Joseph William "Willie" de Valcourt

William Devalcourt, 86
Sunset Farmer, Expires

Sunset -- William "Judge" Devalcourt, 86 retired farmer of this community, died Tuesday at 10:15 a.m. at his home. He had been ill four days.

The body is at Lafond and Son Funeral Home chapel here.

Services will be held Thursday at 9 a.m. at Sacred Heart Catholic church in Grand Coteau with Father Pierre Landry officiating. Burial will be in the church cemetery.

Devalcourt is survived by his wife, the former Estelle Smith of Sunset eight sons, Tom of Sunset, J. A. and William of New Orleans, Robert and Joe of Groves, Tex., T. I. of Port Arthur, Tex., W.W. of Lafayette, and Steven of Many; and five daughters, Sister Estelle Devalcourt of New Orleans, Mrs. O'Brian Elmer of Groves, Mrs. R. R. Dailey, Mrs. V. C. McManus and Mrs. Carol Bourg all of Port Arthur.

Other survivors are 30 grand children
and 30 great grand children.
------------
Dailey World
Wednesday
January 23, 1957
Edith Garland Dupré Library, UL Lafayette.

**********************************************

William Devalcourt

OPELOUSAS - Funeral services will be held at the Sacred Heart Catholic Church in Grand Coteau at 9:30 a.m.
tomorrow at a Mass for William "Judge" Devalcourt,
86 who died at his family residence near Sunset today at 10:15 a.m.

Burial will be in the Sacred Heart cemetery in Grand Coteau.
Mr. Devalcourt had been ill for four days.

Survivors include his widow, the former Estelle Smith; 8 sons, William T., J. A., both of New Orleans; Tom, of Sunset; Robert and Joe L., from Groves, Tex.; T. I.,
Port Arthur Tex., W. W., Lafayette; and Steven, from Many; 5 daughters, Sister Estelle Devalcourt, New Orleans; Mrs. Obrien Elmer, Groves, Tex.; Mrs. R. R. Dailey, Mrs. V. C. McManus and Mrs. Carl Bourg, all of Port Arthur, Tex.; 30 grandchildren and 30 great-grandchildren.

The Rev. Pierre Landry will conduct the services.

The Lafond and Sons Funeral Home is in charge of arrangements.
------------
The Advertiser, Lafayette, LA January 23, 1957 Wednesday
Edith Garland Dupré Library, UL Lafayette.

**********************************************

Sunset Suffers Fire Loss.

Grand Coteau, La., July 23.-- Fire of unascertained origin destroyed three buildings in the village of Sunset near here at midnight Widnesday. The store of William Devalcourt and contents, valued at $8000. a two-story
dwelling of Marius Smith, and the blacksmith shop of U. A. Patin were destroyed. The fire started in Mr. Devalcourt's store. The Opelousas fire company, which was called for, arrived quickly but when it reached Sunset the fire was under control. The buildings were not insured.
The laymen retreat at St. Charles College will be held from the night of August 11 to the morning of August 15.
The drought in this section has injured the crops. Only two showers fell here in the past six or seven weeks.
------------
Times-Picayune
July 26, 1918

**********************************************

Letter from Philomena Bourg to Louise de Valcourt
post marked BEAUMONT TX 777 23 JUN 1995

Joseph William de Valcourt
"Pa"
He was born in 1871 so was therefore up in age when I was born in 1918, the youngest of 13. I don't remember too much about him, when I was a child, because I don't remember much about myself. I never had a good memory.
He had no formal education, but was an intelligent man. He was assigned by his parents Theodore and Philomene to manage their property. He and wife in turn (Birdie) would care for them and Aspazie (Lolute) until their death. Aspazie was William's half sister. He was the oldest of five, four brothers and one sister.
He worked as a carpenter, had a general mdse store, until it burned, and farmed about one hundred forty acres (140) of land which he accumulated. In later years he was Justice of the Peace and served a good many years. He played with politics also. He married a "jewel of a lady" Estelle Olive Smith "Birdie" who bore him eight sons and five daughters. All reached adulthood, twelve married (no divorces) The oldest Estelle became a Sister of Sacred Heart.
When I knew him, I suppose he had mellowed, but was still very much head of the family, as was the custom, and you had a certain fear or respect. He never laid a hand on us girls, not in my time.
He took care of the boys. They all worked in the fields with him, and cared for the farm animals. My mom was in charge of the girls, and we did house hold chores, washing scrubbing and things around the house. My father said he kept the boys so busy that they were too tired to get into trouble. Two were pretty lively, but none got into serious trouble, to my knowledge. They all worked very hard, In later years there were share croppers, who some times helped with house hold chores and did the farming.
He would say he wanted to live to be ninety (90) and he did reach eighty five. He died in Jan, 1957- very near his birth day.
He also said he would never leave the home he had built and the land that he accumulated and loved. He left it only when he was carried away.
Our family was blest to have had not perfect, but very strong parents. May the younger generations carry on.
Submitted by Philomena no.13- 5/30/95

**********************************************

SUNSET NOTES

Mr. and Mrs. Tom DeValcourt of Port Arthur, Texas, were the week-end guest of Mr. and Mrs. William DeValcourt.
------------
CLARION-NEWS Thursday, March 27, 1930
---------------------------------------------------
Grand Coteau Notes

Mr. Robert DeValcourt of Port Arthur, Texas, motored to this city on Saturday and spent the week-end with his parents.
------------
CLARION-NEWS Thursday, March 6, 1930
Edith Garland Dupré Library, UL Lafayette.