Rita Rae and her husband John who has for many years been involved in law enforcement work.  No date on this photo, but it was taken a few years ago.

Rita Rae's sophistication and intelligence, and John's strength of character, made them fit parents but also leaders in the larger family.  Rita Rae organized the first Durand (my mother's maiden name) family reunion which was held out in the big municipal park in St. Martinville.

My father worked to save the beautiful and grand old elm and oak trees in that park and elsewhere in southern Louisiana when he was in the Civilian Conversation Corps.  It was during those years that Cameron (Dad), from New Jersey and Pennsylvania, met two lovely Cajun women, Inez (Mom) and Verna, both of whom he would marry.   That's another story for another web page.