John Ravis Guidry - Eulogy
January 26, 2002
John Ravis Guidry was born at the beginning of the last century.He was born into a family of seven children at a time when horse and buggies and mule drawn wagons where just beginning to give way to cars, tractors, electricity and radios. He was born into a hard working, loving family who spoke only French. Most people don't know, that this great educator, spent three years in the first grade just trying to learn English. My dad told stories about how my grandfather converted the farm truck into a school bus, instilling the value of an education at an early age.
My dad's family survived the depression, working hard and drawing the family ever closer, relying upon each other and God's provision. Upon graduation from high school, the world was at the brink of war, and with the bombing of Pearl Harbor, he enlisted into the army at Camp Beauregard near Alexandria. He soon found himself on a ship, zig zagging across the North Atlantic dodging submarines.He arrived in Scotland then Southern England where he endured air raids by the Germans. Just prior to D Day, he was again on a ship, living on an over crowded deck, with no facilities or even a place to sleep. He stayed on this ship for 21 days enduring the rough conditions. He told me they looked like cows standing in the rain! When the order for the invasion finally came, he landed at Omaha Beach and spent the night in a truck inside a Higgins boat with artillery shells and bullets buzzing all around them.When morning arrived they drove onto the beach and made their way to Cherbourg, France, where his first language of French would serve him well. He coordinated setting up camp for his Commanders and later, even interrogating German prisoners who spoke French.
During the Battle of Bulge, Dad was sent back through basic training to prepare him for his new orders to go to the German front lines. He was put on a train that stopped for a connection that happened to be near Paris. It was during this wait, that the tide of the war changed and God's favor shown on the Allies and my Dad. Dad got a weekend pass to go into Paris, with his buddies, and when he arrived, the Germans had surrendered and the war in Europe was over. Our dad was in Paris for the celebration of the century!
Dad had now earned two battle stars and enough points to be discharged, however the war continued in the Pacific and my dad received orders to board another ship and sail to the Philippines. He was put back through basic training again for the Japanese Invasion. He boarded yet another ship and God had other plans and before he entered battle, Japan surrendered and Dad sailed back to America four years after he first left. He arrived in Seattle where he boarded a train to Tyler, Texas, where he was discharged but there was a problem, you see it was just before Christmas and he would have to wait a few more days to get home. My Dad told them he had just fought in two wars, enduring total hell, and he was going home, and proceeded to hitch hike back to Mermentau. During his hitch hiking, he came across a small roadside bar where people were celebrating. It was cold and my dad wandered in.God was guiding him all along as someone in the bar talked with Dad, heard his story, and put him and his duffel bag in the car, and drove him all the way home.D ad arrived back in Mermentau, at his home, Christmas morning, of 1945. Folks, this is the stuff movies are made of.
Dad had been around the world and now had his whole life in front of him. He rekindled a relationship with a young girl from Morse named Wilda Rose Thibodeaux who would become our Mother. Upon their marriage Grandpa Guidry (Dad's father) cut him a blank check, to help them get on their feet and off to a good start. Dad enrolled at SLI (now The University of Louisiana) under the GI Bill. About that time Suzette came along - our eldest sister. Dad would graduate in 1950 in a class that included some other great educators. Dr. John Bertrand (Superintendent of Acadia Parish Schools and a BESE Board) and Dr. Ray Authement, (President of the University of Louisiana.)
Dad started his teaching career in Evangeline and later Berwick and Morgan City. Johnette and I entered the picture around that time, and Mom and Dad even built their first house in Morgan City. During the summers, Dad would do carpentry jobs and even build pirogues for extra money to support the growing family. In 1966 Dad found himself on a boat again, his shrimp boat where while de-heading shrimp in the rain with my Uncle Buddy was struck by lighting.Because Uncle Buddy had the sense to get under the bow of the boat out of the rain, he was unhurt and was able to get my dad to a hospital. The doctors weren't quite sure what to do with Dad as they had not seen too many survivors of a lightning strike. The rubber slicker suit he was wearing had partially shielded him. God had more plans for Dad and he returned to health within a short time. Mom sold the boat!
Dad continued to go to summer school receiving a Master's Degree and additional certifications. Dad would eventually become a principal at Morse Elementary where one of his greatest achievements wasn't only teaching, but helping to bring sports back to the community. The town renovated the auditorium into a basketball gym and created several baseball diamonds on the school grounds. Dad would eventually become principal at Midland High School and then Redemptorist here in Crowley, where he finally retired.
Dad has helped educate or touched the lives of countless people, including many of you here today.He was a remarkably humble man, filled with a rare peace and contentment, that developed over his life. He was a man who walked with God, seldom complaining, doing his job. He was always, always willing to help his family and friends whenever there was a need.His priorities of being a loving husband, a strong father and role model, and provider to his family, truly displayed him as the Godly man he was.
With the passing of Dad's life, we are now charged with something of great importance. We, his family and friends, are his voice, his message, to the future.While our human frailty causes us to be saddened with his loss, we need to rejoice, and celebrate his life, his accomplishments, knowing that this day, he has seen and touched the face of God, and will truly live forever.
In closing, on behalf of our family, we want to thank you for being here and standing with us.
Eulogy given by Bill, his son
Descendants of John Ravis Guidry
Generation No. 1
1. JOHN RAVIS9 GUIDRY (SIDNEY JOSEPH 8 , EDGAR 7 , EMILE 6 , PIERRE 5 , OLIVIER 4 , JEAN AUGUSTIN GUIDRY 3 JR., AUGUSTIN 2 GUIDRY, CLAUDE GUIDRY ALIA: D 1 DIT GRIVOIS) was born September 14, 1922 in Evangeline, Acadia Parish, LA, and died January 24, 2002 in Crowley, Acadia Parish, LA. He married WILDA ROSE THIBODEAUX February 27, 1946 in St. John the Evangelist Catholic Church Mermentau, Acadia Parish, LA, daughter of DELUKE THIBODEAUX and IDA BROUSSARD. She was born February 21, 1927 in Mermentau Cove, Morse, Acadia Parish, La.
Children of JOHN GUIDRY and WILDA THIBODEAUX are:
2. i. SUZETTE MARIE10 GUIDRY, b. March 06, 1947.
3. ii. JOHNETTE ANN GUIDRY, b. January 28, 1952.
4. iii. WILLIAM MARK GUIDRY, b. July 13, 1958.
Generation No. 2
2. SUZETTE MARIE10 GUIDRY (JOHN RAVIS 9 , SIDNEY JOSEPH 8 , EDGAR 7 , EMILE 6 , PIERRE 5 , OLIVIER 4 , JEAN AUGUSTIN GUIDRY 3 JR., AUGUSTIN 2 GUIDRY, CLAUDE GUIDRY ALIA: D 1 DIT GRIVOIS) was born March 06, 1947. She married JOSEPH GALL January 30, 1968, son of CONSTANTINUS GALL and ALIDA VAN BUITENEN. He was born August 24, 1947.
Children of SUZETTE GUIDRY and JOSEPH GALL are:
5. i. BETH11 GALL, b. August 28, 1968, Lafayette, Lafayette Parish, LA.
6. ii. LISAE GALL, b. February 11, 1971, Lafayette, Lafayette Parish, LA.
iii. DAVID GALL, b. January 15, 1987.
iv. JACOB GALL, b. April 11, 1988.
v. MICHELLE GALL, b. November 25, 1989.
3. JOHNETTE ANN10 GUIDRY (JOHN RAVIS 9 , SIDNEY JOSEPH 8 , EDGAR 7 , EMILE 6 , PIERRE 5 , OLIVIER 4 , JEAN AUGUSTIN GUIDRY 3 JR., AUGUSTIN 2 GUIDRY, CLAUDE GUIDRY ALIA: D 1 DIT GRIVOIS) was born January 28, 1952. She married PATRICK DALE LELEUX August 07, 1971, son of RODLESS LELEUX and MILDRED ADAM. He was born October 03, 1951.
Children of JOHNETTE GUIDRY and PATRICK LELEUX are:
7. i. PATRICK DALE II11 LELEUX, b. June 20, 1972.
ii. TODD MICHAEL LELEUX, b. January 04, 1974.
iii. TIMOTHY JOHN LELEUX, b. July 21, 1977.
iv. JOHN PIERRE LELEUX, b. September 26, 1983.
4. WILLIAM MARK10 GUIDRY (JOHN RAVIS 9 , SIDNEY JOSEPH 8 , EDGAR 7 , EMILE 6 , PIERRE 5 , OLIVIER 4 , JEAN AUGUSTIN GUIDRY 3 JR., AUGUSTIN 2 GUIDRY, CLAUDE GUIDRY ALIA: D 1 DIT GRIVOIS) was born July 13, 1958. He married SUSAN EDMISTON February 16, 1991 in Lafayette, Lafayette Parish, LA, daughter of JR. HARDY and CLAIRE MARAIST. She was born March 18, 1957.
Children of WILLIAM GUIDRY and SUSAN EDMISTON are:
i. MEGAN OLIVIA11 MAYER, b. June 13, 1979.
ii. KATIE LOUISE MAYER, b. July 06, 1981.
iii. CHRISTOR THOMAS GUIDRY, b. April 28, 1992.
iv. ABIGAIL CAMILLE GUIDRY, b. June 28, 1994.
Generation No. 3
5. BETH11 GALL (SUZETTE MARIE 10 GUIDRY, JOHN RAVIS 9 , SIDNEY JOSEPH 8 , EDGAR 7 , EMILE 6 , PIERRE 5 , OLIVIER 4 , JEAN AUGUSTIN GUIDRY 3 JR., AUGUSTIN 2 GUIDRY, CLAUDE GUIDRY ALIA: D 1 DIT GRIVOIS) was born August 28, 1968 in Lafayette, Lafayette Parish, LA. She married GREGORY VALENTINE LEGER May 21, 1988. He was born February 14, 1968.
Children of BETH GALL and GREGORY LEGER are:
i. LUCAS JAMES12 LEGER, b. July 19, 1996.
ii. ZACHARY HARRISON LEGER, b. December 23, 1998.
6. LISAE11 GALL (SUZETTE MARIE 10 GUIDRY, JOHN RAVIS 9 , SIDNEY JOSEPH 8 , EDGAR 7 , EMILE 6 , PIERRE 5 , OLIVIER 4 , JEAN AUGUSTIN GUIDRY 3 JR., AUGUSTIN 2 GUIDRY, CLAUDE GUIDRY ALIA: D 1 DIT GRIVOIS) was born February 11, 1971 in Lafayette, Lafayette Parish, LA. She married (2) CHARLES MILLER June 28, 1990, son of ROLAND MILLER and LINDA JONES.
Child of LISAE GALL is:
i. DANIEL MICHAEL JOSEPH12 GALL, b. May 02, 2001.
Child of LISAE GALL and CHARLES MILLER is:
ii. CHARLES JOSEPH12 MILLER, b. November 16, 1990.
7. PATRICK DALE II11 LELEUX (JOHNETTE ANN 10 GUIDRY, JOHN RAVIS 9 , SIDNEY JOSEPH 8 , EDGAR 7 , EMILE 6 , PIERRE 5 , OLIVIER 4 , JEAN AUGUSTIN GUIDRY 3 JR., AUGUSTIN 2 GUIDRY, CLAUDE GUIDRY ALIA: D 1 DIT GRIVOIS) was born June 20, 1972. He married CHRISTINE DIEBEL May 28, 1998 in Crowley Crt House Record # 98-198, daughter of ALLAN DIEBEL and VIRGINIA COOK. She was born April 04, 1971 in New York
Child of PATRICK LELEUX and CHRISTINE DIEBEL is:
i. PATRICK DALE III12 LELEUX, b. May 08, 2001.