from the Napa Valley Unified School District. She has volunteered as the Music Minister at their Parish Church for over thirty years, serving as organist and choir director. Evelyn says "John and I have a wonderful mutual hobby of collecting our family histories, and this love and interest in family, even though I am not a Cajun, became the motivational factor in the founding of the Richelieu Léger Family Association. I pay tribute to Butch, our President, for agreeing to "give it a try" to organize a Léger Family Association, and successfully so; to Ranson, our Historian, who gave me much encouragement and inspiration with his dedication to Léger History; to Sue (Lege) and Ken Neveaux for their support in Acadiana to get us started, to Loubert Trahan, for giving me a "name" for possible contact to begin with at the '99 Congrès in Louisiana. Thus the Richelieu Léger Family Association became a reality. We have an active Association that Légers everywhere can be proud to belong to.
Let's keep it strong by active support."
Familiar Face - Butch
Butch Leger
Who is "Butch"
ALBERT J. "BUTCH" LEGER
Born in Rayne, L.A., Butch is a 10th generation Acadian descended from Michel Prosper Léger. He is the youngest of three children born to Ulgere Léger and Elizabeth Trahan, tenant farmers residing near the Ossun Community. Elizabeth died of childbirth complications less than a day following the birth of her son. Weighing all of five pounds at birth, he acquired this nickname in the hospital from his sister's boyfriend (Judge Allen Babineaux). His family moved to Lafayette when he was two, where he was brought up by his sister. When Butch was five, his sister married Judge Babineaux, who became a member of their household where he was joined later by a nephew and two nieces. He grew up on the north side of Lafayette, where the judge's parents operated a country store. This afforded him the opportunity to learn to speak French and appreciate his Acadian heritage. Butch attended St. Genevieve Elementary School where he participated in city league athletics and was an altar boy. He also served as a Page in the Louisiana Legislature for four years. He graduated from Teurlings High School in 1964, where he lettered in four sports, was class president, student council president, attended academic rally, was a delegate to Pelican Boy's State and received the American Legion Award. He completed his Bachelor of Arts Degree in Political Science at USL in 1967, and received his Juris Doctor Degree from Loyola University School of Law in 1971, after a one-year sabbatical to complete reserve military training. He was admitted to the Bar in October, 1971, and since then, has been actively engaged in the private practice of law, presently as a partner with his nephew, Mark Allen Babineaux, in the firm of Leger and Babineaux. He is one of a select few bilingual attorneys capable of handling legal matters in both English and French. Butch is married to Christine Truxillo, and together they have five children (his- Stephanie and Brian, and hers - Amy, Stacy and Joey) and one grandchild, Caleb. Butch is a member in good standing of the Lafayette, LA and American Bar Associations. He is a past officer and board member of the Rotary Club of Lafayette, past president of the St. Genevieve - Teurlings PTO, past chairman and member of the St. Genevieve - Teurlings School Board, past chairman and current member of the Msgr. Teurlings Foundation, past Commodore and current board member of the Cypremort Yacht Club, charter member, past secretary and current president of the Richelieu Leger Family Association; and past member of the Lafayette Parish Notarial Commission. He was also an assistant coach in Little League baseball and junior high basketball. Hobbies for Butch include sailing (cruising and racing), deer hunting and saltwater fishing. Other interests include Acadian Genealogy, woodworking and traveling.
Familiar Face - Sue
Sue Lege Neveaux
Who is "Sue"
Sandra "Sue" Lege Neveaux was born in Abbeville, La. to Minus Paul Lege and Neoma Marie L. Lege. She attended Mt. Carmel Elementary from 1st to 7th grade before transferring to, and graduating from Meaux High School. Graduating year was significant for Sue. She finished High school in May, got married in September, and also went to State Board in Baton Rouge to take exam to become a hairdresser, all in the same year. Sue has been married to Kenneth Paul Neveaux for 45 years. They have three daughters, and two grandchildren. Despite the love they both have for their daughters, the main subject of their pride and joy are their two grandchildren. Ken is employed with Apache Corporation and Sue is a homemaker and part-time hairdresser. They both enjoy traveling, hunting, fishing and spending time with family and friends. Sue is very proud to be a member of the Richelieu Leger Association. Sue is one of the first Lifetime/Charter members of the association, has been a board member since 2001 and has been chairperson or cochairperson of every reunion ever since. She is very humble and does not hesitate to praise the efforts of all the hard working board members. Sue has also served as Vice president of the Association for the past several years. According to Sue, "Together we have made a successful organization that provides camaraderie and knowledge of genealogy that is so important in keeping our ties with family!"
Familiar Face - Ranson
Ranson Lege
Who is "Ranson"
Ranson Paul Lege was born on a farm on the east bank of the vermillion River, two miles north of Abeville, La. He is the son of Demosthene (Edward) Lege, son of Adras and Lezida Celestine Marceaux of Kaplan, and Lucille Anna M. of Abbeville. He attended school in Kaplan and Sulphur, La., and Port Arthur, Tx., where he graduated as an honor student from Thomas Jefferson High School. The next day, he enlisted in the U.S. Navy, serving for twenty-three years, retiring as a Chief Warrent Officer of the Supply Corps. He married Mildred (Millie) Joyce G. of Houston, Tx.. They have two children and one grandchild. While in the Navy, he was stationed aboard the USS Gen. A.E. Anderson TAPIII, the USS Strong DD758, and the USS AultDD698, at the Fleet Training Center, Pearl harbor, Oahu; at the Defense Atomic Support Agency, Alberquerque, NM; at the Navy ordance test unit, Patrick Air Force Base, Cocoa beach, Fl.; at the Navy Mission to Peru, (Lima); at the Naval station, Kodiak, AK.; and at the Navy Supply Corps School, Athens, Ga. He is a graduate of the Sanz Spanish Language School, a six-month contracted school of the Defense Language Institute, Washington, D.C. and the seven-month Warrant Officer Indoctrination and Navy Supply Training Course, Athens, Ga. During his Nave career he visited nineteen foreign countries, during which time he traveled some 300,000 miles at sea, surviving several typhoons in the Pacific and hurricanes in the Atlantic. His most memorable and notable experiences were: the recovery of an unmanned Mercury capsule called "Little Joe" in 1959; his participation in the 1959 NATO excercise, operating in the Norweigian Sea and above the Artic circle; . his tour of duty at Patrick Air force Base (1962-1965)
Familiar Face - Ray
Ray Lege
Who is "Ray"
John R. "Ray" Lege, currently a board member and treasurer of the Richelieu Leger Family Association, was born on a farm near Abbeville, La. He is the oldest of three children born to Percey "Kaplan" Lege and Zoie L. Lege, who were tenant farmers residing near Abbeville on Coulee Kinney. Ray grew up on the farm and attended Abbeville High School, graduating with honors. During high school, he played varsity basketball and baseball and was selected "All District" in both sports. Ray continued his love of sports after high school by participating in adult softball leagues for several years. Ray married his high school classmate, Clara Joyce Hebert (Currently our membership chairperson), and they had eight children. One of their oldest Bonnie (one of twin girls) died at the age of ten. The other twin has served as the Assoc.'s secretary and newsletter editor as well as on numerous reunion committees. All seven living children graduated from Vermillion Catholic High School and all are college graduates -- three of which have masters degrees -- and all seven are current members of the Richelieu Leger Family Association. Ray, an accountant who is semi-retired, has worked as controller of the C. S. Steen Syrup Mill in Abbeville since 1986. Prior to that, he worked his way up from assistant payroll clerk to office manager for the Diamond Crystal Salt Company at Jefferson Island, La. from 1952 until 1986. Ironically, it was on his birthday, November 20, 1980, when the salt dome was pierced by a drilling rig and Lake Pigneur emptied into the salt mine, causing the plant to eventually close in 1986. Ray is a past president of both the Mt. Carmel Elementry School Board and the Vermillion Catholic High School Board, Past president of the Mt. Carmel-Vermillion Catholic Home and School Association and past vice-president of the Vermillion Catholic Athletic Association. He was also an assistant coach in Little League and Babe Ruth baseball for several years. Ray has been a member of the Knights of Columbus for the past 48 years and has been a lector at St. Mary Magdalen Catholic Church for 36 years. When he is not working or babysitting one of his sixteen grandchildren or his great grandson, Ray spends his time playing golf, dancing, playing cards and watching sports and news programs on TV. Ray and Joyce presently live in Abbeville on Coulee Kinny Drive, only about five miles
from his birthplace.
