Sunday’s Obituary

Sunday’s Obituary – Baseball Hall of Famer Ted Lyons

July 10, 2011 By Blue Eyes and Bluebonnets 2 Comments

Baseball Hall of Famer Ted Amar Lyons and his sister Miss Pearl Lyons lived in the next block on the same street as my grandparents in Vinton, Louisiana. My mom tells a great story of how a teacher in town once tried to get this lifelong bachelor to take interest in her.

The Teacher Tries to Catch the Pitcher

Ted Lyons, White Sox, sitting in a dugout in a ballpark during spring training. SDN-067969, Chicago Daily News negatives collection, Chicago History Museum.

When my mother was young, my grandparents had several female boarders living with them at one time or another. Many of them were teachers in Vinton.

One of the teachers had a friend, also a teacher, who decided that Ted Lyons was a “good catch.” Since Lyons lived with his older unmarried sister, the teacher decided that the best way to get to him was by becoming best friends with Miss Pearl. And that’s exactly what she did. The teacher would invite Miss Pearl to go to dinner with her every week, suggesting that she bring her brother Ted along. This went on for quite awhile, until one day Miss Pearl arrived alone. Ted Lyons never joined them again.

Discouraged, the teacher decided that she would not be able to “catch” Ted Lyons, so she quit going to dinner with Miss Pearl.

Obituary

VINTON — Baseball Hall of Fame pitcher Ted Lyons, 85, died Friday after a lengthy illness.

Funeral services for the former manager of the Chicago White Sox of the American League will be at 2 p.m. Sunday, July 27, in the Vinton First Baptist Church.

The Revs. Lee Perkins and James Rivers will officiate and burial will be in Big Woods Cemetery under direction of Hixson Funeral Home.

Visitation at the funeral home here will be from 5-9 p.m. today, July 26.

Lyons died at 12:35 p.m. in a Sulphur nursing home.

Obituary - Ted Lyons

Elected to Baseball’s Hall of Fame in Coopertown, N.Y. in 1955, Lyons was the first player to ever go straight from the college campus to the major leagues as he was signed by the White Sox in 1923 after receiving a B.A. degree from Baylor University.

He pitched for Chicago from 1923 to 1946, except for three years during World War II when he served as a Marine Corps major.

About one month into the 1946 season, Lyons ended his active pitching career as he was named to succeed Jimmy Dykes as Chicago’s manager. He served as manager through 1948. He served as a coach of the Detroit Tigers from 1949 to 1953.

Lyons was named to the Louisiana Sports Hall of Fame in 1960. After leaving baseball, Lyons returned to his Vinton home and spent much of his time in his favorite hobbies, golfing and hunting.

The Baseball Writers of America elected him to the hall of fame in 1955. He compiled a pitching record of 260 wins against 230 losses while toiling for a club that was in the second division most of his carer. He pitched a no-hit game against the Boston Red Sox on Aug. 21, 1926. He was the winningest pitcher in the American League in 1925 with 21 victories and in 1927 with 22.

He also won 22 games in 1930. In 1929, Lyons pitched a 21-inning game against the Detroit Tigers. In his last full year as a pitcher in 1942 at the age of 39, Lyons compiled the best earned run average among American League pitchers and completed all f his 20 starting assignments.

A better than average hitter for a pitcher, Lyons tied a major league record by hitting two doubles in one inning in a July 28, 1935, game.

Lyons was a member of the American Legion Post 208 in Vinton, and an active member of the First Baptist Church.

He is survived by nieces and nephews.

Lake Charles American Press, Saturday, July 26, 1986.

Headstone - Ted Amar Lyons

Ted Lyons’ House in 2010

Ted Lyons house in 2010

Sadly, the home of Ted and Miss Pearl Lyons today sits empty and abandoned. The roof is covered with the blue tarps left over from Hurricane Rita in 2005. The furniture and household items were sold in a 1993 estate sale.

Estate Sale at Ted Lyons house, 1993

More Information about Ted Lyons

Sunday’s Obituary is a daily blogging theme used by many genealogy bloggers to help them post content on their sites. Find out more about daily themes at Geneabloggers.com (opens in new window).

Filed Under: Daily Themes, Genealogy, Sunday Themes, Sunday's Obituary Tagged With: baseball, Chicago White Sox, Detroit Tigers, Hall of Fame, Louisiana Sightseeing, pitcher, Ted Amar Lyons, Ted Lyons, Vinton

Sunday’s Obituary – Samuel R. Lyons (1852-1938), Vinton, LA

July 4, 2011 By Blue Eyes and Bluebonnets Leave a Comment

The two story “old Lyons house” at 1335 Horridge Street in Vinton—built in 1900 by Luvicy Jane and Samuel Richard Lyons—was the first home in Calcasieu Parish to be placed on the National Register of Historic Places. Lyons, a member of one of the oldest pioneer families in the parish, was a retired cattleman and prominent Vinton citizen.

About the “Old Lyons House”

The Old Lyons House, 2011

The house is painted blue today, but was originally painted white, with all trim and gingerbread painted “old Rose.”

The house has four upstairs bedrooms and three closets—an exception to the buildings of that era. Two fireplaces downstairs and one in the upstairs master bedroom share a central chimney. Downstairs, the Lyons built a lady’s parlor, gentleman’s parlor, dining room, kitchen, ariel bay window and a large foyer with an elaborate Eastlake staircase. Two bathrooms were added in the early 1940s.

The home was used as as bed and breakfast in the 1980s and is currently privately owned.

Sam Lyons and Electricity

About the year 1916, Sam Lyons and Dr. Ford together bought a Fairbanks-Morse generator, and installed a small electricity plant in the alley behind the house to produce electricity for Lyons, Dr. Ford and a couple of businesses in town. When they turned on the electricity, Lyons left his lights on for the first 24-36 hours so that people in the surrounding areas would have a chance to come into town and see for themselves what electric lights were like.

Obituary – Sam R. Lyons, Aged Citizen of Calcasieu, Dies

Sam R Lyons

Vinton, La. Aug 26, 1934. Sam R. Lyons , 82, member of one of the oldest pioneer families of Calcasieu parish, died at his home here Saturday night after a six month illness. Both his father and grandfather were residents of Calcasieu Parish. His father, the late David H. Lyons was sheriff of Imperial Calcasieu for 18 years.

Services will be held at the home Monday afternoon at 2:30, with the Rev. L.W. Rogers of the Baptist church and the Rev. A.D. George pf the Methodist church officiating. Burial will be in the family cemetery at Big Woods, with Burke and Trotti in charge.

Pallbearers wil be Arthur Simmons, D. J. Moreau, John Welsh, Foster Ford, E. J. Fairchild, J.E. Johnson, Joe Romero, and J.H. Wetheril.

Former Cattleman. Mr. Lyons was Born 2 April 1852 in Edgerly and had lived in Vinton the last 43 years. He owned an extensive amount of real estate in this parish and retired from the cattle business 15 years ago. He was a member of the W.O.W. and the Baptist church and was quite active in political life, but never ran for an office. He was one of the first school board members of this ward.

On Sept 29, 1870, he married Miss Tabitha E. Lyons, who died January 30, 1896. There were four children, all living except one. They are Mrs. Ona Ecker, of Vinton. Mrs. Jane Hampton of Carthage, Texas, and Dave C. Lyons of Lake Charles, and Mrs. Daisy Puckett, deceased.

On July 14, 1896 he married Miss Luvicy Jane Lyons, (who died in 1909), sister of his first wife. There were no children. He then married on July 8, 1910, Emma Garret, who survives.

He was a brother of the late Dr. Gus Lyons of Lake Charles and has one living sister, Mrs. Ella M. Carruthers, formerly of Lake Charles, now of Beaumont. Besides his wife and three children he is survived by 15 grandchildren and 14 great-grandchildren.

Photos of the Lyons House

Lyons House

The Old Lyons House, 2005

Filed Under: Daily Themes, Genealogy, Sunday Themes, Sunday's Obituary Tagged With: Calcasieu, historic home, Louisiana Sightseeing, Lyons, Mary Luvicy Lyons, Sam Lyons, Samuel R. Lyons, Sunday's Obituary, Vinton

Sunday’s Obituary: Cyprien Duhon – Peace to His Ashes

January 23, 2011 By Blue Eyes and Bluebonnets Leave a Comment

Headstone - Cyprien Duhon, Sallier Cemetery, Lake Charles, Louisiana, USA

Cyprien Duhon
b. 24 Jun 1803 St. Martinville, St. Martin, Louisiana, USA
d. 25 Mar 1878 Calcasieu Parish, Louisiana

Obituary

Lake Charles Echo, 1878

Cyprien Duhon died at his residence, in this parish, on Monday, 25th inst., Cyprien Duhon, aged 78 years. The deceased was one of the oldest residents of Calcasieu and was noted for his integrity, politeness and hospitality. Peace to his ashes.

About Cyprien Duhon

Cyprien was born to Joseph Duhon and Marie Scholastique Hebert in St. Martinville, Louisiana. He married Julie Granger on 14 February 1820. Once married, Cyprien and Julie began a several-week journey by ox cart from St. Martinville to Calcasieu Parish to settle on land owned by the bride’s family. Arriving in Calcasieu Parish, they followed the Calcasieu River to Charlie’s Lake, then continued south to what was then called Little Lake. The tract of land where Cyprien built his cabin was surrounded by pine trees, with prairie land further south where he could run his herd of cattle. The site of Cyprien’s home is the spot where the clubhouse of the Lake Charles Country Club now stands. ¹

Prien Lake

How Little Lake became Prien Lake is an interensting story. The area where the Lake Charles Country Club is now was homesteaded by Cyprien Duhon. The people living around Cyprien on Little Lake called him Old Man Prien. The lake eventually became known as Old Man Prien’s Lake, and then, Prien Lake. ²

Relation to Me

Cyprien Duhon was my great-great-great grandfather.

More about Cyprien Duhon on WeRelate.org (opens in new window).

Sunday’s Obituary

Sunday’s Obituary is a daily blogging theme used by many genealogy bloggers to help them post content on their sites. Find out more about daily themes at Geneabloggers.com (opens in new window).

Ross, Nola Mae. “Broussard History.” Lake Charles American Press 11 Nov. 1990: 1 CT . Print. ↩
Glass, Gretchen. “Mr. Shutts Speakes on Lake Charles History.” Lake Charles American Press 6 Nov. 1961: 19. Print. ↩

Filed Under: Daily Themes, Genealogy, Sunday's Obituary, Uncategorized Tagged With: Cyprien Duhon, Geneabloggers, Lake Charles, Louisiana Sightseeing, Prien Lake, Sunday's Obituary

Sunday’s Obituary: Gus Courrege – Town Blacksmith

January 9, 2011 By Blue Eyes and Bluebonnets Leave a Comment

Gustave "Gus" Courrege stands in front of his blacksmith shop

VINTON — Funeral services for Gustave Jean Courrege, 80, of 1133 Horridge St., longtime Vinton fire chief, were at 2 p.m. today, April 10, from St. Joseph Catholic Church.

Entombment was in the mausoleum at Sulphur under direction of Hixson Funeral Home.

Mr. Courrege died at 10:50 a.m. Wednesday in a Lake Charles hospital.

He was a native of New Iberia and was a retired blacksmith.

He was the first fire chief in Vinton, a post he held for 38 years. He was named fire marshal for the town in 1962.

Mr. Courrege was a past commander of John C. Bowden American Legion Post 208 of Vinton. He had served as a sergeant in the U.S. Army during World War I.

He was a member of Vinton council 6103, Knights of Columbus, and of Msgr. Cramers General Assembly of the Fourth Degree. Mr. Courrege was a trustee of St. Joseph Church.

Survivors include his wife, Mrs. May Breaux Courrege; one son, G. J. Courrege Jr. of Jennings; one daughter, Mrs. W. Howard Nutter of Houston; two sisters, Mrs. James Hoiby of Beaumont. Tex., and Mrs. J. S. Dement of Vinton; 12 grandchildren and 3 great-grandchildren.

Relation to Me

Gus Courrege was my 1st cousin, two times removed.

More about Gus Courrege on WeRelate.org.

Newspaper Clippings

Vinton Fire Chief Given New Post

Sunday’s Obituary

Sunday’s Obituary is a daily blogging theme used by many genealogy bloggers to help them post content on their sites. Find out more about daily themes at Geneabloggers.com.

Filed Under: Daily Themes, Genealogy, Sunday's Obituary Tagged With: blacksmith, Courrege, Geneabloggers, Gus Courrege, history, Louisiana Sightseeing, Obituary, Sunday's Obituary, Vinton Louisiana

Sunday’s Obituary – Miss Odile Naquin

December 19, 2010 By Blue Eyes and Bluebonnets Leave a Comment

This obituary for Odile Naquin (29 Dec 1846 – 13 Aug 1895) of Thibodeaux, Louisiana, was in my grandmother’s papers.

Her Labors are Done and She is Gone

Miss Odile Naquin is dead. This brief but truthful announcement made last Tuesday evening at 2:30 when this beloved lady breathed her last, brought sorrow to the hearts of about three-fourths of this population of this parish and also to a host of friends and acquaintances in the surrounding parishes.

What made this lady’s death affect so many was the exemplary and beneficent life she had led. She came into this world on the 31st day of December, 1846, and from the time she possessed the power and ability to do good she had been unceasingly and tirelessly working, and thus did she attract an immense circle of friends and acquaintances,who not only esteemed her, but found her a worthy model.

She had tendered herself conspicuous and indispensable in this community in various ways—by her unswerving devotion to the Catholic Church and to things of a religious nature; by the care that she, with her sister, would exercise in propagating the teachings of the Church; by her deeds of charity; by her benevolence and by her kindly advice and instruction to the numbers who had received their first schooling within the walls of St. Valerie School—an institute that she and her sister had established in 1868, when Miss Odile was 22 years old. The school has been growing popular with each year of its existence, and it remains a decidedly creditable tribute to the one who now lies wrapped in the arms of death. There are gray-haired men and women throughout this parish, now the heads of large families, who received the first rudiments of education within St. Valerie school, and these people cannot look upon the death of their first instructress with other than feelings of the deepest sorrow.

Miss Odile possessed a robust and healthy appearance during the last few years of her life, there being no sign to indicate that dissolution was not far distant. The spell of sickness that culminated in death came on about two months ago, but until within two weeks of her death there was no fear entertained that she would not recover. But God willed otherwise and now she is gone, gone forever, as the healthiest and strongest of us shall have to do.

St. Joseph Cemetery - Thibodeaux

While her departure will be deplored by all of her relatives, none will so sorely miss her as her sister, Miss Emmeline and her aged and good mother, for whom Miss Odile tenderly cared and for whom she expressed the sincerest solicitude when she bid adieu to earth.

They will miss her immeasurably and no solace will replace her. No longer can we speak of “Misses O. and E. Naquin” as an actuality. Only one now lives to fill the duties of both.

But there is a common end to all things that are mortal and from this end Miss Odile was not exempt. She lived and died a virgin and the angels are surely now around her in Heaven.

Her remains, followed by an immense concourse, were taken yesterday evening to St. Joseph’s Catholic Church (which was filled to its utmost capacity) where both Father Dubourg and Father Chastel, assisted by Father Richard, performed a lengthy ceremony, and then the body was deposited in a tomb in the cemetery to await the resurrections.

May her soul be hallowed in glory. To the bereaved ones we offer our sympathy.

Odile Naquin

Odile was the daughter of Maximin Noel Naquin (1814-1855) and Azelie Richard (1817-1901). She had one sister – Emeline (or Emmeline) Naquin (1848–1927). Neither sister ever married.