Michael Gonzales
March 30, 2016First Amendment to the Constitution of the United States
April 2, 2016
Former Lafourche Parish Councilman Lindel Toups died this 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 of Gheens, he served on the council from 1996 until 2015. He lost a bid for a sixth term in November 2015.
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 keep his work and social life separate.
Phillip Gouaux, who served on the council with Toups for 16 years, said he and Toups’ decades-old friendship never wavered, no matter what happened in council meetings.
“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.
District 9 Councilman Daniel Lorraine, who served alongside Toups for the entirety of his political career, described Toups as a man who could not tell a person in need “no.” Lorraine recalled the countless auctions and benefits Toups hosted and supported for citizens in both Lafourche and Terrebonne parishes.
“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.
Visitation will be from 8 to 11 a.m. on Monday at Vacherie-Gheens Community Center. A Mass of Christian Burial will follow at St. Anthony Cemetery.
