Maridel LaBauve

LaBauve was born of the union of Bernard and Zula Fontenot Leger on November 12, 1931. She grew up on her family’s farm in the Indian Bayou community in rural Vermilion Parish, and graduated from St. Joseph High School in Rayne in 1948. Two days later, on June 1, 1948, she married Robert O. LaBauve, and they were happily married for 57 years at the time of his death in 2005. They lived in Rayne during their early married life and began their family there while Robert worked as a carpenter. In 1964, they moved their family to Morgan City and opened L & G Building Supply in Morgan City. She continued to serve as the president of the company until the time of her death.

LaBauve was best known, however, for being an outstanding cook, and anyone who was ever invited to one of her dinner parties can attest to her culinary talents. LaBauve was an active parishioner of Sacred Heart Church in Morgan City. She was an Extraordinary Minister of the Precious Blood for many years. She became known as the “Pie Lady” because of the thousands of homemade pies she made over the years. She used her mother’s receipt for Tarte a la Bouille Pies and helped raise money for the church each year by making and selling her delicious pies. LaBauve was also the leader of the Good Samaritan group that provided food for families who had just buried a loved one. She had a passion for traveling and seeing the world, and she traveled to many faraway places in Europe as well as Turkey, Jerusalem, and Greece.

She is survived by her daughters, Gwendolyn Melancon and her husband, Leo “Skipper” of Morgan City; Jackie Vincent and her husband, Douglas of Erath; and Mary Michelle Reggie of Berwick. She is also survived by six grandchildren, Joseph Vincent of Lake Charles, Jonathon Melancon and his wife, Leslie of Morgan City, Kathryn Taylor of Morgan City, Robert B. Vincent of Erath, and Christopher and Mary Catherine Reggie of Berwick and her four great-grandchildren, Angelique and Katie Grace Taylor of Morgan City, and Faith and Haylie Crappell of Morgan City. LaBauve is also survived by her sisters in law, Betty LaBauve of The Woodlands, TX and Dot Leger of Rayne, her brother in law, Dudley LaBauve of Lafayette, and by close family friend, Maureen Alfred of Morgan City.

She is preceded in death by her husband, Robert O. LaBauve, her parents, Bernard and Zula Leger, her brothers, Edward, William, and Jesse Leger, her sister Susie Hebert, and her oldest granddaughter, Angelique R. Melancon – her “Honey” and the family’s special angel.

Honored to serve as pallbearers will be Joseph Vincent, Jonathon Melancon, Christopher Reggie, Leo “Skipper” Melancon, Douglas Vincent, Wayne Leger and Charles “Chuck” Provost.

Honorary Pallbearers will be Robert B. Vincent, Don Allen, and Kenneth P. Hebert.