Francis Gayle ANDRUS

FONTENOT Funeral services will be held at 2:00 PM Saturday, February 12, 2005 at the First United Methodist Church in Gueydan, LA for Francis Gayle Andrus Fontenot, age 80 years, whose life ended unexpectedly at the Heart Hospital of Acadiana on Wednesday, February 9, 2005 at 12:30 AM. Interment will be in the Methodist Cemetery in Branch, Louisiana. Rev. James Schaub of Columbus, Ohio and Rev. Kemper Smith, Pastor of the Gueydan First United Methodist Church will conduct the services. Survivors include: her husband of 59 years, T.J. Fontenot of Gueydan, their three daughters: Cassandra "Cassie' Rives of Gueydan, Jacqueline "Jackie' Robins and her husband, Dr. Ronald Robins of Houston, Texas and Mary Gayle LeJeune and her husband, Conrad LeJeune of New Iberia; two grandsons: Jordan Andrus LeJeune of New Orleans and Theodore James "Ted' LeJeune of New Iberia; one step grandson, Kevin Robins and his family of Houston, Texas; her special son, William ""Bill'' McCain of Houston, Texas; one brother, Edgar Roy ""Ted'' Andrus, Jr. and his wife, Lena of Mandeville; and numerous nieces and nephews. Gayle is preceded in death by her parents, Sibyl Parrott Andrus and Edgar Roy Andrus of Rayne, LA; her maternal grandparents, Dr. Joseph Bowers Parrott and Olive Miller Parrott; and her paternal grandparents, Joseph Calvin Andrus and Francoise Theosa de Villiers all of Branch, LA; and nephews: Edgar Roy Andrus III and Theodore Armstrong Andrus of Mandeville, LA. Gayle was born Friday, August 13, 1924 in Branch in the residence of Dr. and Mrs Parrott. Her grandfather delivered her. Because she was the first grandchild and the first girl born into the family since her mother Sibyl was born, she enjoyed a special position in that household throughout the summers of her childhood. She grew up in Rayne and graduated from Rayne High School in 1940. She attended SLI in Lafayette where she was a member of Tri Sigma sorority and chosen Campus Beauty in 1941. While at SLI she met T.J. They were married on July 12, 1945 at the Ashbury Methodist Church in Los Angeles, California shortly before he was sent overseas. While T.J. was gone she lived in Rayne with her parents and taught school in Indian Bayou. In 1947 Gayle and T.J. moved to Gueydan where they have lived for 58 years. That same year T.J. opened his fuel distribution business which he named Gayle Oil Company in honor of his bride. Together they have enjoyed a blessed life with devotion to their children, grandchildren, church, community and each other. T.J. runs the business on First Street and Gayle was the boss of their "domestic location' at the corner of Fourth and Wilkerson. When their girls were growing up she was an active member of the PTA and Band Mother's Club. She spent many Friday nights selling popcorn and hot chocolate at the football games. In the past several years she has been a loyal fan of the ESA basketball team in Cade. She so enjoyed watching her grandsons play. Gayle was an active member of the Gueydan First United Methodist Church for over 50 years where she was also a member of the United Methodist Women. She was a member of the Acadia Chapter of Daughters of the American Revolution, the Gueydan Museum and Cultural Arts Society, GALA and the Krewe de la Chambre Royale. She was Queen Amalie II of the 2002 Mardi Gras Ball. For the past several decades she has enjoyed playing bridge with her New Iberia bridge club on the last Friday every month. They have played together since their days in the dormitory at SLI. "Do to others as you would have them do to you' Luke 6:31. This Golden Rule is Jesus' summation of the Ten Commandments and was Gayle's rule for life. It was etched in her heart and she practiced it everyday. Those who were fortunate enough to share her life will miss her fun-loving, witty and generous personality. She was truly a friend to all. The family requests visiting hours be observed from 3:00 PM until 8:00 PM Friday, February 11 and from 10:00 AM until the time of the services Saturday, February 12 at Matthews Funeral home in Gueydan. Pallbearers will be Dr. Ronald Robins, Conrad LeJeune, Jordan LeJeune, Ted LeJeune, Bill McCain and Steve May. Memorial contributions in Gayle's name may be made to the Gueydan First United Methodist Church, 501 Main St., Gueydan, LA. 70542 or the Gueydan Museum, Box 331, Gueydan, La. 70542 Arrangements have been entrusted to MATTHEWS & SONS FUNERAL HOME in Gueydan 337-536-9377 Published in The Times-Picayune on 2/20/2005.