Thursday, Jan. 13
January 13, 2011
‘Crimes of the Heart’: Tragedy, laughs
January 17, 2011
Norman John “Pops” Marmillion, 93, a native of Ponchatula, La., died Friday, Jan. 7, 2011 from complications of Parkinson’s disease.
Mr. Marmillion grew up outside Ponchatula on a strawberry farm and after high school, attended Tulane University on a football scholarship and lettered for the Tulane Green Wave. He later received a masters in education from the University of Arkansas. At the onset of World War II, he entered the U.S. Army Officer’s Training School. While fighting across France, he was promoted to Captain in the U.S. Army. Wounded twice, he was awarded the Purple Heart with Oak Leaf Cluster, the Army Presidential Unit Citation and the French Croix de Guerre Medal. After his discharge from the U.S. Army in 1947, he spent the next 25 years as a high school teacher and athletic coach in Ponchatula, Shaw, Miss. and Houma, La. leading young men in football, baseball, basketball (both men and women) and in track. His work with youth and sports led him to act over 15 years as a sports referee and umpire. He later served as director of the Terrebonne Parish School Transportation Department and as a principal at East Houma Elementary. For all who knew him, “Pops” was a devout Catholic and served as Eucharistic minister at Maria Immacolata Church. For many a Saturday, he was an avid fisherman, sportsman and poker player.
He is survived by his wife, Lillian Larose; children, Mary Ann Rampton, Norman Jr. (Sand), Valsin (Juan Pisani) and Stephen (Colleen) Marmillion, and Kathy Trahan; eight grandchildren, Bradley (Melanie) Naquin, Alicia Gros, Jamie Bernard, Ron (Karen) and Mitch Trahan, and Nicole, Symone and Francoise Marmillion; six great-grandchildren, Mary Beth and Matthew Gros, Kailin and Britlyn Bernard, and Conner and Maddie Jo Trahan; and a host of nieces and nephews.
He was preceded in death by his parents, Valsin Marmillion and Ida Bel; five Marmillion siblings, Earl, Lucille “Hicks”, Alvin, Edith (Thibodeaux) and Edmee (Adams); and brother, Merlin Marmillion.
The family wants to thank the supportive medical and nursing staffs of TGMC and Rehab, Chateau Terrebonne Health Care, Stat Home Health, Home Instead, Haydel Memorial Hospice, The Terrebonne Council on Aging and private sitters.
He is buried at St. Francis de Sales Cemetery No. 2.
In lieu flowers, memorial donations may be made to the Terrebonne Council on Aging.
(Chauvin)
