1924
James
2010
James Ray "Jimmy" Lemaire
October 26, 1924 — January 26, 2010
He is survived by his four children, Roddy Lemaire and his wife, Bernadette of Kinder, Artie Lemaire of Lafayette, Yolanne Smith and her husband, Jim of Grand Coteau and Joe Pat Lemaire and his wife, DeeDee of Lewisburg; his sister, Helen Saucier and her husband, Joe of Port Sulphur; his nine grandchildren; seven great grandchildren; his two former daughters-in-law, Anna Lemaire of Lafayette and Merle Ann Keen of Austin, Texas; and his sisters-in-law, Anite Simon, Velma Harris and Irene Bertrand; and numerous nieces and nephews.
Mr. Lemaire was preceded in death by his lovely wife of 62 years, Yola Marie Duhon Lemaire; his parents, Robert Lemaire, Sr. and Lorance Landry Lemaire of Kaplan; brothers, Robert "Tee Joe" Lemaire, Sr. of Forked Island, Joseph Euell of Forked Island, Paul U.J. Lemaire of Osyka, Mississippi, Wilbert Lemaire of Port Sulphur, Wilson Lemaire of Gonzales and John Harry Lemaire of Sunset; and his sisters, Mathile L. Hebert of Erath and Enola L. Bell of Port Sulphur.
Mr. Lemaire was born in Port Arthur, Texas, but at the age of 7 his family moved to an uncle's farm in the Cow Island/Forked Island area of Louisiana. He was a graduate of Kaplan High School and upon completion of military service, graduated from the then Southwestern Louisiana Institute with a BS degree. He accepted a position as Vocational Agriculture teacher and instructor of Veterans in Sunset where he and his family have made their home since 1948. He later completed his MS degree and post graduate work in Supervision and Administration from LSU. He was a member of several professional organizations. He retired from teaching after 27 years at Sunset High School. He later taught one year at Carencro Catholic Elementary. After retirement, "Mr. Lem", as he was fondly called by his former Vocational Ag students, worked in the private sector as an Independent Land man and Abstractor for several years. He also served as Executive Director of the South St. Landry Housing Authority for seven years and later as co-director of Village Duchesne Elderly Apartments. He was active in his church community of St. Charles Borromeo and was a member of the vigil choir. He served as Financial Secretary for the Sunset-Grand Coteau Knights of Columbus for several years and was a 4th Degree member of the KC.
Mr. Lemaire was a World War II veteran, having served in the European Theatre of Operations, where he served as a paratrooper in the famed 82nd All America Division. He parachuted in the Market Garden Campaign in Holland and was in the Battle of the Bulge in Belgium and Germany. After being reclassified as a noncombatant, he was reassigned to the Air Force as a courier and served in France until the end of the war. He was discharged on his 21st birthday, a day he always said he would not likely forget!! He was an active life member of the Durio-Lavergne American Legion Post #237, having served as a Past Post Commander and Historian; was a life member of the Disabled Veterans of America and former member of the Veterans of Foreign Wars. He was a member of the Acadiana Chapter of the 82nd Airborne Association, Inc. and served as past Chairman and Secretary/Chaplain. His favorite poem, We Do Not Lose The Ones We Love was written by a fellow comrade-in-arms. He often read this poem at wakes of his comrades and which he left for his family and friends hoping it would bring them solace: "We do not lose the ones we love, they only go before, where there is life everlasting and sorrow is no more. And there the soul will always live and peace is everywhere. No, we do not lose the ones we love, God takes them in His care."
The family requests that greetings be observed at St. Charles Borromeo Catholic Church (174 Church Street, Grand Coteau, LA 70541) Saturday, January 30, 2010 from 12:30 p.m. until the time of service.
In lieu of flowers, donations may be made to St. Ignatius School, Drawer J, Grand Coteau, LA, 70541.
Words of comfort may also be expressed at [email protected] .
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