Rayne High class of ‘74 gathers for 40-year reunion
By Lisa Soileaux, Assistant Editor, Rayne Acadian-Tribune
In celebration of their 40th anniversary of their graduation from Rayne High School, the graduating class of 1974 gathered on Saturday, Sept. 20, 2014, at the Southside Community Center for their class reunion.
The traditional purple and gold decorations were noted in decor for the reunion, in addition to flower arrangements and wooden room dividers used as a backdrop.
Entertainment for the evening event was provided by Georgette Dugas, disc jockey.
Classmates and their guests attended the reunion from numerous points of Louisiana, Texas and Maryland.
Honored as traveling the farthest to attend the reunion was Samuel Chatelain.
The classmate honored with the most grandchildren was Rebecca Dupuis Seaux, while Taite Barousse was named most changed.
Remembered during the reunion were the deceased classmates, Randal Arceneaux, Randal Wright, Nanette “Molly” Menard, Randy Shaw, Janet Thibodeaux Roetker, Katherine Venable Borne, Juanita Pellerin Alford, Patrick Breaux, Kenneth Lavergne, Tom Petitjean and Donnie Stewart.
Special guest in attendance was Jackie Gilbert Melancon, in attendance in honor of her brother, the late Donald Gilbert.
Class officers were president Darlene Mire Miller, vice president Melody Richard Daigle, and secretary Paulette Gaspard Adam.
The class song was “The Way We Were,” and the carnation was the class flower with the class colors of purple and gold.
The class motto was, “To be born is to open the gates of life, to be a graduate is to open the gates of leadership.”
Classmates in attendance were Malinda Dupuis Winn, Mona Henry LeBlanc, Charlene Foreman Lege, Beverly Guidry, Mary Kay Besse, Jackie Gilbert Melancon, Judy Thibodeaux LaVergne, Vernon Doucet, Gilda Bourque Thibeau, Samuel Chatelain, Susan Simon Simon, Cheryl Leger Weekley, Debbie Brasseaux Fontenot, Debra Holstead, Bonnie Granger Hoffpauir, Doris Chaney, Debra Sonnier Trahan, Audrey Thibodeaux Tauzin, Randal LaVergne, Paulette Gaspard Adam, Steven Layman-Moore, Francis Robichaux Jr., Mike Guidry, Mona Arceneaux Daigle, Colleen Sarsfield Guidry, Cynthia Melancon-Reed, Joline Hoffpauir Leger, Virginia Benoit Trahan, Myrtis Judice Haure, Darrel Cary, Steve Daigle, Michael Sovie, Keith Arceneaux, Taite Barousse and Jeff Istre.