Daughter of John Solon Gunn & Verna Claire Gordon
The Meridian Star, June 2007
LAKE CHARLES, LA - Memorial services for Maureen Claire
Gunn-Devereaux were held at 6 p.m. Saturday, May 19, 2007,
at Johnson Funeral Home Chapel in Lake Charles and at 11 a.m.
Monday, May 21, at the Pachuta United Methodist Church in
Pachuta. Burial followed in Pachuta Cemetery with her
granddaughter the Rev. Ashley Claire Smith officiating at
both services. Mrs. Devereaux, 89, formerly of Pachuta, died
Thursday, May 17, 2007, in her home. She was born October
28, 1917, at home in Pachuta, to Dr. John Solon Gunn and
Verna Claire Gordon-Gunn, daughter of Clarke and Jasper County
pioneer Alexander Gordon. Maureen was a nurse in Meridian for
a number of years at Rush Infirmary, now Rush Foundation Hospital.
After moving from Mississippi to Lake Charles in the 1950s, she
became a teacher, earning a bachelor’s of science degree in
early childhood education from McNeese State University and
a master’s of education degree from Louisiana State University.
She also earned a Second Language Specialist certification and
taught French to elementary school students in the early days
of the Council for the Development of French in Louisiana
(CODOFIL) program. She retired in 1983 after teaching 30 years
in Calcasieu Parish Schools. She also supervised student teachers
for McNeese State University. She held memberships in the Calcasieu
Association of Educators, Louisiana Association of Educators,
National Association of Educators, Louisiana Retired Teachers
Association, the Alpha Luncheon Group of the American Association
of University Women, Louisiana Association of University Women,
and the American Association of Retired Persons. She was an avid
bridge player, reader, and crossword fan. Survivors include her
daughters, Desiree Devereaux of Lake Charles, Barbara Crawford
Champagne and her husband Dick, of St. Charles, MO, Sherry
Devereaux Ferguson and her husband Stewart, of Chelsea, Quebec,
Canada and Maureen Claire Devereaux Smith and her husband George,
of Stephentown, N.Y., as well as a nephew, Jack Gordon and his
wife Vivia Gunn, of Clinton, Miss.; grandchildren, Rick and his
wife, Susan Champagne of Madison, Wis., Mark Champagne and his
wife,Angie, of Manhattan Beach, Calif., and Col. Greg Champagne
and his wife, Cheri, Mitch Champagne and his wife, Chris, Brannon
Champagne and his wife, Stacy, and Christin Prinster all of St.
Charles, Mo., Eric Ferguson and his wife, Nancy of Chicoutimi,
Quebec, Alexandra Hendriks her husband, Patrick,of Chelsea, Quebec,
Cameron Ferguson of Toronto, Ontario, the Rev. Ashley C. Smith of
Stephentown, N.Y., and Chris Smith of Concord, Calif.;
great-grandchildren, Aaron, Maura , Clay, Tyler, Melissa, Ashley,
Tori, Nicholas, Lydia, Eli, Courtney, Brannon, Chip, and Trent
Champagne; Luke, Lexie, and Gabrielle Prinster; Erica, Emilie,
William, and Morgan Ferguson; Ella Claire and Sasha Hendriks;
and Solan Ferguson Velut. She was preceded in death by her
parents, infant son Edgar Allan Kiick Jr., brother and
sister-in-law Jack and Wilma Gunn, niece Faith Adkins,
all of Pachuta, and husbands E.A. Kiick of Chicago, Ernest
Crawford of Quitman, and Aden "Si" Devereaux of Gulfport.
Condolences may be shared with the family at www.johnsonfuneralhome.net.
