Francois Morlas

Notes:

Bennie Zahn writes that witnesses to the registration of his birth were Francois MORLAS, farmer, and Louise DARAN, his wife, both adults living in Laas.

Francois married Catherine Bernes on 2 Oct 1833 in Laas, Gers, France. Catherine (daughter of Jean Bernes and Therese Domerc) was born on 25 Mar 1812 in Laas, Gers, France; died on 4 Jan 1889 in Laas, Gers, France. [Group Sheet] [Family Chart]

Notes:

Bennie Zahn writes that she married Isidore Toison-Pefau of Miramount, Gers, and they were the parents of two children, but had no known grandchildren.

Notes:

Bennie Zahn wrote that "Jean-Marie Morlas was born at 7:00 p.m. on Saturday, 14 May 1846 au Capule with Joseph GORDAY, farmer, age 36, and Pierre BIAMOURET, 48, as witnesses." She went on to note that the dates of his immigration, marriage and death are unknown. As daughter Marie Morlas was shown on the 1870 census to be born circa 1862 in New Orleans, his immigration and marriage were sometime prior to that date.

There appears to be discrepency between Jean/John's date of birth as reported by Bennie Zahn, and as shown on the 1870 Louisiana census. If his age on the above referenced census was accurate, then he would have been born circa 1838. If the birth date of May, 1846 is accurate, then he should have instead been listed on the 1870 census as age 24. Being born in the year 1846 would also mean that he was just 16 when he married Caroline and when his first daughter born, with his wife being five years his senior. Perhaps the original French records were misread or mistranscribed?

Jean-Marie abandoned his family. It is assumed he vanished sometime in 1878, as according to Bennie Zahn, his sons Bertrand and John Dominic were admitted to St. Mary's Catholic Orphan Boys's Home on 17 Jan 1879, and discharged in February 1880. The city directory of 1888 listed his wife as the widow of John Morlas. Her residence at the time was Tonti between Poydras and Julia Street.

(Research):
Census Information:

1870 census

Lousiana, Orleans Parish, New Orleans, Ward 3
1155-2378
Morlas, John 32 Butcher France
Morlas, Caroline 29 Keeps house New York
Morlas, Mary 8 At School Louisiana
Morlas, John 5 Louisiana
Morlas, Bertrand 1 Lousiana

Jean-Marie married Caroline Maria Holmes before 1862. Caroline (daughter of James Holmes and Mary McKnight) was born in Jan 1841 in New York; died on 7 Jun 1901 in New Orleans, Orleans Parish, Louisiana; was buried in Cypress Grove Cemetery, Orleans Parish, Louisiana. [Group Sheet] [Family Chart]

Notes:

Bennie Zahn writes that witnesses to the registration of his birth were Pierre GORDAY, age 68, farmer and Jean SEISAN, age 69, blacksmith. Bertrand sailed from Bordeaux aboard the windjammer "Jupiter" when he was 13 years old, the journey taking over two months.

Bertrand's home and dairy were at 2220 Calhoun Street at the turn of the century, according to Simone Morlas of Marrero. "The home and business were shared by Bertrand Morlas Sr (born in France) and his nephew, John Dominic Morlas (born in New Orleans), and their families. Among them, the uncle and nephew and their spouses had 19 children. "A few years later, the uncle/nephew unit when into seperate businesses operating from the 3200 block of Calhoun called 'The Calhoun Dairy' and from the 6300 block of South Claiborne called 'La Creole Belle'. During the 1920s, there was an exodus of the large dairy farms from within the city limits," said Morlas, who added that both dairies moved to Jefferson Parish. (The New Orleans Times-Picayune, Sunday, January 9, 2000).

Bertrand married Anna Roquevert on 14 Jun 1884 in New Orleans, Orleans Parish, Louisiana. Anna (daughter of Jean Louis Roquevert and Blazine Pene) was born on 14 Jun 1867 in New Orleans, Orleans Parish, Louisiana; died on 1 Jun 1920 in New Orleans, Orleans Parish, Louisiana. [Group Sheet] [Family Chart]

Marie married Johnny O'Brien on 21 Aug 1884 in New Orleans, Orleans Parish, Louisiana. Johnny was born about 1856 in Ireland; and died. [Group Sheet] [Family Chart]

Notes:

Owner of La Bella Creole Dairy. Bennie Zahn wrote, in the January 9, 2000 issue of THE TIMES-PICAYUNE (Living, Section E, page 7), that "The property was originally acquired in the late 1800s by John Morlas who made the purchase with silver dollar coins collected from wealthy customers on his milk route. The family legend is, that whenever he was given a silver dollar in payment for milk and cream, he tossed it onto the top of the armoire in his bedroom. When this property which adjoined the Tulane (University) tract was put on the market, he gathered all of the silver coins, counted them and found that he had $8,000, enough to buy the property. After his death in 1923, his wife, Lucine Roquevert Morlas, sold part of the tract, about 3,800 feet long with a depth varying from 100 to 140 feet, for $100,000 for the then proposed St. Vincent Infant Asylum. Within a year, the property was resold for $165,000 to men who had successful experience in local developement and who started immediately to beautify the ground. Today the property is called Versailles Boulevard and extends from Claiborne Avenue to Fontainebleau Drive."

John married Lucine Roquevert on 28 May 1888 in St. Stephen's Church, New Orleans, Orleans Parish, Louisiana. Lucine (daughter of Jean Louis Roquevert and Blazine Pene) was born on 28 Jan 1869 in New Orleans, Orleans Parish, Louisiana; died on 16 Feb 1946 in New Orleans, Orleans Parish, Louisiana; was buried in Metairie Cemetery (Lake Lawn Metairie), New Orleans, Orleans Parish, Louisiana. [Group Sheet] [Family Chart]

Bertrand married Eugenie Pollet on 2 Feb 1901 in New Orleans, Orleans Parish, Louisiana. Eugenie was born about 1875; died on 16 Sep 1908 in New Orleans, Orleans Parish, Louisiana. [Group Sheet] [Family Chart]

Notes:

Bennie Zahn writes that he was a bookbinder for IBOLB Hauser Printing Company. In 1896, he and Cecelia lived at 2027 Lafayette Street in New Orleans.

Henry married Cecelia Anderson on 6 Oct 1895 in New Orleans, Orleans Parish, Louisiana. Cecelia was born on 20 Mar 1880 in New Orleans, Orleans Parish, Louisiana; died on 27 Mar 1952 in New Orleans, Orleans Parish, Louisiana. [Group Sheet] [Family Chart]

Notes:

Bennie Zahn notes that she married George Charles ATKINS, born on the Isle of Jersey to William J. ATKINS and Livinia THOMAS. He trained as a cabinentmaker in Europe, and worked in that profession for The Pullman Company. He studied batteries and electricity at Tulane, and eventually owned the A & G Battery company. They had one son, George Bertrand ATKINS.

Augustine married Jacob Joseph Hess on 30 Jul 1913 in New Orleans, Orleans Parish, Louisiana. Jacob was born on 9 Mar 1886 in New Orleans, Orleans Parish, Louisiana; died on 18 Oct 1955 in New Orleans, Orleans Parish, Louisiana. [Group Sheet] [Family Chart]

Notes:

Bennie Zahn writes that she married Joseph PALMISANO, Jr., who was in the Ice/Coal/Produce business. He and Marie also raised and sold roses. Later in his life, he was in the construction business. They had one daughter.

Notes:

He married Eugenie Josephine DE JEAN, and was the owner of Calhoun Dairy. They had three children.

Family/Spouse: Eugenie De Jean. Eugenie was born on 30 Aug 1902; died on 25 Jun 1994 in Marrero, Jefferson Parish, Louisiana; was buried in Metairie Cemetery (Lake Lawn Metairie), New Orleans, Orleans Parish, Louisiana. [Group Sheet] [Family Chart]

Notes:

Bennie Zahn notes that he married Caroline Lillian DE JEAN, the sister of his brother Victor's wife. Bertrand and Victor were both owners of the Calhoun Dairy. Bertrand and Caroline had four children.

Notes:

She was the godmother of Patricia Marion McGuire, the daughter of her cousin Josephine Morlas McGuire.

Notes:

She died at five weeks of age of Marasmus, "wasting away", according to Bennie Zahn.

Notes:

Called "Daughter."

ZAHN Leontine Morlas Zahn, on Sunday evening, February 20, 1972, at 7:15 o'clock. Wife of the late Edward George Zahn; mother of Mrs. James E. Johnson and Miss Bennie Zahn, both of New Orleans, Louisiana, Mrs. Leon R. Kleinpeter Jr. of Baton Rouge, Louisiana, Mrs. Emile Martin III of Belle Chasse, Louisiana; daughter of the late Lucine Roquevert and John Morlas, Sr.; sister of Mrs. Estelle Trapani; Sister Mary Cyril RSM, Mrs. Eugene Schoenfeld, Mrs. Alvin Rohli, all of New Orleans, Louisiana, Mrs. Eugenie Bishop of Bay St. Louis, Mississippi, Mrs. Kenneth Carpenter of Woodward, Oklahoma and Leon Morlas of Pass Christian, Mississippi and the late Mrs. Clothilde Bordes, Mrs. Lucille Quinn, John, Louis and Paul Morlas; also survived by 16 grandchildren. Relatives and friends of the family are invited to attend the funeral. Services from Tharp-Sontheimer-Tharp, Inc., 4127 S. Claiborne Ave. (parking entrance adjoining), on Tuesday, February 22, 1972, at 9 o'clock a.m. followed by Requiem Mass at St. Rita's Church. Interment in Metairie Cemetery. Contributions to St. Michael's Special School, 1526 Chippew St., preferred.

(Obituary courtesy of Keith McGuire)

Leontine married Edward George Zahn on 19 Dec 1918 in New Orleans, Orleans Parish, Louisiana. Edward was born on 4 Feb 1879 in Paincourtville, Assumption Parish, Louisiana; died on 25 Jul 1948 in New Orleans, Orleans Parish, Louisiana; was buried in Metairie Cemetery (Lake Lawn Metairie), New Orleans, Orleans Parish, Louisiana. [Group Sheet] [Family Chart]

Notes:

Morlas-On Wednesday, November 27, 1963 at 7 o'clock p.m. JOHN LOUIS MORLAS SR., husband of Antoinette Trapani, father of John L. and Paul M. Morlas of Granada Hills, Calif. Brother of Mrs. E. G. Zahn, Mrs. A. Trapani, Mrs. G. Quinn, Mrs. C. Bishop; in religion Sr. M Cyril RSM; Mrs. K. Carpenter of Woodward, Oklahoma, Mrs. E Schoenfeld and Mrs. A. Rohli, Louis, Leon, and Paul Morlas and the late Mrs. Leon Bordes, son of the late Lucine Roquevert and John Morlas. Also survived by 6 grandchildren, aged 72 years. Relatives and friends of the family are invited to attend the funeral services from the home ot Tharp-Sontheimer-Tharp Inc. 4127 S. Claiborne Ave. (parking entrance adjoining), on Saturday morning, November 30, 1963, at 9 o'clock, followed by Requiem High Mass at Our Lady of Lourdes Church. Interment Metairie Cemetery.

(Obituary courtesy of Keith McGuire)

John married Antoinette Trapani on 25 Jun 1919 in New Orleans, Orleans Parish, Louisiana. Antoinette (daughter of Poleno Trapani and Antoinette Asta) was born on 9 Feb 1900 in New Orleans, Orleans Parish, Louisiana; died on 18 Oct 1976 in Folsom, St. Tammany Parish, Louisiana; was buried in Metairie Cemetery (Lake Lawn Metairie), New Orleans, Orleans Parish, Louisiana. [Group Sheet] [Family Chart]

Notes:

BORDES-At the residence, 6326 South Tonti street, on Sunday, October 2, 1938, at 4 o'clock p.m., CLOTHILDE MORLAS, beloved wife of Leon BORDES, daughter of Lucine ROQUEVERT and the late John MORLAS, mother of Leontine, Rita, Leon, Edward and Leonard BORDES, sister of Mrs. E.G. ZAHN, Mrs. A.G. TRAPANI, Mrs. J.G. QUINN of Sturgis, Miss., Mrs. C.D. BISHOP, Sister Mary Cyril, R.S.M., Mrs. K.D. McGuire of Camargo, Ok., Mrs. E.N. Schoenfeld, Mrs. A. ROHLI, and John, Louis, Leon and Paul MORLAS. Relatives and friends of the family are invited to attend the funeral, which will take place from the home of Tharp-Sontheimer-Tharp, Inc., 4127 South Claiborne avenue, near Milan street, on Tuesday morning, October 4, 1938, at 10 o'clock, followed by requiem mass at St. Rita's church Broad Place at Pine Street.

(Obituary courtesy of Keith McGuire)

Clothilde married Leon Leonard Bordes on 18 Jun 1919 in New Orleans, Orleans Parish, Louisiana. Leon was born on 9 Sep 1889 in New Orleans, Orleans Parish, Louisiana; died on 8 Jun 1973 in Louisiana; was buried in Metairie Cemetery (Lake Lawn Metairie), New Orleans, Orleans Parish, Louisiana. [Group Sheet] [Family Chart]

Notes:

TRAPANI-Estelle Augustine Morlas Trapani, of Covington and New Orleans, La., on Tuesday, January 6, 1976 at 4:15 o'clock p.m., wife of the last August G. Trapani; mother of Mrs. Salvador (Patricia) Gaglio of New Orleans, La., August G. Trapani, Jr of Covington, La., John Trapani of Harahan, La., Paul Trapani of Chalmette, La, and the late Juliet Samson; sister of Leon Morlas, Sister Cyril of the Holy Name Convent, Mrs. C. D. Bishop, Mrs. K. D. McGuire, Mrs. A. J. Rohli, and Mrs. Eugene Schoenfelt (sic), age 81 years, a native of New Orleans, La. and a resident of Covington, La. for the past 3 years. Relatives and friends of the family are invited to attend the funeral. A Requiem Mass will be celebrated in the Chapel of Schoen Funeral Home, Inc., 1414 South Tyler Street, Covington, La., on Wednesday, January 7, 1976 at 2:00 clock p.m., Father Andrew Becnel, officiating. Interment in Metairie Cemetery. Friends may call from 12:00 noon until 2:00 o'clock p.m. on Wednesday, Metairie Cemetery arrival time at 3:30 o'clock p.m.

(Courtesy of Keith D. McGuire, Jr.)

Estelle married August Gerard Trapani on 13 Sep 1919 in New Orleans, Orleans Parish, Louisiana. August (son of Poleno Trapani and Antoinette Asta) was born on 6 Oct 1894 in Washington, St. Landry Parish, Louisiana; died on 19 Sep 1967 in New Orleans, Orleans Parish, Louisiana; was buried in Metairie Cemetery (Lake Lawn Metairie), New Orleans, Orleans Parish, Louisiana. [Group Sheet] [Family Chart]

Notes:

QUINN Lucene (Lucille) Morlas Quinn, on Wednesday, December 24, 1969, at 10:40 o'clock p.m., wife of the late James Groely Quinn; mother of Sidney P. Quinn and the late Jame M. Quinn; sister of Mrs. Leontine Zahn, Mrs. Estelle Trapani, Mrs. Eugenie Bishop, Sister Mary Cyril, R.S.M., Mrs. Eugene Schoenfeld, Mrs. Alvin Rohle and Paul Morlas of New Orleans, La., Mrs. Kenneth Carpenter of Woodward, Oklahoma and Leon Morlas of Pass Christian, Mississippi, also the late Mrs. Clothilde Bordes, John Morlas, Sr., and Louis Morlas, Sr., also survived by four grandchildren. Relatives and friends of the family may call at the home of Tharp-Sontheimer-Tharp, 4127 South Claiborne Ave. (parking entrance adjoining) on Friday evening, December 26, 1969 after 7 o'clock. Remains will be taken to Sturgis, Mississippi for memorial and interment.

(Obituary Courtesy of Keith McGuire)

Lucine married James Grady Quinn on 14 Nov 1923 in Gretna, Jefferson Parish, Louisiana. James was born on 4 Aug 1891 in Sturgis, Oktibbeha County, Mississippi; died on 4 May 1956 in Sturgis, Oktibbeha County, Mississippi. [Group Sheet] [Family Chart]

Notes:

He was married two times prior to his marriage to Lenora CHRISTOFFER.

Louis married Lenora Mathilda Christoffer in Jan 1929 in Saint Bernard, Saint Bernard Parish, Louisiana. Lenora was born on 26 May 1906 in New Orleans, Orleans Parish, Louisiana; died on 17 Jun 1984 in New Orleans, Orleans Parish, Louisiana; was buried in Metairie Cemetery (Lake Lawn Metairie), New Orleans, Orleans Parish, Louisiana. [Group Sheet] [Family Chart]

Notes:

Bishop Eugenie Morlas Bishop, at Hancock General Hospital, Bay St. Louis, Mississippi, on Thursday, December 28, 1978 at 1:30 o'clock a.m., wife of the late David Bishop, mother of Carl James Bishop of St. Louis, Missouri, grandmother of Mrs. Jack (Jennifer) Bishop McCormick of Blytheville, Arkansas, Miss Mary Elizabeth Bishop of Baton Rougue, Lousiana, and Bradley David Bishop of St. Louis, Missouri; daughter of the late Lucine Roquevert, and John Morlas, Sr., sister of Sister Mary Cyril, R.S.M., Mrs. Eugene Schoenfeld, Mrs. Alvin Rohli, all of New Orleans, Louisiana, and Mrs. Kenneth Carpenter of Woodward, Oklahoma, and the late Mrs. Leontine Zahn, Mrs. Clothilde Bordes, Mrs. Estelle Trapani, Mrs. Lucille Quinn, John Louis, Leon and Paul Morlas. Relatives and friends of the family are invited to attend Requiem Mass from the Uptown Chapel of Tharp-Sontheimer-Tharp Inc., 4127 South Claiborne Avenue, on Saturday, December 30, 1978 at 1 p.m. Interment in Lake Lawn Mausoleum, Visitation on Friday, December 29, 1978 after 5 p.m.

(Obituary courtesy of Keith McGuire)

Eugenia married Claude David Dennis Bishop on 1 Apr 1925 in Gretna, Jefferson Parish, Louisiana. Claude was born on 18 Jun 1902 in Marshall, Harrison County, Texas; died on 6 Nov 1968 in New Orleans, Orleans Parish, Louisiana. [Group Sheet] [Family Chart]

Notes:

A member of the order of the Sisters of Mercy Novitiate at St. Alphonsus Convent. Most of her years were spent in New Orleans as teacher and/or principal, including 27 years at Holy Name, the parish of her birth and baptism. She was known as Sister Mary Cyril.

MORLAS Sister Mary Cyril Morlas, R.S.M. on Monday, February 4, 1985 at 9:30 p.m. Beloved daughter of the late John D. Morlas and Lucine Roquevert Morlas, sister of Vivian Schoenfeld, Eleanor Rohli and the late Leontine Zahn, Eugenia Bishop, Josephine Carpenter, Estelle Trapani, Lucille Quinn, Clothilde Bordes, Leon, John L., Louis A., Leopold (Paul) Morlas. Also survived by numerous nieces and nephews. Age 83 years. A native on New Orleans. Relatives and friends of the family are invited to attend the Mass of Christian Burial at Mercy Hospital Chapel, 301 Jefferson Davis Parkway on Tuesday, February 5, 1985 at 7 p.m. Religious Services at the above named chapel on Wednesday, February 6, 1985 10 a.m. Interment at St. Patrick Number 3 Cemetery. Friends may call on Tuesday evening between 5 p.m. and 9 p.m. and Wednesday morning after 8 a.m. McMahon, Coburn, Briede in charge.

(Obituary courtesy of Keith McGuire)

Notes:

Keith McGuire noted that he worked on the construction of the Atlas Missile Site near Altus, Oklahoma during the summer of 1961, visiting with his sister Josephine several times during his stay in Oklahoma.

Leon J. Morlas

Leon J. Morlas, 72, a resident of No. 30 Lemoyne Rd., Pass Christian Isles, retired electrician and dairyman, died Tuesday at 8:55 a.m. in Memorial Hospital in Gulfport where he had been a patient for 10 days. Mr. Morlas, born Oct. 19, 1903, in New Orleans, was owner of Leon Morlas Dairy Farm for 25 years. He had resided at this present address since 1963. In later life, Mr. Morlas was in the electrical business and was a member of the International Brotherhood of Electrical Workers, Local 130, New Orleans. He was a Catholic, a member of St. Paul's Church of Pass Christian. Mr. Morlas is survived by his widow, Mrs. Mattie Plunkett Morlas, Pass Christian; one son, Leon J. Morlas, Jr. Chattanooga, Tenn; one dauthter, Mrs. Mary Ellen Earthman, Camden, Ark.; five sisters, Mrs. Claude Bishop, Bay St. Louis, Sister Mary Cyril, R.S.M., Mrs. Eugene Schoenfelf and Mrs. Alvin Rohli, New Orleans, and Mrs. Kenneth Carpenter, Woodward, Okla.; three granddaughters, and on great-grandson. Friends may call Friday from 5 p.m. to 10 p.m. at Riemann Funeral Home Chapel in Pass Christian. Recitation of the Rosary will be at 8 p.m. A prayer service will be held Saturday at 11:15 a.m. at the chapel followed by a Requiem Mass at 11:30 a.m. in St. Paul's Catholic Church. The Rev. Michael Clifford, assistant pastor, will be the celebrant. Burial will be in the Live Oak Cemetery.

(Obituary courtesy of Keith McGuire)

Leon married Mattie Aminda Plunkett on 29 Mar 1926 in Bay Saint Louis, Hancock County, Mississippi. Mattie was born on 26 Jun 1905 in McNeill, Pearl River County, Mississippi; died on 31 Mar 1998 in Vicksburg, Warren County, Mississippi. [Group Sheet] [Family Chart]

Notes:

In his biography of his mother, Keith McGuire wrote that she was born in her parents home at 6333 South Claiborne Avenue in New Orleans. She was baptized at the Most Holy Name of Jesus Catholic Church, and later attended school at Holy Name, less than 20 blocks from her home.

She attended High School at the Holy Name of Jesus, graduating in June 1923. She received credits for both four years of Latin and four years of French

After she completed High School, she enrolled with her cousin, Hazel Roquevert, at the Charity Hospital in New Orleans to study nursing. They soon decided that this was not their vocation, and jointly terminated their enrollment. Most summers were spent visiting Lucine and Grady Quinn in Sturgis, Mississippi and vactioning with their family on the Gulf Coast at Biloxi.

In the summer of 1929, however, Josephine went to Europe with her Mother, younger sisters Vivian and Eleanor, and cousin Stella O'Brien. They travelled by Ocean Liner on a tour "especially prepared for a Party of Five Ladies" by the American Express World Service Travel Department. The group left for Europe on June 3, 1929, the ocean voyage itself taking several weeks. While in Europe, they toured France, Holland, Germany, Switzerland, Italy and then returned to France. On their return voyage, they stopped in both Santender, Spain and Havana, Cuba. They arrived home again on September 10, 1929.

Pat Strong writes that it was the following summer, while vacationing on the Gulf Coast, that Josephine met, fell in love and eloped with her husband Keith McGuire. Shortly afterwards they were married in a Catholic church in New Orleans. Vivian was a witness at both weddings. Josephine left her family in New Orleans to be with her husband in Oklahoma, which was where they raised their children, Keith and Pat. Josephine always kept in close touch with her family, being an excellent and reliable correspondent. She also saw her family occasionally over the years.

Pat remembers her mother as being a social force in Camargo. She was very outgoing and loved to entertain and give parties, something not many other mothers did. She also wrote the "Camargo News" column for the Vici Beacon. She later worked for this newspaper after her husband died.

When Josephine was suddenly left widowed at age 42, she had only a small inheritance from her mother (some $1,400) and the proceeds from the sale of Keith's welding shop to help support her family. Even though she had never worked outside the home before, after her husbands death it became necessary for her to work. She had several different jobs over the years as a U.S. Census enumerator, as a clerk in a newspaper office, as a saleslady in department stores, and mainly as a waitress in restaurants and coffee shops. In her later years, she and her second husband, Kenneth, did custodian work for a number of offices as well.

After her youngest child Pat graduated from high school, Josephine moved to Weatherford, Oklahoma and worked while Pat attended Southwestern State College. After Pat graduated, they moved to Mooreland where Pat taught school for two years.

When Pat moved to Stillwater to work on her master's degree at Oklahoma State University, Josephine moved to Woodward and continued working. Josephine married Kenneth Carpenter, who had been a friend of her late husband, shortly before Pat married Charles Strong, a fellow student at Oklahoma State University.

Even though it was not easy for Josephine after her first husband died and in her later years, she seemed to get a lot of pleasure out of everything she did in life.

Carpenter, 77

Funeral services for Mrs. Kenneth (Josephine) Carpenter, 77, 923 1/2 Cherry, Woodward, will be at 10:30 a.m. Saturday in Stecher Mortuary Chapel. The Rev. Michael Wheelahan of St. Peter's Catholic Church will officiate and burial will be in Camargo Cemetery.

She was born in New Orleans, La., April 13, 1906 (sic) and died in a McAlester Hospital late Tuesday following a lengthy illness. She attended school at Holy Name Academy in New Orleans. She later taught school at the Academy and St. Rita's school in New Orleans.

On July 30 (sic), 1930 she was married to Keith David McGuire at Biloxi, Mississippi, and they moved to Camargo, where he was killed in an airplane accident on January 4, 1948. She moved to Woodward where on September 1, 1956 she was married to Kenneth Carpenter, and he preceded her in death on December 30, 1981. She was a member of the Catholic Church.

She is survived by a son Keith McGuire, McAlester; a daughter, Mrs. Patricia Marion Strong, Edenburg (sic), Tex.,; three sisters Mrs. (sic) Juliet Morlas, Mrs. Vivian Schoenfeld, and Mrs. Eleanor Rohli, New Orleans; 10 grandchildren and two great-great grandchildren.

(Published in The Woodward Daily Press, Wednesday, September 7, 1983; copy courtesy of Keith McGuire)

Josephine's date of birth was April 13, 1905. This meant she was not quite a month older than her husband, Keith. The thought of being even slightly older than her husband was so upsetting that Josephine immediately began to report her date of birth as one year later than in actually was, reporting it as April 13, 1906. Even her death certificate and obituary reflected this incorrect year.

(Medical):Chronic and acute pancreatitis, micronodular cirrhosis, with no evidence of any cancer of malignancy.

Josephine married Keith David McGuire, Sr. on 16 Jul 1930 in Biloxi, Harrison County, Mississippi. Keith (son of Henry David McGuire and Anna Mary "Mamie" Kuykendall) was born on 7 May 1905 in Red Creek Farm, Dewey County, Oklahoma; died on 4 Jan 1948 in Camargo, Dewey County, Oklahoma; was buried in Camargo (Westside) Cemetery, Camargo, Dewey County, Oklahoma. [Group Sheet] [Family Chart]

Josephine married John Kenneth Carpenter on 1 Sep 1956 in Woodward, Woodward County, Oklahoma. John was born on 10 Jun 1899 in Iowa; died on 30 Dec 1981 in Woodward, Woodward County, Oklahoma. [Group Sheet] [Family Chart]

Notes:

Leopold V. Morlas, Sr. on Sunday, February 21, 1971 at 2:45 o'clock p.m., husband of the late Olie Louis Roberts; father of Paul Morlas; Ralph L. Morlas and Clay R. Morlas; son of the late Lucine Roquevert and John Morlas; brother of Leon Morlas of Pass Christian, Mississippi, Mrs. Leontine Zahn, Mrs. Estelle Trapani, Mrs. Eugenie Bishop of Bay St. Louis, Mississippi, Sister M. Cyril RSM, Mrs. J. Carpenter of Woodward, Oklahoma, Mrs. Vivian Schoenfeld, Mrs. Eleanor Rohli and the late John and Louis Morlas, Mrs. C. Bordes, Mrs. Lucine Quinn, also survived by 11 grandchildren. Relatives and friends of the family are invited to attend the funeral. Services from Jefferson Home of Tharp-Sontheimer-Tharp Inc., 1600 N. Causeway Blvd, Wednesday, February 24, 1971, at 10:30 o'clock a.m. followed by Requiem Mass at St. Matthew the Apostle Church. Interment in Metairie Cemetery. Visitation on Tuesday, February 23, 1971, after 6 o'clock p.m.

(Obituary courtesy of Keith McGuire)

Leopold married Olie "Peach" Louise Roberts in Mar 1927 in New Orleans, Orleans Parish, Louisiana. Olie was born about 1911 in New Orleans, Orleans Parish, Louisiana; died on 31 Jul 1965 in New Orleans, Orleans Parish, Louisiana; was buried in Metairie Cemetery (Lake Lawn Metairie), New Orleans, Orleans Parish, Louisiana. [Group Sheet] [Family Chart]

Notes:

Vivian Morlas Schoenfeld, a homemaker, died Monday of a stroke at Life Care Hospital, Memorial Baptist Campus on Monday, May 29, 2000 At 7:30 P.M. She was 91.

Mrs. Schoenfeld was born in New Orleans and lived In either New Orleans or Metairie all her life. She was the daughter of the late John Dominic and Lucine (Roquevert) Morlas and was preceded In death by four brothers and eight sisters.

She was the beloved wife of the late Eugene Morris Schoenfeld, Sr. and the mother of Kathleen S. Casey, of Daytona Beach, Fl; Vivian S. Solares, of Harahan; Robert Morlas Schoenfeld and Noel Douglas Schoenfeld both of New Orleans, and the Late Eugene Morris Schoenfeld, Jr., of Austin, Tx. She is also survived by 13 grandchildren and 12 great grandchildren. Relatives and friends are Invited to attend the Funeral Mass at Lake Lawn Metairie Funeral Home Chapel, 5100 Pontchartrain Blvd. (In Metairie Cemetery) on Thursday, June 1, 2000 at 11:00 A.M. Interment will follow in Metairie Cemetery. Visitation on Wednesday from 6:00 P.M.until 9:00 P.M. And on Thursday after 9:00 A.M. until Service Time. In lieu of flowers, the family prefers donations to Sisters Of Mercy, Holy Name Of Jesus Convent, 6028 Freret St., New Orleans 70118.

Obituary Source:

(1) two undated unreferenced clippings provided by Keith McGuire Jr.

(2) http://ftp.rootsweb.com/pub/usgenweb/la/orleans/obits/1/s-06.txt



E U L O G Y VIVIAN MORLAS SCHOENFELD 1909 - 2000
WRITTEN BY: KATHLEEN S. CASEY--June 1, 2000


This is indeed the end of an era. Mama is the last of her immediate Morlas family. Eight sisters and four brothers have gone before her. And I have lost the best friend I ever had.

For Mama, life was a long journey, and in her 91 years she had many side trips and outings along the way. She loved reminiscing about them.

With great relish she used to tell about her first plane ride. She was not quite 14, and her father, who died in 1923, was still alive. Someone was selling plane rides over New Orleans for about $15 apiece. Mama's mother arranged for Mama and some of her sisters to take a ride. While they were flying overhead, Mama's parents were sitting in their yard. When Mama's father saw the plane, he said to Grandma, "I wonder what fools are in that plane." Grandma spared him the truth.

In 1926 and 1929, Mama, her mother and unmarried sisters toured Europe. Mama got more mileage out of those trips than anybody else, I know. She loved telling how she was followed after an evening out in Amsterdam by a big crowd because the people thought she, in her long evening gown, was a movie star. She regaled us with stories of officers and college students on the ships who were madly in love with her. I never doubted her for a moment.

Then there was the flight to Detroit in 193l with Grandma and Aunt Eleanor to buy the Hupmobile and drive it home. In 1938 there was the sad journey by train from Corpus Christi, Texas, to New Orleans when Mama learned her sister Clothilde was dying.

Mama's family and friends meant more to her than anything else. I was brought up in a home where I felt secure and loved. Vivian, Jim, Bob, Noel and I knew we were blessed.

We and other family members have talked a lot lately about things we did together, places we went: a trip to Sturgis, Mississippi, when I was about 15 to visit Aunt Lucille and family, weekend excursions to Mississippi in a car loaded with cement and tools so Daddy could work on his swimming pool. Mama and Daddy named their place at Beneshewaah KAVIJIBONO, using the first two letters of each of their five children's names. We enjoyed many happy gatherings there with family and friends.

Mama and Aunt Eleanor went by train to California to see Jim who was there in the Navy. They also visited Uncle John. Aunt Leontine had sent Mama and Aunt Eleanor off with a big box lunch. The travelers laughed all the way to California and back.

Mama and Daddy went to Colorado in 1972 with Jim and Dee and Aunt Dora and Uncle Larry. Just recently in the hospital Mama said they had a "wonderful time." Noel reminded me night before last that on that trip after eating at a roadside park, Mama threw a paper cup over her shoulder and it landed in a trash receptacle. Jim said, "I bet you can't do that again." He gave her another cup and once again she made a goal. Mama was always on target no matter what she was doing.

When Mama and Daddy stayed at a dude ranch once with Bob and Genie and their children, Mama got to ride horseback again for the first time in many years since she had ridden regularly along the levee. She took great pleasure telling how as a young woman, she was thrown over a horse's head and had to lead the horse to a lamp post and climb up the post to remount and gallop away uninjured.

On trips to St. Martinville, Mama and Daddy relaxed and enjoyed "happy hour" on Bob and Genie's front porch.

There were trips with Vivian and Sig and their children to Austin and to Daytona Beach and later with Vivian to Daytona Beach, Disney, World and Key West.

And, Mama never missed a grandchild's wedding even if it meant traveling to Daytona Beach and later to San Antonio while nursing a broken pelvis.

Over the years, Mama and I reminisced about life when Vivian, Jim, Bob, Noel and I were children. Visiting was a big part of our entertainment. I remember a family reunion at Grandma's on South Tonti Street. On Sundays we went to see Uncles Louis, Leon and Paul and Aunts Leontine, Stella, Lucille, Jennie, Juliet and Eleanor. When Aunt Josephine came to town from Oklahoma, we had get-togethers on a large scale.

When I was a child, my brothers, Vivian and I took rides to the lakefront and Audubon Park where we'd run up and down Monkey Hill, look at the seals and visit the zoo. Daddy would take us swimming.

Every Easter we'd pick clover in the park for our baskets, and at Christmastime we'd take rides to see the lights and then go to Canal Street to see Santa Claus waving from the balcony at D. H. Holmes.

Noel tells about going downtown with Mama to shop and eat at Kress or McCrory's. On one occasion when he was about five, Mama bought him a little rubber mouse which he left on the streetcar. When they discovered his loss, he was heartbroken. Mama, carrying him, ran after the streetcar but couldn't get it to stop. She even called NOPSI to see if anyone had turned in Noel's lost treasure. No such luck. On their next trip downtown, Mama bought Noel another rubber mouse. Life was simple, and it was good.

For years Vivian was Mama's wheels-running her errands and taking her to her doctors and to visit family and friends.

In recent years, Mama didn't go out much, but her radios and telephone took her where she wanted to go. She looked forward to talking to her children, grandchildren, nieces, nephews, cousins and friends. They were very good to her, and Mama was good to everybody. She was thrifty and generous, a happy combination which benefited many of us.

Family and friends played a vital part in Mama's life to the end, and they kept dropping in and phoning her at the hospital. One day I counted 20 visitors. She seemed happy being surrounded by those who love her. Mama knew she was dying, and she accepted death with prayers and peace. And there was laughter, too. Only a few days before she died Noel had Mama smiling over a hilarious story about Linda's dog Promise.

I owe all that I am and all that I have to my parents, and my life will be very different without Mama.

It is awfully hard to say goodbye, and I won't. Instead, for Mama-our dear, sweet Mangie-on her final journey, I wish her Godspeed.

Vivian married Eugene Morris Schoenfeld on 11 Apr 1936 in Gretna, Jefferson Parish, Louisiana. Eugene was born on 18 Apr 1908 in New Orleans, Orleans Parish, Louisiana; died on 8 Jun 1993 in New Orleans, Orleans Parish, Louisiana; was buried in Metairie Cemetery (Lake Lawn Metairie), New Orleans, Orleans Parish, Louisiana. [Group Sheet] [Family Chart]

Notes:

ROHLI

Eleanor M. Rohli, at East Jefferson Hospital Monday February 3, 1986 at 1:00 p.m. Beloved Wife of Alvin J. Rohli, Beloved Mother of A.J.Rohli, Jr., Marie Louise Rholi, Betty Rohli Vollenweider, Sister of Vivian Morlas Schoenfeld and the late John Louis, Leon and Paul Morlas, Mrs. Leontine Zahn, Clathilde Boules (sic), Estelle Trapani, Lucille R. Quinn, Eugenia Bishop, Josephine Carpenter, and Sister Mary Cyril R.S.M. Survived by 14 grand and 7 great grand children. Relatives and friends fo the Family, also employees of K & B Drug Store in Harahan and Masion Blanche in Clearview are invited to attend the Funeral from the Chapel of Tharp-Sontheimer-Tharp, 1600 N. Causeway Blvd. Metairie, La., on Wednesday February 5, 1986 at 12:30 p.m. Interment from the Garden of Memories. Visitation on February 4, 1986 after 7:00 p.m. until 11:00 p.m.

(Obituary courtesy of Keith McGuire)

Eleanor married Alvin John Rohli on 15 Jun 1931 in New Orleans, Orleans Parish, Louisiana. Alvin was born on 21 Nov 1911 in New Orleans, Orleans Parish, Louisiana; died in Aug 1994 in New Orleans, Orleans Parish, Louisiana; was buried in Garden Of Memories, Metairie, Jefferson Parish, Louisiana. [Group Sheet] [Family Chart]

Notes:

He married Hurl HARRIS, and they had one daughter, Yvonne.

Notes:

She married Louis Robert SAILLARD, the they were the parents of Louis Robert, Jr. and Alice.

Notes:

Anna-Rose Hess Smedberg passed away peacefully at home on Thursday, May 19, 2011 at the age of 95. She is survived by her loving daughter, Marianna Alexander; grandchildren, Tara Alexander of Houston, Tex., Carl Alexander Jr., and Eric Alexander (Cassey); sister, Mari Wertin; and sister-in-law, Mary Hess. She was preceded in death by her beloved parents: Augustine Morlas Hess and Jacob Hess, Sr.; brother Jacob Hess Jr.; sister Ladonia Rivers; husband Arthur Smedberg; and son-in-law, Carl Joseph Alexander, Sr.

A lifelong resident and lover of New Orleans, Anna-Rose was a devout Catholic and active volunteer. She was a member of the former St. Matthias Church where she served on the Altar Society; of St. Theresa of Avila as a part time administrative assistant; of the former Our Lady of Good Counsel Church; and most recently of St. Mary's Assumption Church. Anna Rose also volunteered many hours with the Propagation of the Faith providing administrative support. She was a member of the St. Lucy's society and of St. Theresa of the Little Flower. Anna Rose was awarded the Archdiocese's highest honor, the St. Louis Medallion, for her love of the church and service to others.

Anna Rose graduated from Allen High School and Eleanor McMain High School. She was a retired administrative secretary to the Director of the U. S. Customs House and a member of the National Active and Retired Federal Employees Association where she also served as secretary. She will be dearly missed by all who knew and loved her.

Family, friends, former parishioners of St. Matthias and Our Lady of Good Counsel and parishioners of St. Theresa Avila and St. Mary's Assumption are invited to a Memorial Mass on Monday, May 23, 2011 at the former Our Lady of Good Counsel Church, 1307 Louisiana Avenue. Visitation is from 10:00 am - 12:00 noon with Mass at 12:00 noon.

In lieu of flowers, the family requests donations be made either to the Propagation of the Fairth or the American Cancer Society.

(Courtesy of Bennie Zahn, transcribed by Melinda McLemore Strong, June 2011)

Anna-Rose married Arthur G. Smedberg on 4 Apr 1944 in New Orleans, Orleans Parish, Louisiana. Arthur was born on 4 May 1912 in Hammond, Lake County, Indiana; died on 18 May 1999 in Gulfport, Harrison County, Mississippi. [Group Sheet] [Family Chart]

Notes:

He is buried in the Westlawn Memorial Park in Gretna, LA.

Family/Spouse: Edward Ames Rivers. Edward was born on 5 Feb 1915; died on 28 Feb 1997 in New Orleans, Orleans Parish, Louisiana; was buried in Willamette National Cemetery, Portland, Multnomah County, Oregon. [Group Sheet] [Family Chart]