Rose Mae Richard

Rose Mae Richard, 88, a native and long-time resident of Lafayette, died October 21, 2009 in Plano, Texas, where she had been living with her daughter and son-in-law during a two-year period of declining health. Rose's daughter, Rebecca Louise Basham, and son, James Paul Richard of Houston, Texas, oversaw her medical treatment during the period and enabled her to spend significant time in Lafayette with her beloved sister and brother, Joyce Latiolais and Robert Byrd, as well as other close family members and friends. Rose also enjoyed being able to see frequently during the last two years of her life her four granddaughters and nine great grandchildren who live in Texas and California. Rose was preceded in death in 1973 by her husband, Julian Paul ("J.P.") Richard, a native of Sulphur, Louisiana, who grew up in Lafayette. They married in 1942. J.P. had a distinguished career in the U.S. Army, retiring as a Major. He served in World War II, the Korean War and Vietnam. Rose primarily raised their children, Becky and Jim, as J.P. honored and defended his country. During J.P.'s military career, Rose and the family lived on or near a number of Army bases in the U.S. as well as in Germany when J.P. was stationed there. Rose was a strong-willed, caring and devoted wife and mother. She had a very special relationship with her children as well as their spouses (Jim Basham and Pat Richard) and with her four granddaughters: Tracey Garner of Frisco, Texas; Brooke Green of San Francisco, California; Ashley Richard of Houston, Texas; and Elizabeth Richard of College Station, Texas. Rose's nine beloved great grandchildren include Jessica Garner, Benjamin Garner, Rachel Garner, Luke Garner, Sam Garner, Lawson Garner, Emma Garner, Bliss Green and Cal Green. She also was close to the spouses (the Rev. Don Garner and Chris Green) of her two married granddaughters. Rose was born in Lafayette in 1921 to George Luther Byrd and Marie Louise Colomb Byrd. She had six sisters and two brothers. Five of her sisters are deceased (Edith Short, Ruth Sommers, Sadie Tanner, Olive LeBlanc and Effie Beadle), and the youngest sister Joyce Latiolais resides in Lafayette. Her brother Robert Byrd also lives in Lafayette, while her brother Alfred Byrd is deceased. Over the years, Rose's sisters and brothers were her closest friends, and she was very fond of their spouses and loved her many nieces and nephews and their families. A childhood friend, Effie Logan, was a very supportive and dear friend in Rose's later years. Rose was a very religious person and a member of Northside Baptist Church in Lafayette for 69 years. She, her parents and two sisters were charter members of the church established in 1940. Two of her Sunday School teachers at Northside Baptist (Bob and Gloria Cline) stayed in close contact with Rose as her health declined and offered their love and support until her death. The world is a better place as a result of the life of Rose Richard and all she stood for, and she has been reunited in heaven with many loved ones who were such an important part of her time here on Earth. Visitation with the family will be Monday, October 26, 2009 from 2:00 pm - 10:00 pm and Tuesday, October 27, 2009 from 8:00 am until 1:30 pm at Delhomme Funeral Home in Lafayette. Services for Rose will be at 2:00 pm Tuesday at Northside Baptist Church, with her grandson-in-law the Rev. Don Garner presiding. Her funeral will be followed by burial at Greenlawn Memorial Gardens next to her husband J.P. Pallbearers will be Chris Green, Luke Garner, Hunter David, Brian David, Frank LeBlanc, Danny LeBlanc and Charlie LeBlanc. Personal condolences may be sent to the family at www.delhommefuneralhome.com. Delhomme Funeral Home is in charge of funeral arrangements.

Rose Mae Richard

April 30, 1921 - October 21, 2009