Prayers For Ina Lott Whittington

Yesterday afternoon, Myrtle, Sue, and I visited Ina at Shady Lawn Nursing Home.  She is in hospice now.  Please keep our classmate in your thoughts and prayers.  

Maurice Wayne Evans Obituary (Belated)

 

Maurice Wayne Evans Obituary

October 7, 1941 ~ June 20, 2024 (age 82)

Maurice “Wayne” Evans of Vicksburg passed away Thursday, June 20, 2024, at age 82.  He was a loving son, father, husband, grandfather, uncle, and friend.  His friends at Ergon Refining affectionately called him “Cobra,” where he retired in 2008.  He graduated from St. Aloysius High School in 1959.  He attended Benedictine College in Atchison, Kansas, before volunteering for military service during the Vietnam War, first as a cryptologic technician in the Navy and then as a military intelligence communications center specialist in the Army.  He was a proud veteran and die-hard LSU Tigers fan.  He was preceded in death by his parents, Fannie Lee and John D. Evans, Jr.; his wife, Sue Evans; and son Jeffrey Evans. He is survived by his son John Evans (Lindsey McCool), daughters Rachel Harrell (Derek Nugent), Kristi Gordon (Justin Wilkens), Erin Fleming (Paul), and Megan Brooks (Jonah), grandsons Ty Harrell, Mikey Harrell, Ashton Nugent, Sebastian Nugent, Taylor McCool, and Gabriel Gordon, granddaughter Baylee Mathews, and great-granddaughter Raelynn Harrell. Visitation will be held at 1:00 p.m. on Wednesday, June 26, 2024, followed by a memorial service at 2:00 p.m. at Glenwood Funeral Home in Vicksburg.  A graveside service will follow at Redbone Cemetery. Instead of flowers, the family requests donations be made to the Blair E. Batson Children’s Hospital or the Ronald McDonald House in Jackson, Mississippi.  The family would like to thank the staff of Heritage House Nursing Home for their love and care, and dear friends at Ergon for their gracious support over the years. Pallbearers: Jonah Brooks, Justin Wilkens, Paul Fleming, Derek Nugent, Eddie Tennant, and Ronnie Jones.  Honorary pallbearers: Kevin Shehane and Calvin Allen.

We Remember

 

Good Morning Classmates

Happy Labor Day Classmates!!

 

Glenda Betts LaGarde's Husband Died

October 17, 1940 ~ August 25, 2026

Victor E. LaGarde, III, age 85, of Vicksburg, Mississippi, passed away on August 25, 2026, leaving behind a life marked by devotion, discipline, faith, and enduring love for his family. A Mass of Christian Burial will be celebrated at 10:30 a.m. Saturday, August 29, 2026, at St. Paul Catholic Church, with burial following at Cedar Hill Cemetery in Vicksburg, Mississippi. A visitation will be held from 5:00 p.m. to 7:00 p.m. at Monsour and Patin Funeral Directors, 1830 Cherry Street. A rosary will begin at 7:00 p.m.

Victor was born on October 17, 1940, in New Orleans, Louisiana, to Victor and Catherine LaGarde. He was a graduate of Jesuit High School and Loyola University in New Orleans, where he met and later married Glenda Betts of Vicksburg, Mississippi.

Dr. Victor E. LaGarde III was a research physicist and environmental scientist best known for his long-standing technical leadership within the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers. Dr. LaGarde earned both his Master of Science (MS) and Doctor of Philosophy (PhD) degrees in physics from Boston College.

He served as the Chief of the Environmental Systems Division (ESD) at the U.S. Army Engineer Waterways Experiment Station (WES) in Vicksburg, Mississippi. His scientific work spanned environmental modeling, terrain analysis, polar oceanography, military hydrology, and computer-calculated geographic and radar simulation systems. He authored and supervised the development of numerous technical reports for the Department of Defense, including foundational computer procedures for calculating watershed boundaries and modeling the breach erosion of earth-filled dams. He was also the Joint Test Director for the Joint Camouflage, Concealment and Deception (CCD) Test and Evaluation Program, which developed advanced CCD technologies to protect US forces against modern sensor and weapons threats.

After retiring from government service, he established LaGarde Technical Consulting Inc. and worked on numerous Department of Defense research and development programs, including the Joint Dynamic Unmanned Aerial Vehicle (UAV) Program and the Joint C4ISR Integrated Architecture and Assessment Program, which trained Joint Task Force Commanders. Dr. LaGarde was instrumental in the research and development of several antiterrorism, force protection, and survivability projects and products. He was crucial to the development of decision-support tools that have contributed directly to the protection of U.S. forces. These include the Joint Antiterrorism Guide, Joint Forward Operations Base (JFOB) Protection Handbook, Small-Base Entry Control Point Guide, Fixed Site Risk Management Tool, Expedient Risk Assessment Tool, and several software applications such as the Protection Planning Visualization and Assessment Tool. Dr. LaGarde provided critical support to the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers (USACE) Antiterrorism Program. In this capacity, he single-handedly created the initial draft of Engineer Regulation 525-13 (USACE Antiterrorism Program) and developed the USACE Leased Facilities Protection Guide and several USACE-specific software decision-support tools.  Over a three-year period, he supervised risk assessments of every USACE Headquarters facility worldwide.

Victor is preceded in death by his son Victor E. LaGarde, IV, in 1972, and his parents. He is survived by his wife of 64 years, Glenda; their sons Justin (Anne) LaGarde and their children Henry and Jeanne, Owen (Tara) LaGarde, and Emile LaGarde, MD and his daughters Lela and Catherine; and daughters Claire (Jason) Sanders, DVM, and their daughters Kaitlynn, Mollie, and Maisey and Glynnis (Aaron) Linderman and their children Ambrose, Martha, Iris, Edmund, and Frances. Victor loved God, church, and his family.

Memorials may be made to the Vicksburg Catholic Schools Building Fund for the Performing Arts Center, The Mississippi Chorus, Samaritan's Purse, or Gateway Rescue Mission. 

I worked in the Environmental Systems Division, and Victor was my boss's boss.  Glenda went to St. Frances Xavier Academy, and she was a year ahead of us.  Thinking of her during this difficult time, and may Victor rest in peace. 

Life & What She Had to Say

I'm posting this from my Facebook friend who graduated from Culkin in 1962. As I read it, it's close to home, and I'm sure, at our age, you may feel the same way. This is what she had to say.

The past two weeks have had my emotions all over the place, up, down, and around! Much of my downtime has been spent in thought, on memories, and reflecting on my own life over the years. Today, while looking through old pictures, I ran across a picture of my Dad, and it has certainly set my thoughts in motion. Yeah.....I feel a story comin' on. But first, I have to get through the next couple of days. Maybe then my mind will be less foggy!

You know, as I grow older with each passing day, it's clear to me how very fragile life is. In the days of late, I've witnessed friends my own age and older dying, but there have been those much younger than me that have passed on to Glory, as well. It's just proof that we all have a time to go. We don't know the minute, hour, or day, but folks, it's comin'! Now, friends, we're livin' in some mighty uncertain times in our country, and I for sure wanta' have the assurance that all my family and friends are headed to the same place and same accommodations that I've reserved with my Heavenly Father in Heaven! It's weighing heavily on my mind these days. I suppose it's these numerous passings of so many family members, friends, and acquaintances in recent weeks!

This picture of my Dad has really been pulling at my heartstrings today. You know, I always wanted to make my parents proud when I was growing up! Then, when I married, it was my husband that I wanted to shine for. After that came my children. I know there have been those times that I've likely disappointed them all. I didn't want to, but I guess it was inevitable since I've always been a hard head! I haven't always wanted to listen to advice, regardless of how well-intended it was. I wanted to do it my way. Today... looking at that picture of my Dad, I've been remembering those things he said to me... quiet though he was by nature... his words still ring in my ears when I start to trip up, as I do from time to time. "Remember whose blood runs through your veins." "Please don't disappoint me, and don't betray yourself!" Folks, I hear those words frequently in my thoughts! I always will!

Young Folks, Life gets kinda' tough as you get older. I know you will likely just roll your eyes at this, but I'm tellin' you.....make everything you do count for something! Don't waste a single minute, 'cause it'll all be over before you know it. A friend who just lost his wife in death this week said.....and I quote, "I take issue with whoever said that these are our golden years....there's nuthin' gold about 'um!" I totally agreed with him.

But ya' know, God has left some of us here to stay a little longer, and he had a reason for doing that! I'm surely gonna' try and put those extra days, weeks, months.....however long I have left to good use. He gave me the love of talking, so I'ma try to say the right things to anyone that'll listen, and I'm gonna' leave you with this thought...

"If your heart isn't right with Jesus... make it right today!