Landry Family at the Park

Here is a nice photo of my dad’s family from around 1952.  This is when the family was growing at a rapid pace.  He and his brothers and sisters were getting married and starting to have children.  As you can see, a few of them have already made their appearance.

My dad was Robert Joseph Landry, Jr.  Most people called him Bob or Pluto, though the family called him Bobbie.  Not me, of course, I called him Daddy.  But I don’t think he was a father at this point.  I’m not even sure if he was married then, either.

Of course I know that my parents were married on November 1, 1952, in Lake Charles, Louisiana.  I’m thinking that this photo was taken either at the I-10 Park in Lake Charles or at Sam Houston Park  north of Lake Charles.  I’m judging the year based on who is in the photo.  Of course my godmother Shirley is there.  She is “The First” after all.  The first three were born in  the late 1940s, and that included her younger brother Hubey and cousin Mark. 

Let me identify the people in the photo before I mention any more people.   Starting on the left, you’ll find our dear sweet grandmother.  That’s my dad’s mom.  We called her Mee Maw.  (or Memaw as some like to say)  Her name was Germaine Erie Patureau Landry.  She was “Mrs. Robert Joseph Landry, Sr.”  She was very traditional, what can I say?   Standing next to her is my aunt Mildred Sutherlin Landry.  She was the mother of Shirley Landry Shaw, who is standing next to her.  Shirley is standing in front of our aunt Frances Landry (later Raley).  Frances looks like she might be thinking something negative about something she is looking at.  But that couldn’t be possible, because she never had any negative thoughts!  She’s likely just blinking while the camera shutter snaps.

In front of Shirley and Frances is a young boy.  He’s most likely Hubey, because he’s sitting in his father Hubert Landry’s lap.  Behind him are standing the oldest brother A. J. Landry and my dad.  Sitting at the table is my godfather Johnny Landry.  Now the next person definitely looks like she is not happy.  That’s my aunt Marie Landry Reeves.  She was the mother of my cousin Mark.  Maybe she’s upset that she doesn’t have her son in the photo?  Nor her husband.  Or maybe that’s Mark in the photo and Aunt Germaine is holding him.  If that were the case, then shouldn’t that glare be turned toward Germaine.  I suppose I’m reading it all wrong.  I’m sure Aunt Marie was very happy that day.  Anyone can see that!  Right?

So what’s throwing me off about the date of this photo is that when I first saw it, I thought the child on the right was Germaine’s daughter Daphne.  She wasn’t born in the 40s, so it would push the year back a little.  If it is her, there should be more grandchildren in the photo.  Also missing from the photo is Pee Paw, Aunt Wana and Uncle Duffy, Uncle Ross, and Uncle Malloy.  One of them was probably taking the photo.  I’m sure my older cousins will help me out with these uncertainties.

Either way, it is a dreamy picture of some of the Landry family in the early 50s.