Avant, Jr., Nathan Thomas
2/25/2011
NATHAN THOMAS AVANT JR.
MARCH 13, 1922 - FEBRUARY 25, 2011
Nathan Thomas Avant was born in Atlanta, Louisiana. He graduated from Atlanta High School and attended trade school in Winnfield, Louisiana. One of his teachers was a graduate of SLI in Lafayette, Louisiana. This teacher asked him if he would be willing to attend college, provided a job could be found for him. Nathan quickly accepted and attended Southwestern Louisiana Institute. While at school, he met and married Ethel Katherine Lindsay. From SLI Nathan joined the Navy, attended Annapolis and served in WWII as a second lieutenant. At the end of WWII he was discharged a changed man and never quite got over his war experiences.
Upon being discharged from the Navy, Nathan finished his BS degree in Vocational Agricultural Education. He obtained his first job working for the Veterans Administration in Jefferson Davis Parish where he taught veterans how to farm. When the agriscience teaching job came open at Hathaway High School, Nathan applied for and obtained that position. He later earned a Masters degree plus thirty from McNeese State University. As an agriculture teacher and assistant principal at Hathaway High School, he retired with 37 years of service.
During those years, Nathan and his family were active members of the Raymond Methodist Church. Music was a big part of Nathan’s life and he encouraged all of his children to make music part of their lives. Following his retirement from Hathaway, Nathan became a Methodist minister and served in that capacity until he retired a second time.
After the death of his third wife, Ruth Morgan Creighton Avant, he returned to Atlanta, Louisiana. He built a home where he and his children’s mother, Ethel had discussed building a home many years before. He spent his last years happily where he had spent his first years.
He was preceded in death by his wife Ethel Katherine Lindsay Avant, his 16 year old daughter Stephanie Avant, his second wife Lola Rosfeld Avant, and his third wife Ruth Morgan Creighton Avant. Nathan is survived by his son Thomas and his wife Romona Avant of DeRidder, Louisiana; his son Torphy and his wife Barbara Avant of Hemphill, Texas; his daughter Marsha and her husband Bobby Corbello of Rye, Colorado; his son John and his wife Judy of Hathaway, Louisiana; his son Hugh Avant of Carlsbad, New Mexico; his daughter Anette Avant of Homer, Arkansas; his daughter Audrey and her husband Sam Dunbar of Church Point Louisiana; thirteen grandchildren, and thirty great grandchildren.
