This is a repost of the blog a year ago celebrating Miss Sandra’s birthday.  Not a day goes by without my thoughts of this wonderful woman who was taken too soon.  Today would have been her 70th birthday.   Note:  Some of the photos and my blog layout did not translate well, so please forgive me.  Search her name on my blog to see the original post as well as the beautiful comments that followed. 

August 6^th, 2015 – Today would have marked the 69^th birthday of my mother Sandra Fay Prather Broussard. This special TroysArt post is dedicated to a life that touched so many and a life that ended too soon.

The daughter of Bob & Fay Prather, she was born in New Orleans and grew up in downtown Jennings and with her sister Charlotte was third generation in the Prather home on Nezpique Street. As a youngster Sandra was known as a firebrand with pigtails, coveralls, and her notorious bag of marbles roaming the alleys off Main Street and the yards of the Victorian mansions that once lined the block, somewhat of a Scout Finch. But she morphed into a proper young lady taking lessons in piano and dance. Sandra became known for her dancing, baton twirling, love for animals, sense of humor, and immaculate wardrobe.

The Prathers were pillars of the community and the First Baptist Church; she had a strict but often indulgent upbringing, sheltered and also spoiled.  She was an it girl and at Jennings High School elected Class Favorite and her senior year voted Most Humorous.

It was also at Jennings High School where she met Eddie Broussard after for some inexplicable reason he pulled a thread and unraveled the back of her cashmere cardigan. From then on they were high school sweethearts and married once she graduated.

It wasn’t long thereafter that her first child was born; Eddie & Sandra had three kids—Troy, Julie, & Travis.

Under Eddie’s tutelage she developed a passion for hunting and fishing. Sandra was a natural on the water and made the Broussard camp at Calcasieu Lake a second home. Her life at the lake revolved around her children and their friends–there was rarely an empty bunk.  She loved Big Lake, loved the shrimp boat, and loved fishing. And when the fish weren’t biting she was perched atop the roof of the boat catching a tan.

Countless weekends and holidays were spent at the lake with lifelong pals Lynn & Marion Cooper. Julie, Travis, and I grew up interchangeable with Deanna & Frank Cooper.

Incalculable Broussard-Cooper family vacations were forged from outdoor activities, whether a fishing trip to Toledo Bend or the nine of us in a van trekking across states (a la Clark & Ellen Grizwald) to various campgrounds and fishing holes. I recall that “Dribbling Springs” didn’t turn out to be nearly as fancy as it sounded… but we had fun nonetheless.

Sandra was a member of Jeff Davis Country Club though was rarely seen there.  Her style was casual and more at ease hostessing barbeques, fish fries, or crab boils.  And she always had a bevy of kids at any event, the more the merrier with her.

In the 1970s Sandra transformed her talent for baton twirling into a successful business—the Sandra Broussard School of Twirl was born. Over the years she instructed hundreds of girls from Jeff Davis Parish. And her students competed across the state. But not only did the young ladies learn to twirl a baton but they were also schooled in dance, poise, grace, fitness, and confidence.

Sandra added a large room onto the house with 18 foot ceilings for high throws called the Baton Room. Dozens of young ladies came and went from the Broussard home daily. But growing up we also used the space for other purposes from decorating cars for the Homecoming Parade to hosting dance parties, and Sandra was in the middle of it all.

Her involvement with twirling and dancing competitions segued to beauty pageants. Thousands of children and teenagers participated in the many pageants that she produced including Miss Merry Christmas, L’Acadiana Girl, and Miss Jennings. And she coached many of her students as they went on to larger state and even national pageant competitions.

In the 1980s Eddie & Sandra along with George & Sue Houssiere co-founded the Animal Watch Foundation. The organization worked toward two main objectives: updating pound facilities and curbing the number of euthanized animals by instituting an aggressive adoption policy with a goal toward a no kill shelter.

In the summer of 1988 a life changing incident befell all of us, but especially Sandra. While driving the long straight Hebert’s Camp Road that connected our property to Old Pasture Road she swerved to avoid a dog resulting in a crash that almost ended her life. Her sporty BMW flipped from one side of the road to the other before smashing into a culvert, coming to rest upside-down and submerged.

Sandra suffered internal injuries and broke multiple bones, including her neck.

Based on her prognosis she would never walk again. She was transported to Dallas for numerous surgeries and  rehabilitation. Remarkably through hard work, dedication, and her can do attitude she was able to walk out of the hospital within a few months.

Her recovery seemed astonishing but was far from complete. Things changed…

With loss of dexterity in her hands she could no longer play the piano or twirl a baton.

She no longer had the energy to keep up her work with AWF, and she didn’t have the heart to recover emotionally from the dogs she could not save. She passed the reins of her foundation on to new leadership.

Other things changed too. After a series of particularly contentious court battles Eddie & Sandra were divorced. She left the home on Nezpique that she had known all of her life and moved from Houston to Tallahassee to New Orleans—all three relocations keeping up with Julie’s family, especially for the grandchildren Cameron and Beau.

It was also during this time that she suffered a second broken neck requiring more surgeries and rehabilitation.  For the second time she found herself in halo traction.

The one thing that never changed was her love and devotion for her family.

In recent years she struggled more frequently with physical issues and neurological difficulties undoubtedly linked to the devastating wreck so many years before.  For the past couple years she resided in an assisted living center.

Sandra passed away too soon on May 26^th, 2015. After a brief yet poignant service at Miguez Funeral Home she was laid to rest next to her parents in Jennings’ Greenwood Cemetery.  She will certainly be remembered as an involved mother, an advocate for animals, and the quintessential southern belle.

Julie Broussard Boggio, married to Bob Boggio of New Orleans, currently resides in Houston. They have two children, Cameron and Beau Boggio whom Sandra absolutely adored.

Julie adds:

I am thankful to have had such a close and loving relationship with my mom.  My many treasured memories of her will keep us close until we meet again.  I close my eyes and see her bright smile, hear her sweet voice, and feel her tender love. 

She quietly endured the many challenges life gave her with much determination.  Her life was an amazing journey of love, generosity, laughter, and bravery.

Travis Broussard resides in Jennings with his fiancé Crystal Walker of Morgan City and daughter Skye Aucoin.

Sandra’s little sister Charlotte Prather who married Billy Ramagost of White Castle, has two children: Paul Ramagost of Tomball, Texas, and Beth Letulier, wife of Brandon Letulier, living in Lafayette with their daughter Lauren.

Charlotte contributes:

Sandra was the best sister and wonderful friend to me. Her personality was contagious and everyone who knew her was drawn to her and loved her. She was a great mother and grandmother who always wanted to take care of her family. She was a great Aunt to my children, Paul and Beth, and to my granddaughter Lauren.

Sandra will always be in my heart and memories. She is greatly missed; but I know that she is not suffering anymore.

Click onto the pictures in this tribute to see them in greater detail.

And on behalf of Julie and Travis we thank family and friends for the outpouring of love and support during this difficult time in our lives.

We invite you to communicate your thoughts or memories in the comments section at the bottom of this page…

Link:  The Jennings Daily News – obituary for Sandra Prather Broussard