Obituaries

Rep. Ernest Alexander

A Mass of Christian Burial was held Jan. 20 for former La. Rep. Ernest Alexander, who served in the Louisiana Legislature from 2000 to 2008 in the 43rd House district. Alexander died Jan. 17. Alexander worked as a teacher at Comeaux High School and was elected to the Lafayette City-Parish Council before being elected to the Louisiana House of Representatives. In recent years, Alexander became involved with the Tea Party of Lafayette and served on the Tea Party of Lafayette's Core Committee. He was honored with a special “Ernie Alexander Library” in the Lafayette Tea Party headquarters. Alexander also owned the Lafayette radio stations KMDL and KFTE. Some of his many accolades include Outstanding Teacher in Lafayette Parish, Outstanding Speech and Debate Coach in Louisiana, author of “A Programmed Guide to Teaching Radio and Television in Lafayette Parish Schools” and past president of Lafayette Parish Association of Educators. He had also been a past president of Mid-Acadiana Broadcasting Corporation; board member of the Louisiana Association of Broadcasters; inducted into the Louisiana Broadcaster Hall of Fame; former Channel 3 evening weatherman; member of the Republican State Central Committee; member LABI, CABL, NFIB and PAR; chairman of the Lafayette Republican Party (PEC); chairman of the board of the Better Business Bureau of Acadiana; award recipient for Outstanding Service to the Community, Outstanding Rotarian; member of the Lafayette Chamber of Commerce; Voice of the Lafayette Kiwanis Club Football Jamboree (50 consecutive years); coach and board member of the Lafayette Little League football program (20 years); board member of the Acadiana Arts Council; board member of the Lafayette Little Theatre and member of the Acadiana Symphony Association, serving as past president. In lieu of flowers, memorial contributions can be made in the name of Mr. Alexander to Hospice of Acadiana.

William Boumans

A Memorial Mass will be celebrated at 10 a.m. Friday at The Sacred Heart of Jesus Catholic Church in Broussard for William Boumans. A lifelong resident of Broussard, Boumans ran Boumans Lumber Company with his brother Cooksey until 1985. In lieu of flowers, donations may be made in Mr. Boumans' name to St. Joseph Hospice, 1003 S. Hugh Wallis Road, Suite F2, Lafayette, LA, 70508.

Irene Bryant Foster

Memorial services was held Saturday at Martin & Castille's La Fleur de Lis Chapel for Irene Bryant Foster, 56, of Broussard. Foster was a native of Spain and graduated from Holy Savior Menard High School in Alexandria and the University of Southwestern Louisiana in 1979. She joined the Merchant Marines in 1978. Foster was employed by JT International as a sales representative and previously worked for PHI and Combined Insurance.