Mom blessed her parents, Alceé and Elizabeth Comeaux, with her arrival on January 2, 1930 in Church Point, Louisiana. Raised as the 4th of 7 children on a farm in Lawtell, LA and during the depression era, she was no stranger to hard work and rough times but always lots of love.
With 4 sisters and 2 brothers she often spoke of the fun they had because there was always someone to play with and someone to tease. The era that they grew up in was hard but the love and joy that they shared as a family kept them bonded and strong. Although times were hard for everyone, Mom accomplished the task of getting her high school diploma from Lawtell High, graduating less than 10 in her class. Shortly after completing high school she moved to Port Arthur where she lived with friends and worked in a local restaurant. It was not long before she met her sweetheart, Olton LeBouef, whom she would marry on October 14, 1950.
A year after becoming a housewife she became the mother to her first of 4 children. A son, which she named Ronald James. Nine years later followed a daughter named Annette, two and a half years later a son named Mark Allen and two and a half years later a daughter named Donna Faye. Caring for her husband, children and home were her priorities which she did very well and with lots of love and laughter.
As her children grew to adults and began their journey with children, she now took on the role of grandmother to 6 and great grandmother to 3. Watching her entire face light up when any of her grandchildern were in site was always a joy. She would let them do things like putting their pacifiers in her sugar bowl that her own children would have been reprimanded for and just laugh as they delighted in the sweetness of the sugar.
Her cooking and baking was also a delight to her family and friends, which as parents we are often told by our children that we may cook well, but do not compare to Maw Maw’s cooking. Just ask any of them about her chicken fricassee, cornbread, omelets, homemade bread, homemade preserves or pineapple cake with 7 minute icing and you are sure to get a smile.
Mom was always throughout the years a safe haven for family and friends. She opened the doors to our home to help our family and friends if they needed a place to stay whatever the reason was that they could not go home. She had a way of listening and voicing her opinion without being judgmental. Each of us can give examples of her unconditional love. Even strangers who came to the door were treated with kindness she may not invite them in but was quick to offer them something to drink or eat if they looked like that is what they needed.
On October 21, 1979 mom lost her sweetheart and after 29 years had to go back to work in a world that had changed drastically, but she did this with grace. For the next 12 years Mom worked and supported herself never complaining about the long hours on her feet. Mom believed we each have a cross to carry and she carried hers well. This was proven time and time again throughout her life with illness and loss of family and friends. Throughout it all she never lost her spirit or her humor.
On August 5, 2009 our mother, grandmother, sister and friend was called home by our Lord. She is survived by her two sons, Ronnie and wife Pam LeBouef and Mark and wife Karen LeBouef and two daughters, Annette and husband Mark Stratton and Donna and husband Roy Seay. Her 6 grandchildren, Angela Dawn Morris, Jamie Leigh Gonzales, Miranda Eileen LeBouef, Kale Allen LeBouef, Haili Alyce’ Stratton and Hayden Olton Seay. Her 3 great grandchildren, Kaleb Blake Dixon, Kaitlyn Brooke Morris and Damion Enrique Gonzales; 2 step grandchildren, Curtis Stratton and wife Sarah of Nederland, Jennifer Shulton and husband Alex of New York, NY; 2 step great grandchildren, Sklar Elizabeth Stratton and Pyper Gene Stratton. Her brother, Milton Comeaux of Eunice, LA; her sisters, Esther Faul of Lawtell, LA, Clara Quiban of Baton Rouge, LA and Betty Stewart of Nederland, TX. She is preceded in death by her loving husband, Olton LeBouef; a sister, Elta Guillory of Opelousas, LA; a brother, Louis Comeaux of Lufkin, TX; and a grandchild, Tina LeBouef.
Mom will be missed but there is not a doubt that she will be with each of us everyday and her love will live on in the lives of her family and friends.
