| Ralph Luke "Pie" Sonnier & Joey Sonnier Sulphur, LA |
Ralph Luke Sonnier, better known as "Pie", attended
McNeese State College before joining the Army. After
serving in the US Army for 3 years in Germany, he
worked in the IBEW apprentice program in Port
Arthur, Texas. After becoming a journeyman lineman,
he followed the electrical high line work for nine
years. During this time he married Josephine "Joey"
Caruthers in Sulphur on July 27, 1968 (38th
Anniversary cruise pictures here). In 1973 after the
birth of their son, Paul, he started working at Century
Steps, which later became Century Group, from
where he retired with 29 years of service as
fabrication supervisor. He enjoys working in his
woodworking shop building handcrafted cars, trucks,
and toys; traveling; and entertaining friends on his
"Reminiscing Porch".
McNeese State College before joining the Army. After
serving in the US Army for 3 years in Germany, he
worked in the IBEW apprentice program in Port
Arthur, Texas. After becoming a journeyman lineman,
he followed the electrical high line work for nine
years. During this time he married Josephine "Joey"
Caruthers in Sulphur on July 27, 1968 (38th
Anniversary cruise pictures here). In 1973 after the
birth of their son, Paul, he started working at Century
Steps, which later became Century Group, from
where he retired with 29 years of service as
fabrication supervisor. He enjoys working in his
woodworking shop building handcrafted cars, trucks,
and toys; traveling; and entertaining friends on his
"Reminiscing Porch".
Some of you are curious about my life as I am of yours. I love
hearing stories. One reason why the monthly get togethers are
so enjoyable is because of your stories of the past. Even though
I have heard some of them several times over the years, the
stories still make me laugh.
The Life and Times of Josephine "Joey" Caruthers Sonnier (my
brother, Johnny, could not pronounce Josephine so I was
nicknamed Joey). I am a 1944 Sulphur native who lived on the
SW corner of Logan & Huntington across the street from the old
Our Lady of Prompt Succor Church from birth through the third
grade. All during the first grade, I would walk home from school
every time the teacher left the room or at recess time. My Mom
got a lot of exercise that year bringing me back to school. Also
that summer, the school put up a fence around the school yard
just because of me.
On the SE corner where the Brimstone Museum is located was
my grandpa's grocery store (J.P. Caruthers - one of the original
signers of the Sulphur Charter). You might remember the store as
Bertha's or Parker's. After grandpa died my dad sold it to Parker.
On either Saturday or Sunday, my dad would take my Mom,
brother, and me on car rides to see the country, but we always
got home by dark. I can remember going to the Sulphur Mines to
see all the grand stuff you could do, the beautiful trees & yards,
and those big beautiful homes. In the 6th grade, Mrs. Pruitt had a
coke party for the class at her house. Boy, I was impressed with
her big Sulphur Mines home. We moved to Starlin Street where I
am continuing to spend my life in that neighborhood. Pie and I
bought our house just one street over from Starlin. I can see my
old house from my kitchen window. Five of the original families
still live in the old neighborhood.
I graduated from Sulphur High in 1962 & 1966 from McNeese. My
high school days were horrible. I was very, very shy. A wallflower
that blended into the background. In 1966, I became a third
grade teacher at WT Henning (Southside) Elementary School.
July 27, 1968, I caught my man, Pie, with the help of Tommy &
Francis Vincent. We double dated on our first date. It was love
at first sight! He worked construction so I quit my job and we
traveled following the highline work. In December of 1971, we
had our only child, Paul. When he started school, I found my
niche being the office manager at Our Lady's School for 17
paying years. I was there for 25 years. You worked because you
loved the job, not the pay.
Pie and I love to travel. Hopefully we will have good enough
health to do so for several more years. I like to entertain and
clean flowerbeds, but cooking and cleaning are not too high on
my list. When I cook, I make sure it is excellent and that it's a
dish that will last for a couple of days. Throw in a few days of
eating out and I am happy. Pie is so easy to satisfy. He is great
to put up with me. We both think we got a good deal marrying
each other. Life is and has been wonderful. Well, I could go on
with my story, like about the week of the good time we had at
Fripp Island with Blanche & Tony Trumps, Elizabeth Perry Fugatt,
Nelda & Fred Kressman, and Paul Hynes.......maybe next year.
I am so happy that I am an honorary member of the Class of '57.
Thank you so much. It is and has been fun planning our 50th
reunion and getting to know you. Let's hear from some of you.
Keep smiling. Joey
PS. I cooked today. A pot roast,. Going to eat out tomorrow, so
that roast will last a lonnnnnnng time.
hearing stories. One reason why the monthly get togethers are
so enjoyable is because of your stories of the past. Even though
I have heard some of them several times over the years, the
stories still make me laugh.
The Life and Times of Josephine "Joey" Caruthers Sonnier (my
brother, Johnny, could not pronounce Josephine so I was
nicknamed Joey). I am a 1944 Sulphur native who lived on the
SW corner of Logan & Huntington across the street from the old
Our Lady of Prompt Succor Church from birth through the third
grade. All during the first grade, I would walk home from school
every time the teacher left the room or at recess time. My Mom
got a lot of exercise that year bringing me back to school. Also
that summer, the school put up a fence around the school yard
just because of me.
On the SE corner where the Brimstone Museum is located was
my grandpa's grocery store (J.P. Caruthers - one of the original
signers of the Sulphur Charter). You might remember the store as
Bertha's or Parker's. After grandpa died my dad sold it to Parker.
On either Saturday or Sunday, my dad would take my Mom,
brother, and me on car rides to see the country, but we always
got home by dark. I can remember going to the Sulphur Mines to
see all the grand stuff you could do, the beautiful trees & yards,
and those big beautiful homes. In the 6th grade, Mrs. Pruitt had a
coke party for the class at her house. Boy, I was impressed with
her big Sulphur Mines home. We moved to Starlin Street where I
am continuing to spend my life in that neighborhood. Pie and I
bought our house just one street over from Starlin. I can see my
old house from my kitchen window. Five of the original families
still live in the old neighborhood.
I graduated from Sulphur High in 1962 & 1966 from McNeese. My
high school days were horrible. I was very, very shy. A wallflower
that blended into the background. In 1966, I became a third
grade teacher at WT Henning (Southside) Elementary School.
July 27, 1968, I caught my man, Pie, with the help of Tommy &
Francis Vincent. We double dated on our first date. It was love
at first sight! He worked construction so I quit my job and we
traveled following the highline work. In December of 1971, we
had our only child, Paul. When he started school, I found my
niche being the office manager at Our Lady's School for 17
paying years. I was there for 25 years. You worked because you
loved the job, not the pay.
Pie and I love to travel. Hopefully we will have good enough
health to do so for several more years. I like to entertain and
clean flowerbeds, but cooking and cleaning are not too high on
my list. When I cook, I make sure it is excellent and that it's a
dish that will last for a couple of days. Throw in a few days of
eating out and I am happy. Pie is so easy to satisfy. He is great
to put up with me. We both think we got a good deal marrying
each other. Life is and has been wonderful. Well, I could go on
with my story, like about the week of the good time we had at
Fripp Island with Blanche & Tony Trumps, Elizabeth Perry Fugatt,
Nelda & Fred Kressman, and Paul Hynes.......maybe next year.
I am so happy that I am an honorary member of the Class of '57.
Thank you so much. It is and has been fun planning our 50th
reunion and getting to know you. Let's hear from some of you.
Keep smiling. Joey
PS. I cooked today. A pot roast,. Going to eat out tomorrow, so
that roast will last a lonnnnnnng time.
Cool Apron !!!!!!
Joey has fruit on her tomatoes. She is ahead of the people in California.....
Pie has two new air plants
| The guy with a tie is my former 3rd grade student, John Bridges, who is the KPLC morning anchorman. In the other picture, the guy by Pie is Wade Hampton and by me is Jeff Jumper. They are both meteorologists. Pie won the KPLC cap as a door prize. Pictures were taken August 21, 2008 at the Young at Heart Expo in Lake Charles. |
Page design and creation by Philip Andrews
Photographs by Pie and Joey Sonnier and
Friends
Created November 6, 2008
Last updated January 13, 2010
Photographs by Pie and Joey Sonnier and
Friends
Created November 6, 2008
Last updated January 13, 2010