Elaine Prather Vidrine Howerton

VILLE PLATTE – A Going Home Celebration was held at 3 p.m. Sunday, Dec. 8, 2019, for Elaine Vidrine Howerton, 93, who passed away on Dec. 5, 2019, in Jennings, surrounded by loved ones.

Brother Kevin West, pastor of First Baptist Church of Ville Platte, officiated funeral services. Burial was in Sacred Heart Cemetery. Visitation was held at Ardoin’s Funeral Home of Ville Platte on Sunday from noon until prior to church service.

The eternal soul of “Miss Elaine” was gloriously ushered into Heaven on Thursday following a lengthy illness. At an early age, she professed total trust in Jesus Christ as her personal Lord and Savior and has at last realized that blessed hope! A longtime member of First Baptist Church of Ville Platte, she taught Sunday School there for years.

Elaine’s passion to serve others was exhibited through her job and community involvement. She served the people of Evangeline Parish as LSU Extension AgCenter 4-H Club agent 1946-1952, substitute teacher 1952-1959, LSU 4-H agent 1959-1970; LSU home demonstration agent 1970 until retirement in 1986. Elaine was on boards of directors for the Cotton Festival, Rural Area Development, CODOFIL, Council on Aging and VP hospital. She was selected to reign as Colonel Cotton of the festival one year. She was honored by the National Junior Horticulture Association in 1970 for success coaching of five teams and three individuals to win National level contests. Elaine was recognized for her work in the Expanded Nutrition Program where she reached over 700 families and youth. Devotion to family was all important, leaving behind a legacy of faith in God, service to others and love for all.

Elaine is survived by her daughters, Patty Vidrine Daigle (husband Glenn) of Jennings and Peggy Vidrine Brown (husband Gary) of Moss Bluff; brother, Byron “Sonny” Prather (wife Inge) of Lake Charles; grandchildren, Tiffany McMillan (husband Hoyt) of Eagle, Idaho, and Derek Brown and Donovan Brown (wife Caitlin) of Lake Charles; and great-grandchildren, Asher, Titus, Hannah and Jude McMillan of Idaho.

She was preceded in death by parents; Ulric and Nell Prather; husbands, Leroy Vidrine and Eugene Howerton; infant children, Kenneth Roy and Linda Sue Vidrine; and sister, Ruby Lee Keller (husband Whitney).

Pallbearers were Gary, Derek, and Donovan Brown, Glenn Daigle, Jimmy Flynn and Roger Lee Smith.

Messages for the family may be received at www.ardoinfuneralhomes.com.

Published in Jennings Daily News December 10 2019