Remembrances

Charles "Chuck" Begnaud

Charles "Chuck" Begnaud, a longtime member of the Society and a fixture at the annual meetings in Lafayette, died April 2, 1998 after a brutal beating and stabbing at his home on the afternoon of March 13. He was severely beaten about his head and his throat had been slashed twice, apparently during a robbery. His wife found him unconscious when she returned home 
late in the afternoon. He never regained consciousness, and died after life support measures were halted.
His wallet, a television set and his 1990 Ford Taurus were taken during the incident. As of May 10 no person or persons had been apprehended. 
Mr. Begnaud had served on many committees of the Society. He always helped with the annual meeting and show in Lafayette. 
He grew up in the family coffee business and later worked in the land-lease business for an oil company. During the oil slump in South Louisiana, he trained as a licensed practical nurse, at which job he was working at the time of his death. 
Parent Category: People
Category: Remembrances

Kay Nelson KeppelKay Nelson-Keppel passed away late on the night of August 7, 1994. 
Kay was previously awarded the Distinguished Service Medal by AIS and in 1994 she was honored with the highest honor in AIS, the Gold Medal, for her many years of dedicated service. Kay first began working with AIS counting ballots when her father, J. Arthur Nelson, was AIS Awards Chairman. She went on to work as her fathers' assistant when he became editor of the Bulletin of AIS. In 1973 Kay was named Advertising Editor and Registrar. She continued serving in both position until her death.
Parent Category: People
Category: Remembrances

Ila Nunn

Ila (Mrs.Stayton) Nunn of Houston, Texas died on June 18, 1998 at the age of 96. She had been an active member of the Society for Louisiana Irises and the American Iris Society for over 40 years. She also belonged to several AIS Sections and she was a contributor to the book, The World of Irises. She was part of the group in Houston that organized the Spuria Iris Society. 
Ila gave numerous lectures on irises, especially Louisianas, to garden groups. She was active in the Texas Regional (R17) AlS organization and served as Vice President from 1957 to 1960. She was elected to the Board of the Society for Louisiana Irises in 1960, and Vice-President in 1962. She was awarded the SLI Service Award in 1962 for her work promoting Louisiana irises in 
the American Iris Society and through the Garden Club of Houston's annual bulb mart each fall. 
Parent Category: People
Category: Remembrances

William Dean Lee (1917 – 1999)
William Dean LeeDean Lee, 81, died on January 6, 1999. Dean had belonged to the Society for Louisiana Irises for more than 45 years and also belonged to the American Iris Society, where he was a Life Member and a Senior Judge. He attended all the SLI meetings and often judged at the annual SLI show. He also attended many of the annual AIS conventions. 
Parent Category: People
Category: Remembrances

Richard "Dick" Butler SrThe Society for Louisiana Irises lost a dedicated and productive member with the death September 13, 1999 of Richard Colburn Butler, Sr.(1910 - 1999) of Little Rock, Arkansas. An SLI member since the 1960s, Dick grew large numbers of Louisiana irises, shared them with individuals and organizations throughout the nation, and also tried his hand at hybridizing. 
Parent Category: People
Category: Remembrances

by M. D. Faith*
Henry RowlanHenry Rowlan 1920-1999), two-time winner of the Mary Swords DeBaillon Medal and a past president of SLI, passed away September 4, 1999, in Little Rock, Arkansas. A celebrated hybridizer and a friend to iris lovers everywhere, Henry also served his country well and with honor. Born November 17, 1920, he was in the prime age bracket to serve in World War II and the Korean War, which he did with distinction in the Army Air Force. He won the Air Medal with two oak leaf clusters while accumulating more than 13,000 flying hours as an aerial engineer, the European Theater Medal with two bronze stars, and the World War II Victory Medal. 
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Bettye Qualls ShaverBettye Qualls Shaver - 1926-1999 
One remembers her amid welcoming brightness. Bettye Shaver of Sherwood, Arkansas, met the world with a gold butterfly pinned to her shoulder, and sent good will before her, everywhere she went. Candy and giggling tagged along, and her iris friends knew adventure was never far behind. 
Parent Category: People
Category: Remembrances

Ben HagerWe regret the loss of another or our fine iris hybridizers from California with the death of Ben Hager in the first week of May. Ben became interested in the Louisiana irises when he first worked for Milliken Iris Gardens in Southern California. They were one of the first large commercial gardens to offer what was then a new type of irises.
Parent Category: People
Category: Remembrances

Samuel Yongue Caldwell (1904-2000), one of the pioneering leaders in the American Iris Society, died in his hometown of Nashville, Tennessee, on February 19, 2000. He will be remembered primarily for his work with Lycoris, but his horticultural passions ranged far and wide, including Louisiana irises. 
Parent Category: People
Category: Remembrances

James A ForetDr. James A. Foret, an early member and supporter of the Society for Louisiana Irises, died on November 4, 2000. Dr. Foret graduated from the University of Southwestern Louisiana in 1943 with a degree in horticulture, and, as a student in 1941, he wrote one of the first articles published by the Society. The article was printed and mailed to the membership as Bulletin No.2.

Parent Category: People
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Neil BertinotNeil Bertinot of Opelousas, Louisiana passed away on the 25th day of September, 2000 at the age of 69. He suffered from esophageal cancer for the last three years. Neil's first passion was his family. He is survived by his wife, Lorraine, three sons and two daughters and their families. Neil and Lorraine have 14 grandchildren and five great-grand children, They spent many weekends and vacations camping out and traveling together.
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Ellene "Rokki" Rockwell who died May 20th, 2011
I am sorry to report the death of another of our 'old timers' , Ellene (Mrs. C. C.) Rockwell of Fentress, Texas, who had been living in a retirement apartment in Temple, Texas recently. Rokki, as she was better known, died May 20, 2001 of a massive heart attack. 
Parent Category: People
Category: Remembrances