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The 71st Annual Louisiana Cattle Festival is honoring Maj. Robby J. Sonnier as Veteran of the Year.
Sonnier served 21 years in the United States Army, from 1957 to ‘78.
The Cattle Festival will be held in Abbeville on Oct. 10-13.

Early Years and
Educational Background
• Born in Anse Le Butte, Louisiana, just outside of Breaux Bridge on September 5, 1934.
• Attended elementary school in Breaux Bridge for two years prior to moving to Golden Meadow, La.
• Graduated from Golden Meadow High School in 1952
• Attended Nicholls Junior College (now Nicholls State) and graduated in 1954
• Attended LSU and graduated in 1965

U.S. Military Background

Joined the U.S. Army as a Commissioned Officer in 1957
Went thru Basic Officer Training at Fort Benning, GA in 1958
Assigned to Fort Hood, TX in 1958 as instructor/platoon leader and was eventually named Executive Officer of the entire Company
Assigned to Fort Knox, KY 1959-1960 to attend Armor Maintenance Officer Course
Assigned to the Canal Zone 1960-1963 initially as Maintenance Officer for the Battle Group
*Reassigned as the Company Executive Officer'
*Promoted to Captain and in charge of the entire Company
*Promoted to Battalion Operations Officer
Assigned to Fort Benning, Ga., 1963-1964 for Advanced Officers Infantry Course and from
1964-1966 as instructor with the Mobility Department of the Infantry School
Assigned to Vietnam 1966-1967 as an advisor to the Vietnamese Army(MACV), advising on combat and battle tactics while involved in combat with North Vietnamese Army(NVA)and others
1967-1969 R.O.T.C. lnstructor Georgia State University, Atlanta, GA
1969-1970 Executive officer Joint Security area Pan Mun Jom, Korea- all peace talks handled between North and South Koreans since the Qease Fire in 1953
1970-1973 Fort Polk, LA served in various positions as Committee Chairman of various command committees
1973-1975 assigned to the base at Erlangen, Germany as Battalion Executive Officer and was named Deputy Base Commander
Received a hardship reassignment due to brother being gravely injured in a motorcycle accident in Cut Off, La was assigned as Battalion Advisor to the Louisiana National Guard based in Abbeville, LA
Retired from the U.S. Army October 1, 1978

Awards and Medals

• Most cherished award from military service "Combat Infantry Badge" awarded for service in combat 1966 and 1967.
• 1978 awarded the Meritorious Service Medal
• 1966-1967 Air Medal (flying into hostile territory during combat)

Family

While stationed at Fort Hood, Texas, Major Sonnier met and fell in love with his wife, Ann. They were married in 1959 and enjoyed almost 40 years together before she passed away in 1999. Major and Mrs. Sonnier had three sons, Rick, Bobby, and Ron.

March 2, 1933 ~ October 5, 2019

KAPLAN — A Mass of Christian Burial will be held at 11:00 AM on Tuesday, October 8, 2019 at Our Lady of the Most Holy Rosary Roman Catholic Church honoring the life of Viella Simon, 86, who died Saturday, October 5, 2019 at Abrom Kaplan Memorial Hospital. She will be laid to rest at Kaplan Cemetery with Reverend Mark Miley officiating the services.
She is survived by her husband of 66 years, Ted Simon of Kaplan; her three sons, Michael Simon and his wife, Vanessa of Austin, TX, Arne Simon of Kaplan, and Kelly Simon and his wife, Patty of Gonzales; her three daughters, Rachel and her husband, Chip Miller of Maurice, Joan and her husband, Wade Navarre of Lafayette, and Janet and her husband, Tim Thompson of Denham Springs; 16 grandchildren; and 11 great grandchildren.
She was preceded in death by her daughter-in-law, June Simon; her son-in-law, Gary LeBlanc; and her parents, Wilton Landry and the former Evitta Breaux.
The family would like to thank Dr. Randall Faulk, M.D,, and his staff, Abrom Kaplan Memorial Hospital, and their staff as well as Gueydan Memorial Guest Home, and their staff. The family would also like to thank her special caregivers, Alice Williams and Betty Vaughn.
The family requests that visiting hours be observed at Vincent Funeral Home - Kaplan, 300 N. Eleazar Ave., on Monday, October 7, 2019 from 4:00 PM until 8:00 PM with a rosary being prayed at 7:00 PM; Tuesday, October 8, 2019 from 8:00 AM until 10:45 AM when the procession departs for the church.
All funeral arrangements are being conducted by Vincent Funeral Home of Kaplan, (337) 643-7276 [Service Information 225-5276]. Condolences may be sent to the Simon family at www.vincentfuneralhome.net.

Tayler Guidry, daughter of Bradley and Aimee Guidry, has been selected to serve as the Junior Parade Marshall of the 2019 Louisiana Cattle Festival.
Tayler is from Gueydan and is an 8th grade student at Northside Christian School.
The Cattle Festival’s Grand Parade is set to roll at 1 p.m. on Saturday, Oct. 12.
Tayler is a member at-large in the Vermilion 4-H Program, a member of the National Junior Santa Gertrudis Cattle Association, a member of the National Junior Beefmaster Cattle Breeders, a member of the American Quarter Horse Association, and a member of the Louisiana Junior Cattleman’s Association. Tayler is also a member of the Louisiana Junior Santa Gertrudis Cattle Association where she currently serves as the State Vice President.
Tayler is an active member of the Vermilion Parish 4-H Program. She has been chosen as an Outstanding Club Member for the past two years and has been in the parish-wide top 10 club members for both years. Tayler has participated in the beef project for six successful years. She has competed on parish, district, state, national, and international levels. She has won many awards throughout her 4-H beef career; but out of all of her successes, the awards she is most proud of are the national contests that she has won. Tayler has won the Cattleman’s Contest at the National Junior Show for the past three years and has also exhibited a three-time national class winner heifer. Tayler has dedicated her time and hard work to her many 4-H projects. Through hard work and determination, the seemingly impossible has become possible.
Tayler is also a member of the 4-H Horse program where she has competed on a parish, district, and state level. Tayler along with her ranch sorting partner, Aaron Blackmer, recently won the district and state ranch sorting contests. Being in the horse program has helped Tayler realize that there are many opportunities in 4-H besides cattle projects. She has attended the Acadiana Horse Camp for three years, where she has learned how to improve her riding skills and better understand the needs of her horses. In addition, Tayler won the Junior Public Speaking contest at the State Horse Show over this past summer.
Tayler has participated in many of the contests and projects offered through 4-H. She participates in the various camping opportunities, Achievement Day and contests, Demonstration Day contests, public speaking contests, and project record books. This past year, Tayler’s record books competed very well. She placed 5th overall on the parish level for her age group and 1st in Dairy and 2nd in Beef. Her favorite words while completing record books are “this is boring”, but eventually the hard work pays off.
Tayler’s main hobby is raising and showing her registered Santa Gertrudis, registered Beefmasters, and commercial cross cattle. She also has started a very small commercial dairy cattle herd. Some of her other hobbies include all things 4-H, riding horses, playing the guitar, playing basketball, drawing, and traveling to livestock shows.
Tayler is a hard worker who has realized that hard work, determination, being responsible, and helping others always pays off in the end. She knows that hard work turns you into the best version of yourself.
Tayler is very honored and humbled to be selected as the Junior Parade Marshall of the 2019 Louisiana Cattle Festival. Tayler comes from a long line of cattle producers from the Acadiana area and she hopes to continue the family tradition.

LAFAYETTE — Funeral Services for Delores Chaumont, 74, will be held at 2 PM on Monday, October 7, 2019 at David Funeral Home of Lafayette.
Visitation will be at David Funeral Home of Lafayette on Monday, October 7, 2019 at 10 AM until time of services.
Mrs. Delores passed away on Thursday, October 3, 2019 surrounded by loved ones. She was a Special Education teacher for twenty years and enjoyed gardening, cooking, and spending most of her Friday lunch hours with her “Friday Friends.” She loved traveling and spending time with her family.
She is survived by her son, Kirby Joseph Gaspard Jr. of Oklahoma City, OK; her daughters, Kayla Gaspard Lucas and her husband Todd of Youngsville, Ashleigh Wray of Shreveport, Kari Harper and her husband Michael of Edmond, OK; her grandchildren, Nicholas Lucas, Kendall Gaspard, Kirby Lucas, Chandler Wray, Charli Gaspard, and Sidney Harper; her father, Milton Arceneaux of Youngsville; her brothers Terry Chaumont and his wife Linda, and Dennis Chaumont and his wife Beverly; her sisters, Pam Arceneaux, Jackie Pfaff and her husband Alan, and Rebecca Bares and her husband Stephen; and her numerous nieces and nephews.
She is preceded in death by her husband, Kirby Joseph Gaspard Sr.; her mother, Janie Cormier Arceneaux; her son, Ervin Jon Gaspard; her brother Ervin Arceneaux; and her sister Renee Arceneaux.
David Funeral Home of Lafayette 3126 Youngsville Hwy (337) 839-9887 will be handling the arran