Arnaudville Folks
Thanks to all who submitted photographs and information for this page. We appreciate each one of you and we ask anyone who has a picture they would like to add, to please let us know. We scan and return the pictures to you right away. We appreciate that these are treasures you want to hold on to. We encourage you to share them with us.
Norma Knott Stelly was so generous with her time and so kind to share photographs with the Nonco Foundation. Likewise, Russell Stelly visited several times and pictures of his father, mother, uncle and himself are great additions.
Norma Knott Stelly was so generous with her time and so kind to share photographs with the Nonco Foundation. Likewise, Russell Stelly visited several times and pictures of his father, mother, uncle and himself are great additions.
Arnaudville's Vincent Darby, Artist
Vincent Darby and Rose Broussard have been very kind to the Nonco Foundation. We are grateful to Vincent Darby and Rose Broussard for allowing the use of their wonderful works of art.
On July 24, 2017, Rose stated: "After we did the poster, Vincent said he should of put the Sacred Heart in the painting. So he decided to go ahead and add the Sacred Heart above the cross (as it is shown to the right). So this image is a print done from the original which has the Sacred Heart added to it. The original is 25” wide by 30” tall on canvas and was painted in 2014.
Vincent told me that while he was painting it that it brought back memories of Nonco walking to deliver his leaflets, his little dogs following him wherever he went. For that reason, I called it "In Memory of Nonco Pelafigue."
On July 24, 2017, Rose stated: "After we did the poster, Vincent said he should of put the Sacred Heart in the painting. So he decided to go ahead and add the Sacred Heart above the cross (as it is shown to the right). So this image is a print done from the original which has the Sacred Heart added to it. The original is 25” wide by 30” tall on canvas and was painted in 2014.
Vincent told me that while he was painting it that it brought back memories of Nonco walking to deliver his leaflets, his little dogs following him wherever he went. For that reason, I called it "In Memory of Nonco Pelafigue."
"In Memory of Nonco Pelafigue"
Vincent David Darby
February 14, 1935 ~ JANUARY 10, 2017
VINCENT DARBY OBITUARY
ARNAUDVILLE - A Mass of Christian Burial will be celebrated at 3:00 pm on Thursday, January 12, 2017, at St. John Francis Regis Catholic Church in Arnaudville, Louisiana for Vincent David Darby, 81, who passed away on Tuesday, January 10, 2017, at his residence.
The family requests that visiting hours be observed from 8:00 am until 3:00 pm on Thursday. A rosary will be prayed at 11:00 am on Thursday.
Rev. Keenan Brown will officiate at the Funeral Mass. Readers will be Brandi Darby and Alexis Robin. Gift bearers will be Brittany and April Darby. Interment will follow at St. John Francis Regis Cemetery in Arnaudville.
Vincent was a native and lifelong resident of Arnaudville, Louisiana, one of six children born to the late Henry and Louise Schexnayder Darby.
His passion for the artistry of painting began at an early age while he was in grammar school. A self-taught artist, Vincent would paint for his teachers and friends. Although painting was his hobby at the time, Vincent was employed as a Game Warden with the Louisiana Department of Wildlife and Fisheries, retiring in 1985 after 25 years of dedicated service. He enjoyed his job with the department and being a part of "Operation Game Thief". Upon his retirement, Vincent was then able to devote all his time to his art - his first true passion.
Vincent was widely known by the scenes he painted from visions he witnessed as a child growing up in Arnaudville, to the peace and tranquility of the Atchafalaya Basin and the bayous lined with moss draped oaks, cypress trees, pirogues, stately herons, prancing deer, old camps and shacks.
By merely placing a simple brush stroke against a plain white canvas, Vincent's talent was such that he could depict a story of days-gone-bye, bringing life to our own fondest memories. His attention to the finest details would draw you into the beauty and artistry of his work. Vincent possessed a unique talent to see the beauty of South Louisiana and transpose it on canvas in his own special and unique way.
Having had no formal training in the arts, Vincent was considered among Louisiana's best natural artists. His skills in perspective, fusion of colors, and representational drawing were that of which very few artists could claim.
Today Darby's paintings and murals adorn businesses, restaurants, and many homes, with clients as far from California to New York. He even had the privilege of having one of his swamp scene reproductions on canvas to be used in a Dukes of Hazzard movie.
As best-summarized of his work, from his website, "Vincent's wildlife paintings of Cajun swamp scenery and rural settings have a magical quality that distinguish his work from that of other artists. His God-given talent, combined with a lifetime of memories from the great outdoors, captures the very essence and beauty of Mother Nature.".
He will be deeply missed by his family and many friends, but his memory will continue to live through the works of art he ever so skillfully created for everyone to enjoy.
He is survived by his loving and devoted spouse, Rose Broussard of Arnaudville; three sons, Clyde Darby, John Darby, and Michael Darby and wife, Judy, all of Arnaudville; his daughter, Louise "Tina" Darby Robin and husband, Steve, of Arnaudville; stepsons, Michael Broussard and wife, Maggie, of Carencro, Kevin Broussard and wife, Chrysta, of Lafayette, and William Broussard and wife, Karen, of Abita Springs; sisters, Joanne Darby Moreau of Opelousas, Cecile Darby Schexnider of Lafayette, and Roberta Darby LeBlanc and husband, Charles, of Lafayette; his grandchildren, Brandi Darby, Dane Darby, Ashley Darby Marks, Brittany Darby, Andre Darby, Layne Darby, Aaron Darby, Jenna Darby, April Darby, Alexis Robin, Angelle Robin, and Alec Robin; step grandchildren, Billy Broussard, Andy Broussard, and Dakota Broussard; and 10 great grandchildren.
He was preceded in death by his parents; and two brothers, Jimmy and Robert Darby.
Pallbearers will be Layne Darby, Devin Bijeaux, Dane Darby, Andre Darby, Alec Robin, Aaron Darby, and William Stelly.
Honorary pallbearers will be Kayne Darby, Zayne Darby, and Landon Domingue.
Pellerin Funeral Home of Arnaudville, 314 St. Landry St., Arnaudville, LA 70512, (337-754-5881) is in charge of arrangements.
Published in the Daily World on Jan. 12, 2017
The family requests that visiting hours be observed from 8:00 am until 3:00 pm on Thursday. A rosary will be prayed at 11:00 am on Thursday.
Rev. Keenan Brown will officiate at the Funeral Mass. Readers will be Brandi Darby and Alexis Robin. Gift bearers will be Brittany and April Darby. Interment will follow at St. John Francis Regis Cemetery in Arnaudville.
Vincent was a native and lifelong resident of Arnaudville, Louisiana, one of six children born to the late Henry and Louise Schexnayder Darby.
His passion for the artistry of painting began at an early age while he was in grammar school. A self-taught artist, Vincent would paint for his teachers and friends. Although painting was his hobby at the time, Vincent was employed as a Game Warden with the Louisiana Department of Wildlife and Fisheries, retiring in 1985 after 25 years of dedicated service. He enjoyed his job with the department and being a part of "Operation Game Thief". Upon his retirement, Vincent was then able to devote all his time to his art - his first true passion.
Vincent was widely known by the scenes he painted from visions he witnessed as a child growing up in Arnaudville, to the peace and tranquility of the Atchafalaya Basin and the bayous lined with moss draped oaks, cypress trees, pirogues, stately herons, prancing deer, old camps and shacks.
By merely placing a simple brush stroke against a plain white canvas, Vincent's talent was such that he could depict a story of days-gone-bye, bringing life to our own fondest memories. His attention to the finest details would draw you into the beauty and artistry of his work. Vincent possessed a unique talent to see the beauty of South Louisiana and transpose it on canvas in his own special and unique way.
Having had no formal training in the arts, Vincent was considered among Louisiana's best natural artists. His skills in perspective, fusion of colors, and representational drawing were that of which very few artists could claim.
Today Darby's paintings and murals adorn businesses, restaurants, and many homes, with clients as far from California to New York. He even had the privilege of having one of his swamp scene reproductions on canvas to be used in a Dukes of Hazzard movie.
As best-summarized of his work, from his website, "Vincent's wildlife paintings of Cajun swamp scenery and rural settings have a magical quality that distinguish his work from that of other artists. His God-given talent, combined with a lifetime of memories from the great outdoors, captures the very essence and beauty of Mother Nature.".
He will be deeply missed by his family and many friends, but his memory will continue to live through the works of art he ever so skillfully created for everyone to enjoy.
He is survived by his loving and devoted spouse, Rose Broussard of Arnaudville; three sons, Clyde Darby, John Darby, and Michael Darby and wife, Judy, all of Arnaudville; his daughter, Louise "Tina" Darby Robin and husband, Steve, of Arnaudville; stepsons, Michael Broussard and wife, Maggie, of Carencro, Kevin Broussard and wife, Chrysta, of Lafayette, and William Broussard and wife, Karen, of Abita Springs; sisters, Joanne Darby Moreau of Opelousas, Cecile Darby Schexnider of Lafayette, and Roberta Darby LeBlanc and husband, Charles, of Lafayette; his grandchildren, Brandi Darby, Dane Darby, Ashley Darby Marks, Brittany Darby, Andre Darby, Layne Darby, Aaron Darby, Jenna Darby, April Darby, Alexis Robin, Angelle Robin, and Alec Robin; step grandchildren, Billy Broussard, Andy Broussard, and Dakota Broussard; and 10 great grandchildren.
He was preceded in death by his parents; and two brothers, Jimmy and Robert Darby.
Pallbearers will be Layne Darby, Devin Bijeaux, Dane Darby, Andre Darby, Alec Robin, Aaron Darby, and William Stelly.
Honorary pallbearers will be Kayne Darby, Zayne Darby, and Landon Domingue.
Pellerin Funeral Home of Arnaudville, 314 St. Landry St., Arnaudville, LA 70512, (337-754-5881) is in charge of arrangements.
Published in the Daily World on Jan. 12, 2017
Arnaudville's Citizens
Arnaudville's Frederick Family
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Luke Frederick
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Luke Frederick's Military Photograph
Read more about Luke Frederick and his military service by visiting the "Arnaudville's Men who Served album above.
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Marie LaPorte Frederick, the wife of Luke Frederick
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Mr. and Mrs. Luke Frederick
This photographs was taken on the day their daughter Janice married Ervin J. Brasseaux.
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Marie LaPorte Frederick
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Marie Stelly Frederick, mother of Luke Frederick
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Left: Francois Frederick, father of Luke Frederick and his father, Jean Charles Frederick.
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Left: Marie Stelly Frederick and her husband, Francois Frederick, parents of Luke Frederick
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Frederick Family circa 1950
Bottom Row L-R: Don, Elwood, Norman, Milton Top Row L-R: Janice, Luke holding baby Gerald, Roderick “Pee Wee,” Marie holding baby Geraldine, Charles
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Frederick Family
Norman Frederick, Geraldine Frederick Quebedeaux, Charles Frederick, Janice Frederick Brasseaux, Milton, Don, Pee Wee, and Gerald Frederick
Arnaudville's Men Who Served
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Ronald J. Dekerlegand, OCS, Newport RI
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Russell Stelly
Entrance Photo of Russell Stelly, son of Weston Stelly. Thank you, Russell, for all of your contributions. We appreciate your help.
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Russell Stelly
Specialist 5 U.S. Army Russell Stelly, son of Weston Stelly and Martha Arnaud. Served in South Viet Nam in 1970-71.
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Lawless Stelly
Son of Antoine and Jeanne Arnaud Stelly and husband of Norma Knott Stelly. Inscription: "To Aunt Angelle and Uncle Albert Arnaud From Laless"
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Lawless Stelly
Inscription--Taken in Metz, France, Feb. 20, 1945, Your Loving Son, L. A. Stelly
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Archie & Emelie
Archie Arnaud and Emelie Arnaud Decker - 1941 - Archie was killed at Pearl Harbor. He was the son of Jean Cantwell Arnaud and Marie Cornelia Taylor Arnaud.
Submitted by Michael Decker, son of Douglas Decker and Emelie Arnaud Decker. -
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The Darby Brothers
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Richard Fruge, US Air Force 1955
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Richard Fruge VFW 1998
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Luke Frederick
Luke Frederick had four children when he was drafted into military service and five by the time he returned to civilian life. He opened a filling station in Arnaudville and added four more children to his family. He was married to Marie LaPorte. The Luke and Marie Frederick family were and are still very important members of the Arnaudville community. The children were involved in Nonco plays and remember Nonco delivering leaflets to their family home. Thank you to Gerald Frederick for allowing the Nonco Foundation to scan the picture of his father and other photographs that are posted on the Arnaudville Folks website page.
The Darby Men who Served
"Saluting Our Vets" - written about the sons of Felix Darby, Arnaudville.
By Gladys L. DeVillier, Life/Style Editor, Teche News
November 8, 1994
Nothing else is as good as war for placing men and women in situations and parts of the world where they have the least desire to be. It has always been so, but when the bugle is sounded, most answer the call.From time immemorial, war has been waged—sometimes over issues that few Americans could relate to—and yet thousands of souls have perished for those causes.American families have sent their sons and daughters off to battle, whether those battles were called revolutions, wars, conflicts, or eras.
Some, as the Felix Darby family in Arnaudville, sent the majority of their sons to other countries, not knowing if they would return or not. Warriors have fought on American soil and foreign ground, in the skies and on the oceans. They fought a revolution to wrest power from England and to establish a new country. Families turned against each other on American soil to decide whether men could enslave other people. They fought in the bleak forests of the Argonne where men were not the only enemy. Many died from influenza and pneumonia before they ever disembarked from ships on France’s shores. They fought on the beaches of France, the hell holes of South Africa, Germany and Japan, the rice paddies of Cambodia and Vietnam. They fought at the Bay of Pigs, in Cuba and other Latin American countries, and in the Persian Gulf and in Iran and Iraq’s hot desert sands.Wars have plucked boys of the farms and from factories, from offices and sanitation departments, from all professional fields, and cast them into a role for which they were ill prepared. But they fought.
Some died in fiery planes and some died in mine fields, or in tanks that often turned into hot ovens. They knew the future of America might well rest on how well they held off the enemy.Many died, but many more returned home, battle weary, often shell shocked beyond repair, to ticker tape parades and to demonstrations by their own countrymen who believed war was wrong in Vietnam and took their anger and frustration on the closest targets—their own veterans.
We memorialize those who have died, but often we forget to honor those who have lived. As Conte Vittorio Alfieri (1749-1803) once said, “Often the test of courage is not to die but to live.”And so, this Veterans’ Day, we honor those who served and lived, among whom are:Mr. and Mrs. Felix Darby sent off five of their seven sons to the battlefields of WWII. Luckily, they all returned.
Johnny came marching home with his brothers, Edwin, Albert, Louis and Felix Jr.
Albert Darby joined the Navy on October 14, 1942. He served as a Boatswain 2/C on the USS Fillmore. He was an instructor (t)(LC) in San Diego and the Philippines.
His brother Edwin “Ti Neg” Darby, joined the Navy in January, 1944, and was discharged in April 1946. He trained in San Diego, Calif., and then on the U.S.S. Tennessee in the Pacific Theater. He was a Seaman First Class.
PFC Johnny Darby served in he Army from March 1944 to October 1945. He and his brother Louis served in armored divisions in France and Germany.
Felix Darby, the youngest of the fighting family, also served in the Army, having joined in July 1944. He took basic training at Camp Barkley, and served as a medical lab technician with he 908th Evacuation Hospital unit in the Philippines, and then in a hospital in Tokyo. He was discharged in San Antonio in 1946.
* * *PEARL HARBORDecember 7, 1941, a date which will live in infamy… No matter how long it may take us to overcome this premeditated invasion, the American people, in their righteous might, will win through to absolute victory.President Franklin D. Roosevelt.
Special thanks to Suzanne Huval Stelly, daughter of Mayor Jim Huval and Mrs. Edith “Titit” Darby Huval, for her submission of the “Saluting Our Vets” article and other photographs of her family. We are grateful.
By Gladys L. DeVillier, Life/Style Editor, Teche News
November 8, 1994
Nothing else is as good as war for placing men and women in situations and parts of the world where they have the least desire to be. It has always been so, but when the bugle is sounded, most answer the call.From time immemorial, war has been waged—sometimes over issues that few Americans could relate to—and yet thousands of souls have perished for those causes.American families have sent their sons and daughters off to battle, whether those battles were called revolutions, wars, conflicts, or eras.
Some, as the Felix Darby family in Arnaudville, sent the majority of their sons to other countries, not knowing if they would return or not. Warriors have fought on American soil and foreign ground, in the skies and on the oceans. They fought a revolution to wrest power from England and to establish a new country. Families turned against each other on American soil to decide whether men could enslave other people. They fought in the bleak forests of the Argonne where men were not the only enemy. Many died from influenza and pneumonia before they ever disembarked from ships on France’s shores. They fought on the beaches of France, the hell holes of South Africa, Germany and Japan, the rice paddies of Cambodia and Vietnam. They fought at the Bay of Pigs, in Cuba and other Latin American countries, and in the Persian Gulf and in Iran and Iraq’s hot desert sands.Wars have plucked boys of the farms and from factories, from offices and sanitation departments, from all professional fields, and cast them into a role for which they were ill prepared. But they fought.
Some died in fiery planes and some died in mine fields, or in tanks that often turned into hot ovens. They knew the future of America might well rest on how well they held off the enemy.Many died, but many more returned home, battle weary, often shell shocked beyond repair, to ticker tape parades and to demonstrations by their own countrymen who believed war was wrong in Vietnam and took their anger and frustration on the closest targets—their own veterans.
We memorialize those who have died, but often we forget to honor those who have lived. As Conte Vittorio Alfieri (1749-1803) once said, “Often the test of courage is not to die but to live.”And so, this Veterans’ Day, we honor those who served and lived, among whom are:Mr. and Mrs. Felix Darby sent off five of their seven sons to the battlefields of WWII. Luckily, they all returned.
Johnny came marching home with his brothers, Edwin, Albert, Louis and Felix Jr.
Albert Darby joined the Navy on October 14, 1942. He served as a Boatswain 2/C on the USS Fillmore. He was an instructor (t)(LC) in San Diego and the Philippines.
His brother Edwin “Ti Neg” Darby, joined the Navy in January, 1944, and was discharged in April 1946. He trained in San Diego, Calif., and then on the U.S.S. Tennessee in the Pacific Theater. He was a Seaman First Class.
PFC Johnny Darby served in he Army from March 1944 to October 1945. He and his brother Louis served in armored divisions in France and Germany.
Felix Darby, the youngest of the fighting family, also served in the Army, having joined in July 1944. He took basic training at Camp Barkley, and served as a medical lab technician with he 908th Evacuation Hospital unit in the Philippines, and then in a hospital in Tokyo. He was discharged in San Antonio in 1946.
* * *PEARL HARBORDecember 7, 1941, a date which will live in infamy… No matter how long it may take us to overcome this premeditated invasion, the American people, in their righteous might, will win through to absolute victory.President Franklin D. Roosevelt.
Special thanks to Suzanne Huval Stelly, daughter of Mayor Jim Huval and Mrs. Edith “Titit” Darby Huval, for her submission of the “Saluting Our Vets” article and other photographs of her family. We are grateful.
The Wilzie and Anna Schexnayder Taylor Sons who Served
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Stephen Taylor
Married Viola DeVillier, sister to Leola DeVillier Mallet -
Ray Taylor
Married Lillie Mae Woodson, sister to Chick Woodson Darby -
Ben Taylor
Married Earline Tauzin -
George Taylor
Married Joyce Marks. Joyce and George are both Charter Members of the Nonco Foundation -
Charles Taylor
Married first to Carole Sonnier and then to Jean Johnson. Charles and Jean are both Charter Members of the Nonco Foundation.
There were five!
Charles served three years active duty in the Army and 24 years in the Army Reserves. He retired as Sergeant Major. Charles is a member of the American Legion Post 278, Leonville. He is President Elect of the Nonco Foundation and a member of the Knights of Columbus Little Flower Council, Arnaudville. Charles is a volunteer at the Food Pantry in Breaux Bridge and also a Communion Minister at J. Michael Morrow Nursing Home in Arnaudville.
George Taylor Obituary
Return to Arnaudville Memories
Charles served three years active duty in the Army and 24 years in the Army Reserves. He retired as Sergeant Major. Charles is a member of the American Legion Post 278, Leonville. He is President Elect of the Nonco Foundation and a member of the Knights of Columbus Little Flower Council, Arnaudville. Charles is a volunteer at the Food Pantry in Breaux Bridge and also a Communion Minister at J. Michael Morrow Nursing Home in Arnaudville.
George Taylor Obituary