The Voice of Southwest Louisiana June 2019 Issue

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My Senior Moment 2.0 Living life to By Joyce R. Kebodeaux the fullest Rufus Myers celebrated his 95th birthday last month. He was born in Estherwood, La, a little community near the Mermentau River in Acadia Parish. Beginning school in Egan he spoke no English. Many times, he was sent to the principal’s office and was punished for speaking Cajun French. “Times were hard back then but we managed.” For school or work Mama put our lunch in a pail. We shared that at noon.” Rufus goes on to explain “I left school in the seventh grade to work for farmers in their rice fields. The pay was $1.00 a day for grown men but only 50 cents for boys. After work in the fields all day, I learned to repair machines at night. Me and my three brothers hunted and fished, not for sports but for survival. We hunted in the woods and fished in the river for any kind of animals or fish. Mama and my four sisters cooked everything we brought home,” Rufus remembers. “Times were hard, but we found ways to enjoy life. There were the house dances. The homeowners moved the furniture out of the house to make room for dancing. If they had a porch people danced there too. Some of the men in the family played the fiddle, accordion, guitar, wash board or spoons. I didn’t play music, but I loved to dance with the girls.” Rufus tells about when he worked for enough money to buy food for two weeks. Instead of buying food he got a pair of boxing gloves. He roped off a square in their yard and invited folks to watch as the men took turns boxing in his homemade boxing ring. Many came from miles away to join in the fun. “When I was older, I went to the dance hall in Iota.” He reminiscences.” The shutters were open to cool the dance hall but that didn’t help much. No alcohol was sold in the dance hall in those days. Women sat inside and waited to be asked to dance. They went in for free. The men had to buy a ticket to go inside. The ticket was pinned to the man’s shirt to show he had paid a dollar to go inside and dance.” When World War II broke out Rufus was drafted. After he served his time, he re-enlisted. He was in the U.S. Army for eight and a half years. His Cajun French served Rufus well. He was one of seven soldiers picked to be an interpreter for his commanders and high-ranking officials. He was assigned a car and he chauffeured generals and movie stars like Bob Hope and Doris Day. While Rufus was on a train sight-seeing, he met the beautiful German girl who would later become his bride. Rufus didn’t make a good first impression on Erika Liebl, but they resolved their differences and began dating. Erika moved into a rented room close to where Rufus was assigned. When the war ended Rufus went AWOL [Away with Out Leave] for a month. He and Erika vacationed and went sightseeing. He was reprimanded, Rufus Myers, US Army WWII lost one of his stripes and ordered to stay in the barracks. He sneaked out at night and continued dating Erika. It was while training for his next assignment in Korea that he was in a horrible accident. The jeep he was repairing caught on fire. He had third degree burns over much of his body. During the nine months spent in the hospital he couldn’t have visitors for fear of infection. When he was well again Rufus received a medical retirement from the army. After a short courtship the couple had been married by a German Justice of the Peace. Their first born, a boy was born in Germany. They named him after Rufus [RJ], They lived there until RJ was three years old. When they came to Southwest Louisiana, he spoke English, French and German. Back in the states, they were blessed with a baby girl, they named Tanya. [ Tanya Eubanks]. The family was complete. Rufus having learned to operate a bulldozer while he was overseas put his knowledge to the test. He was good at operating and repairing other heavy equipment too. After a while he started his own company. 12 June 2019 WWW.THEVOICEOFSOUTHWESTLA.COM Volume 6 • Number 11
Rufus and Johnson, brother, still enjoy boxing. Jonald J. Walker III, CPA, CGMA Kelly Love, CPA Ming Yang, CPA Rufus fishes for the big ones in his secret spot. He was known to be fair and honest. He said “I believe in giving a day’s work for a day’s pay. I did the dirt work for miles of Interstate 10, the Prien Lake Mall and many other construction jobs in Southwest Louisiana.” After he retired and was a widower he continued going to Cajun dances. “There are always pretty girls to dance with,” he laughs. “My favorite music is Zydeco. I like that beat.” As he celebrates his 95th birthday he also looks forward, with a positive attitude, about 5 years from now when he’ll be enjoying his100th birthday. Events|Seniors|Glamour 337.842.7202 WWW.VINHPHOTOGRAPHY.COM Volume 6 • Number 11 WWW.THEVOICEOFSOUTHWESTLA.COM June 2019 13
Page 1 and 2: June 2019 Vol 6 No 11 Seven Days of
Page 3 and 4: editor’s Deep in the Wetlands is
Page 5 and 6: SWLA news Contributed Article SWLA
Page 7 and 8: SWLA health, wealth & wellness Info
Page 9 and 10: See more at https://www.chopchopfam
Page 11: changed our diapers, they don't nee
Page 15 and 16: ave individuals who forged the path
Page 17 and 18: Helping families care for their lov
Page 19 and 20: Volume 6 • Number 11 WWW.THEVOICE
Page 21 and 22: Social media: This is not only a pr
Page 23 and 24: Roosevelt Tanner, Jr. and Roosevelt
Page 25 and 26: QWhat made the difference for you t
Page 27 and 28: In Season Fresh Vegetables Pies and

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