1908
Ophelia
2011
Ophelia Baker Guidry Perry
April 30, 1908 — January 12, 2011
Mrs. Perry, who preferred to be called “Belle”, was born on April 30, 1908 in Cow Island, Louisiana to Marie Rosa Baker. At age 4, she and younger brother Walter became the adopted children of Odilon and Laura Guidry of Cow Island. She attended lower elementary in the two-room schoolhouse of Cow Island, then attended upper elementary with the Sisters of Mt. Carmel in Abbeville. She was very fond of her studies in French, excelling in math, spelling bees and piano. Her childhood pet was her dog Gatee‘. In her teens, she worked in her parents’ mercantile store in Cow Island, serving customers who arrived by horse and buggy.
In 1932, she married Joseph Eymar Perry, Jr. The couple had six children. They were a farming family on the Miller Farm of Cow Island. The family then moved to Abbeville. In the ‘50s and ‘60s, Mrs. Perry was an employee of Palms Hospital, cooking for the physicians and preparing surgical instruments. Eight of her grandchildren were born there during her tenure. In later years, Mrs. Perry helped to care for many of her grandchildren.
She was fond of French music and dancing. Her favorite outing were trips to Lafayette to dance on the televised “Marinee‘” music show, as well as trips to dances at Smiley‘s of Erath. She was a devout practitioner of her Catholic faith, reciting her daily prayers and rosary in French.
Mrs. Perry is survived by 75 descendants, including two sons, John D. Perry of Pearl, Mississippi and Edward Huey Perry and wife Susie of Lafayette; four daughters, Velta Perry White and Hazel Perry of Abbeville, Mavis Perry Gaspard and husband V. J. of New Iberia and Audrey Perry Fontenot of Maurice; eleven grandsons, James Perry Hebert of Abbeville; Randy Gaspard and fiancee Jill, and Jason Gaspard and wife Danell, all of New Iberia; John D. Perry, Jr. and wife Tracie of Pascagoula, MS; Patrick Perry of Beaumont, TX; Gentry Perry and wife Sharon of Youngsville; Hal Comeaux and wife Brenda of Lake Charles; Blane Comeaux and wife Katherine of Abbeville; James Wilson Fontenot and wife Tonya, and Daniel Fontenot, all of Lafayette; Stephen Fontenot and wife Pecos of Paris, TX; eleven granddaughters, Simone Hebert Kringlie and husband Kim of Covington; Debbie Gaspard Harry and husband Robert, and Bridget Gaspard Moity and husband Dwight, all of New Iberia; Sandy Lyndall of Pascagoula, MS; Janice Comeaux LeBlanc and husband Marty of Lafayette; Julie Comeaux Greco and husband Robert of Maurice; Karmen Comeaux Miller and husband Chris, and Jennifer Roy, all of The Woodlands, TX; Ruth Fontenot Bellard of Church Point, Juni Fontenot of Lafayette, and Terri Fontenot Bautista of Lubbock, TX; 36 great-grandchildren and eleven great-great-grandchildren.
She was preceded in death by husband Joseph Eymar Perry Jr., one brother Walter Guidry and two grandsons, John Hebert and Joey Comeaux.
Servings as pallbearers are James Hebert, Randy Gaspard, Jason Gaspard, Gentry Perry, Blane Comeaux and Stephen Fontenot. Honorary pallbearers were John D. Perry, Edward Huey Perry and V.J. Gaspard. Arrangements are with Vincent Funeral Home. Following her funeral Mass, interment will be in the St. Mary Magdalen Cemetery of Abbeville.
The family request that visiting hours be observed at St Mary Magdalen Catholic Church on Saturday, January 15, 2011 from 9:00 a.m. until time of services.
To order memorial trees or send flowers to the family in memory of Ophelia Baker Guidry Perry, please visit our flower store.
Guestbook
Visits: 1
This site is protected by reCAPTCHA and the
Google Privacy Policy and Terms of Service apply.
Service map data © OpenStreetMap contributors