Every Thanksgiving I stop and give thanks for my family and their career choices, so many of which involve helping others.
Here they are:
Table of Contents
Lady Katherine
My spouse of over 25 years has increasingly become my caregiver, helping me deal with my COPD. ("Ask your doctor if breathing is right for you.")
She describes herself as a person with serious mental health challenges, and she is working with people who have the same challenges. She considers it her life's work.
Tammy’s family
Oldest child Tammy lives with husband Boyce in Long Beach, Mississippi. She is a medical coder for Ochsner. Boyce, a retired fire chief, is director of recovery for Mississippi Emergency Management.
Their daughter Katie and husband Glen live in Lafayette. She's a State Farm agent. He's an officer with Petroleum Coordinators.
Tammy's younger daughter, Mandy, an RN at Slidell Memorial's Neonatal ICU, lives in Diamondhead, Mississippi, with husband Corey. Also an RN, he's quality and accreditation manager at Singing River Hospital, Gulfport.
Katie and Glen have two children. Ethan, 17, plays basketball at Teurlings Catholic. Emma, 13, performs in theater groups.
Mandy and Corey have three children: Leah, 14, plays basketball for Our Lady Academy and performs in theater. Macy, 11, is an artist and performer. Noah, 10, loves tournament soccer and baseball.
My grandchild Landon, Tammy and Boyce's son, lost his battle with spina bifida at age 15. He would have been 30 this year. His bravery and humor still inspire us.
Tommy’s family
My other child, son Tommy, aka Pokey, lives in Zachary with wife Nicole. A retired deputy fire chief, he's director of security and emergency preparedness at Our Lady of The Lake Medical Center, Baton Rouge. Nicole is a cosmetologist "and shuttle driver for grandkids."
Oldest child Tayler and husband Adam live in Zachary. She's a CT tech at Lane Regional Medical Center diagnostic center. Adam is a captain with the Baton Rouge Fire Department.
Their son Austin is 9 and plays flag football and baseball. His brother Dean Ray, 6, is also a player.
Tommy and Nicole's oldest son, Ron, lives in Zachary with wife Kelsey. He's a firefighter with the Baton Rouge Fire Department, and owner of Oak Ridge Lawn Care. Kelsey is a nurse and teacher.
Their four children are Natalie, 7; Heidi, 5; Annie Gray, 3, and my youngest great-grandchild Judah, 1 year old. The girls all love dance.
Tayler and Ron's younger brother Clint also lives in Zachary. He's a firefighter with the Baton Rouge Fire Department. He coaches son Aidyn’s baseball team, and is Ron’s right-hand man in the lawn care business.
Aidyn, 8, is a third grader at Silliman Institute in Clinton and "excelling in baseball."
Louis’ family
My brother Louis and wife Jane are retirees living in Oakdale.
Judd, their oldest, and wife Stacy live in Reno, Nevada, where he is a physician. Twin boys Jakob and Justin are high school age.
Son Jason is a New Orleans attorney. His sons are Jackson, a Jesuit High football player, and Colin.
Son Josh is in the oil business in Tulsa, Oklahoma. He and wife Lauren have sons Grand and Drake. Josh's daughter Vanessa lives in Baton Rouge with her mother, Melissa, a nurse.
Valeri’s family
Valeri, Katherine's sister, works with Mayor Sharon Weston Broome on "Brighten Up Baton Rouge."
Her son Wil and wife Jen live in Frisco, Texas, with daughters Arabella, 11, and Aliana, 9. Wil is vice president and head of service management at FedNow Service (Federal Reserve Bank). Jen is an active parent/school leader.
Valeri's son Wes and wife Michelle live in Chicago with Nola, 9. Wes is director of analytics and partner in the architecture firm Gensler. Michelle is a senior data scientist at Blue Cross Blue Shield.
