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A Mass of Christian Burial will be held at 10 a.m. Saturday, October 14, 2017 at Immaculate Heart of Mary Catholic Church in Crowley for Katry Michael Martin, 64, of Crowley. He went to be with the Lord on October 10, 2017 with family by his side after a battle with cancer.
Fr. Jason Vidrine, pastor of Immaculate Heart of Mary Catholic Church will be officiating for the services. The family is requesting visiting hours to be held Friday from 10 a.m. to 9 p.m. and Saturday from 8 a.m. to 9:30 a.m. at Geesey-Ferguson Funeral Home in Crowley. A rosary will be recited at 7 p.m. Friday. Interment will be in Woodlawn Cemetery.
Katry was born Sept 8, 1953 to Benoit and Duiby Breaux Martin. He milked dairy cows with his father for several years. He was active parishioner of Immaculate Heart of Mary and a member of the Knights of Columbus Council 5499. He served on the Acadia Parish Police Jury as a District Representative and as Secretary/Treasurer for more than 10 combined years. He was supervisor of Ward 6, District 6 Drainage Board. He graduated from USL with degrees in Agri-business and Civil Engineering.
He was employed as Executive Director of the St Landry Parish Solid Waste Commission in March of 2007 until his passing. He is credited for pioneering the first fully operating Bio CNG vehicle fuel program in the country located in St. Landry Parish. Katry earned the National Energy Vision Leadership Award in 2016. The Solid Waste Commission was awarded “The Best Smallest Bio CNG” by the Louisiana Methane Outreach Program. He often was sought out to speak across the nation on the program developed in St. Landry Parish.
Katry is survived by his wife, Lisa Leger Martin of 20 years. His children: Jamie Spears and her husband Brian, Brandi Martin, Rikki Martin, and Katri “KK” Martin and her fiancée Andrew Richard; daughter-in-law Kara Miller and step-son Mitchell Martinez. His four grandchildren are Joe Spears, Emily Spears, Chris Spears and Gage Martinez. He is also survived by his six siblings: Lindell Perez and her husband Ernie, Wavey Martin and his wife Sue, Brenda Robert and her husband Terry, Marion Martin and his wife Jackie, and Phil Martin and his wife Sarah.
Katry is preceded in death by his late wife Bonnita Perry Martin, his mother and father Benoit and Duiby Martin. He is also preceded by his uncle and aunt, Eraste and Nella Breaux Duhon who he cared for in their journey into Christ.
The family of Katry Martin would like to acknowledge the office staff and field workers at the St. Landry Solid Waste Department for being his extended family. Special thanks to the health care staff at Our Lady of the Lake Hospital and Our Lady of Lourdes Hospital for taking care of Katry and his family along his health journey. We send special thanks to the Fifth Oncology floor staff at Our Lady of Lourdes for always being by his side. Everyone who is part of Katry’s life in a small or big way, will carry his memory in their hearts.
Condolences may be sent to the family by www.geesey-ferguson.com
Arrangements have been entrusted to Geesey-Ferguson Funeral Home of Crowley.

Services celebrating the life of Shirley Chambers Cassidy, 88, will be held on Wednesday, October 11, 2017 at Our Lady Help of Christians Catholic Church in Jennings with Fr. Charles McMillin, Fr. Marshall Boulet, Fr. Whitney Miller, Fr. Mickal Polson with Deacon Andrew Schumacher and Monsignor Ronald Groth officiating.
Mrs. Cassidy departed this life peacefully on Sunday October 8, 2017 at Southwind Assisted Living Center. A gathering of family and friends was held on Tuesday October 10 from 5 p.m. until 8 p.m. with a rosary recited at 6 p.m. at Matthews and Son Funeral Home with funeral mass on Wednesday, October 11 at 10 a.m. at Our Lady Help of Christians Catholic Church in Jennings, with interment immediately following at Calvary Cemetery.
Shirley was the eldest of three children born to Noble Moore Chambers and Anna Andrus Chambers on January 2, 1929. Shirley grew up in Crowley where she graduated from Crowley High School as valedictorian in 1945, at age 16. In 1949 she graduated from SLI (now ULL) with a BS degree in vocal music. She taught for several years in Church Point, Crowley, Jennings and Washington until she met and married the love of her life, Edward Thomas II “Tom” Cassidy, Jr. and married on October 25, 1952. Their marriage was blessed with seven children and spanned 56 years before Tom’s death in 2008.
Besides being quite busy raising six sons and a daughter, Shirley belonged to many civic and social groups including Little Theater both in Crowley and Jennings, founder of the Thursday Coffee Club in 1955 which is still active, member of Entre Nous, DAR, Revelers, Pokeno Groups, life time member of Jeff Davis Arts Council, patron of Friends of Museum and other organizations throughout her lifetime too numerous to name.
Shirley will be forever remembered as one of the most beautiful voices that reverberated in our OLHC church whether as soloist, choir member or cantor; she led our congregation for decades. She sang for weddings, funerals, wakes, retreats, renewals and other social engagements throughout the area, but predominantly through Our Lady Help of Christians. Her voice was unforgettable.
She was involved in every aspect of church work including RCIA, renewal programs, teaching Catechism, Helping Hands, Catholic Daughters and Altar Society. Shirley was the first woman Real Estate Broker in Jeff Davis Parish. Her honors include being named Lady Commander in the Knights of the Holy Sepulcher. She was also honored by the City of Jennings as one of it’s Living Legends in 2004.
Her crowning achievement was always the pride she took in her husband and children and being wife and mother.
Shirley is preceded in death by her parents Noble Moore Chambers, Sr. and Anna Andrus Chambers, her sister Charlotte Chambers Mayeux, her son Kevin. Christopher Cassidy and her husband of 56 years, Edward Thomas “Tom” Cassidy, Jr.
She is survived by her brother Noble Moore Chambers, Jr. (Bobbie), and five sons, namely, Edward Thomas Cassidy, III (Mari), Timothy Michael Cassidy, Sr., (Debbie), Kenneth Patrick Cassidy, (Julie), David Christian Cassidy, Patrick Quintin Cassidy (Donna) and one daughter, Connie Cassidy Anzalone (Dr. Charles). She is further survived by 13 grandsons and 10 granddaughters along with 32 great grandchildren.
Pallbearers will be her five surviving sons, Ted, Tim, Kenny, Christian and Patrick Cassidy and her son in law, Dr. Charles Anzalone. Honorary pallbearers will be her grandsons.
Special thanks to all her caregivers and healthcare providers, who gave such loving care to Shirley, in her time of need.
In lieu of flowers, memorials may be made to OLI Library or any catholic school of your choice or to Mr. and Mrs. Edward Thomas Cassidy Seminary Burse, Diocese of Lake Charles, c/o Reverend Msgr. Daniel Torres, P. O. Box 323, Lake Charles, La.