Seeking info - Bowman, Sunset, LA (genealogy, location, records, phone)

JohnNJ · 07-13-2008, 11:25 AM

Mt name is John Bowman and I currently reside in New Jersey. I am seeking info on my father John Bowman. The only info I have is that he resided in sunset Louiaiana and passed away in June of 1988. Does anyone have info on cemetaries in that area? Perhaps a newspaper I can contact to try and track down an obituary?? Any help I can get would be greatly appreciated. Thanks again

Susan13202 · 07-13-2008, 05:49 PM

I am assuming that you have the information from the Social Security Death Index:

JOHN BOWMAN
BORN: 25 Dec 1919
DIED: 15 Jun 1988 (VERIFIED)
LAST RESIDENCE: 70584 (Sunset, Saint Landry, LA)
SS# ISSUED IN: Tennessee

From:
Social Security Death Index Interactive Search

Also on that site it gives his SS# and you can send away to Social Security to get a copy of the card he filled out. I believe it gives his parents names on that card, but I'm not sure as I've never ordered one. They charge you $27 for the copy.

Susan13202 · 07-13-2008, 05:59 PM

Moderator cut: linking to competitors sites is not allowed
This site gives information about St. Landry Parish, the Parish that Sunset is in. It includes newspapers and cemetaries in the Parish.
One that carries obits is
dailyworld.com | Daily World | Opelousas news, community, entertainment, yellow pages and classifieds. Serving Opelousas, LA
however, you would have to contact them to see if they have them from that far back as it won't be on their site. They could lead you in the right direction, I would think. On the bottom of their site it says "Contact Us". Click it and it gives their address and phone number.

Susan13202 · 07-13-2008, 06:11 PM

His death certificate would have the location of the cemetery. It would also include his spouse's name, his occupation, and parent's names, most likely. Louisiana is a closed state. To get the death certificate, you must be a close relative. Adult child of the deceased is included.
Here is the site:
Records and Statistics (Vital Records)

Susan13202 · 07-13-2008, 06:22 PM

Another good place to search:
Cemetery - Saint Landry Parish Archives
and
The LAGenWeb Project - Parish Websites
and
St. Landry Parish Genealogy
You can also try their local library.

JohnNJ · 07-27-2008, 04:17 PM

Sorry for the lapse in responding but thanks susan. I am awaiting various records on my dad. Your reply was most helpful.