Skains leaving Tarpons for Cecilia
April 5, 2016
Annette Charpentier
April 7, 2016
Former Lafourche Parish Councilman Lindel Toups died Friday morning at the age of 68.
Toups, who represented Lafourche’s Distrct 6 for 20 years, died after a battle with liver cancer. A native and resident of Gheens, he served on the council from 1996 until 2016, losing re-election last year.
Toups is survived by his wife, Sheila Bourg Toups; son, Lindel Paul Toups Jr.; daughter, April (Timothy) MacMurtrie; and five grandchildren and five great-grandchildren.
Toups’ former colleagues in parish government remember him as a generous, strong soul who was able to disagree with others but never lose sight of their friendship. Phillip Gouaux, who served on the council with Toups for 16 years, said he and Toups’ friendship solidified when the two were rough-necking on an oil rig together. Gouaux was 17 then, and Toups, 20. Gouaux said his old friend never let a dull moment rear its head on the rig.
“He was as crazy as he was when he got [to the council], always playing around, always joking around,” Gouaux said.
According to Gouaux, he and his co-workers were able to return the favor to Toups. Toups, deathly afraid of cockroaches, would tie his unused socks in knots so roaches could not climb into them. One day, Gouaux and his friends put a few roaches in Toups’ socks in the changing room and re-tied the knots. And Toups’ reaction to the prank?
“Like he always did, acted like he was ticked off, and a few minutes later, he went on about his business,” Gouaux said.
That ability to take things in stride and not lose sight of friendships personified Toups, according to Gouaux.
“I have to say that I’ve never known Lindel to hold a grudge. Serving on the council, we had disagreements. He had disagreements with different council members. As soon as we left the council chambers, it was all over,” Gouaux said.
According to Lafourche Parish President Jimmy Cantrelle, who said he has known Toups since the 1960s, anyone who says they always agreed with Toups would be lying. While views on solutions may have differed, Cantrelle never doubted the motivations behind Toups’ thinking.
“Sometimes Lindel saw things one way, and I saw it another way. But he always had his heart in the right place; his heart was always for the people of the parish,” Cantrelle said.
District 9 Councilman Daniel Lorraine served for the entirety of Toups’ political career, described Toups as a man who could not tell a person in need “no.” Lorraine said he was always available to help; even when Toups knew he could not afford to help, he would try. Lorraine recalled the countless auctions and benefits Toups hosted and supported for citizens in both Lafourche and Terrebonne Parish.
“I’d like to know how many gumbos that he made for Head Start, different organizations, and he donated it. When he had his store, he’d pay for everything, he’d cook it. It was tremendous,” Lorraine said.
Former Lafourche Parish President Charlotte Randolph estimated that Toups must have raised more than $100,000 through different fundraising efforts over his time. She cited Toups’ upbringing with 18 siblings as a contributing factor to his generosity, which seemed to have no bounds.
“He just genuinely cared about people. He did not like to see people suffer. He felt that if he could make their life better in any way, shape or form, he was going to do that,” Randolph said.
Toups was also regarded for the time and energy he offered to his own family. Gouaux called him a “true family man,” while Lorraine praised him going “beyond what you normally do for your family.” Randolph recalled the annual party at the Toups’ residence for the Gheens Mardi Gras parade. However, Fat Tuesday was not the only day of the year Toups dedicated to his relatives.
“He lived for his children and grandchildren. He’d do anything for them and, most of all, his precious Sheila, his wife. They were totally devoted to each other,” Randolph said.
Those who knew Toups talked about how much they would miss their old friend, but took solace in his pain ending. Lorraine spoke about Toups as a fighter who battled to the end, and lived a meaningful life in the years life gave him.
“He was a tough cookie. I’m going to miss him,” Lorraine said. •
“Sometimes Lindel saw things one way, and I saw it another way,” Lafourche Parish President Jimmy Cantrelle said of the District 6 councilman. “But he always had his heart in the right place; his heart was always for the people of the parish.”
