LEGACY OF MR. ALPHONSE J. METOYER, JR. The Legendary Bubb (Bu-BUH ) One of Cane River Countrys most unforgettable characters was the one and only Alphonse J. Metoyer, Jr. who was affectionately known far and wide as Bubb . This rural businessman was, in retrospect, a very metropolitan entrepreneur in the true sense of the word. Although he was a farmer by inherited tradition as a member of one of Isle Brevelles founding families, his legacy expanded to business efforts that rose far beyond the pecan orchards, livestock pastures, truck patches and the expansive cotton fields of La Cote Joyeuse . He lived in his native home for the greatest majority of his life with the exception of a few years that he lived in Beaumont, Texas among his relatives there. This sporting gentleman was born April 20, 1926 in the Melrose, Louisiana community to Catholic parents, Mr. Alphonse Metoyer, Sr. and Mrs. Edith LaCour Metoyer. Bubb is the great, great grandson of Nicolas Augustin Metoyer, founder of St. Augustine Catholic Church and Marie Thereze Coincoin, African-born mother of the Isle Brevelle community. He was baptized at the St. Augustine Catholic Church at Isle Brevelle and studied under the strict tutelage of the Sisters of the Divine Providence Convent at St. Josephs Catholic School located next door to the church. He was a lifetime parishioner of St. Augustines and was a member of the Holy Name Society. Preceding him in death were his parents, one brother and sister-in-law, Raymond and Eula Johnson Metoyer and a nephew, Wilmer LaCour. Bubb diversified his venture interests to include the racing of thoroughbred horses which drew crowds of 5,000 plus from as far away as Oklahoma, Texas, Arkansas and Mississippi some of whom landed their private planes in make-shift strips on local pasture land and had to take rooms in Alexandria and Shreveport, the ownership of The Melrose Giants championship baseball team, the operation of one of the most renowned and still surviving juke-joints started during World War II, the conversion of those premises for childrens theater featuring western movies, the boot-legging of strong drink, the inclusion of an early casino-like back room in the honky-tonk and the crowd-drawing Sunday evening baseball fare that brought the whole family out to the ball games. First known as the Melrose Social Club, the juke joint was later called Bubbs and was host to Fats Domino, Little Richard, and many other famous artists. Of significance was that Bubbs, established in 1942, was always open to all ethnic groups even during times when segregation was the norm. His place of amusement and the activities which gave it life have been immortalized in the artistic renderings of Clementine Hunter and Gilbert Fletcher. The Creole Heritage Center on the Northwestern State University Campus in Natchitoches, Louisiana is a source of information regarding this iconic gentleman. Leaving a lifetime of legendary stories about the Cane River community and his own business ventures, this larger-than-life sport transitioned from this life Sunday, September 27, 2009 in the Louisiana Extended Care Hospital of Natchitoches. Those who will forever cherish his memory are two nieces, Mary Ann Metoyer (Joseph) of Natchitoches and Elaine Williams (Ambrose) of Melrose, LA; three great nieces, Mary (Randall), Angela and Brittany Metoyer all of Natchitoches, LA; four great, great nieces, Raven Washington, Randi Washington, Kiara Murphy and Dextany Ardison and a very special and close cousin, Dr. Harlan Mark Guidry of Kemah, Texas. He is also fondly remembered by two Godchildren, Angela Metoyer and Randi Washington of Natchitoches along with a number of other nieces, nephews and a host of former clients and friends. A Funeral Mass will be celebrated at the St. Augustine Catholic Church, Isle Brevelle Saturday, October 3, 2009 at 10:30 a. m. with burial following in the Church's historic cemetery. An amplified wake service and the conventional recitation of the Holy Rosary (7:00 p. m.) is scheduled at the Winnfield Funeral Home Chapel, 318 North Street, Natchitoches, Louisiana Friday evening, October 2, 2009 from 6:00 p. m. to 9:00 p. m. To send flowers to the family or plant a tree in memory of Alphonse Bu-BUH Metoyer Jr, please visit our floral store.