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Clarence Christenson, who served as an assistant coach with Dale Brown and the late Sue Gunter for close to two decades, passed away early March 15 at age 82 after a lengthy illness, according to his daughter, Nancy Boudreaux.
A celebration of Coach Christenson's life will be held Saturday at Trinity Episcopal Church in Morgan City. Visitation will be from 9-10 a.m., and the funeral service at 10. Twin City Funeral Home in Morgan City is handling arrangements.
Christenson had been living in the Morgan City area where his daughter lives but had been spending a lot of time at his camp in Stephenville, north of Morgan City.
Christenson, born on July 20, 1934, was a father of six who came to LSU as a 38-year-old willing to serve as a graduate assistant to further his education and career. Better known as “Christy” by his friends, Christenson and his wife, Yvonne, brought their family to Baton Rouge from Dale Brown’s hometown of Minot, North Dakota.
Brown and Christenson grew up together and were teammates and classmates at Minot State College. Christenson graduated with a business and physical education major in 1959, two years after Brown.
Following graduation, Christenson entered the coaching profession, serving 14 years combined at Harvey and Minot High and earning 837 wins in basketball and baseball. He was associated with seven state championships.
Brown brought Christenson to Baton Rouge in 1973 to not only work with the varsity and junior varsity units at LSU, but in true Brown fashion, he had a perfect job for the outgoing Christenson: help build basketball interest in the State of Louisiana for LSU. He organized two groups: the Tigers Safari Basketball Club, which could be equated to today’s Mike’s Kids Club at LSU, and the one he has always been associated most notably with – The Tiger Tykes and Tots.
The Tykes were a mini-Globetrotter type unit that displayed basketball ball handling skills and drills and delighted audiences all over. Many of those youngsters ended up with college scholarships, including at LSU.
“’Christy’ was a quiet gentle man with exceptional coaching skills with young people and a nurturing attitude,” Brown said.
After serving two years as a full-time assistant coach at LSU for Brown after earning his master’s degree in education, Christenson later joined the LSU women’s staff of then-coach Barbara Swanner in 1979. He continued to serve until 1992, with the majority of those years with Gunter, the legendary Hall of Fame coach. Christenson became known in women’s basketball as a noted recruiter, helping to bring in many high school All-Americans, including among others Joyce Walker and Alisha Jones.
Boudreaux said Walker is scheduled to deliver the eulogy at Christenson’s funeral.
Gunter once said Christenson "was the best teacher of basketball fundamentals she had ever seen."
One of those who was there for Christenson’s last years as a women’s assistant was a young student broadcaster calling Lady Tiger games on the campus radio station, Patrick Wright.
“Coach Christy was a gem of a human being,” said Wright, still the longtime “Voice of the Lady Tigers” on the LSU Sports Radio Network. “A true throwback with ‘old-school’ values. He and Coach Gunter made a great pair when they were on the women’s staff together. He loved working at LSU, and I’m glad I had the opportunity to get to know him.”
A scholarship fund in his name "Coach Christy Christenson" is set up with Minot High School in Minot, North Dakota.

Franklin Police Chief Sabria McGuire reported the follow arrest:
Shawn Jenkins, 40, Lancelin Street., Baldwin, was arrested on Monday at 4:40 p.m., on a warrant for failure to appear on the charge of disturbing the peace by intoxication.
Brendan Comeaux, 24, of Third Street, Franklin, was arrested Tuesday at 9:07 p.m. on a district court failure to appear warrant on a charge of unauthorized entry of an inhabited dwelling and held with no bond set.
St. Mary Parish Sheriff Mark Hebert reported the following arrests:
Deshandra Gaines, 26, 404 Bollard St., Baldwin, was arrested on Monday at 11:33 a.m. on a warrant for failure to appear on the charge of bank fraud and theft. Bail is set at $50,000.
Andrea Smathers, 25, 909 Prairie Road North, Centerville, was arrested on Monday at 6:33 p.m. on a warrant for failure to appear on the charges of failure to stop at a stop sign and failure to honor written promise to appear. Bail is set at $1,000.
Adrienne Paul, 24, 104 Beau Lane, Bayou Vista, was arrested on Monday at 11:43 p.m. on a warrant for failure to appear on the charge of possession of marijuana and on a warrant for failure to appear on the charges of smoking in a vehicle prohibited. Bail is set at $1,250.
Christine Cantrell, 29, of 1102 Fourth St., Morgan City, was arrested Monday at 12:50 p.m. on a failure to appear for a drug court status conference warrant and held on $100,000 bond.
Ariel Darby, of 427 Seventh St., Franklin, was arrested Monday at 3:56 p.m. on a failure to appear warrant on a charge of criminal trespassing and held with no bond set.
Scottie Black, 28, of 124 Cherokee St., Charenton, was arrested Wednesday at 4:48 p.m. on a charge of simple battery. He was released on $2,500 bond.
Jakeysha Broussard, 32, of 9371 US 90, Centerville, was arrested Wednesday at 4:31 p.m. on a failure to appear warrant on charges of speeding and suspended driver’s license and was released on $2,000 bond.
Charleston J. Grogan, 22, of 218 Wren St., Morgan City, was arrested today at 2:50 a.m. on charges of unauthorized entry of an inhabited dwelling, remaining where forbidden, a failure to appear warrant on charges of domestic abuse battery and criminal damage to property, and two Morgan City Court failure to appear warrants on charges of contempt of court. No bond was set.
Narcotics agents arrested Kelvin Vincent, 33, 279 Bon Jovi Blvd., Gray, on Monday at 7:09 p.m. for failure to yield to an emergency vehicle, improper lane usage, flight from an officer, possession of Schedule II – methamphetamine – with intent to distribute, possession of Schedule I – marijuana, obstruction of justice, transactions involving drug proceeds, violation of uniform control dangerous substance law, possession of drug paraphernalia and aggravated obstruction of a highway of commerce. No bail is set.
Mardanion Vincent, 279 Bon Jovi Blvd., Gray, was arrested on Monday at 7:09 p.m. for illegal carrying of weapons. No bail is set.
Chitimacha Police Chief Hal Hutchinson reported the following arrests:
Robbi Naquin, 55, Canal Drive, Franklin, was arrested on Friday for theft. Naquin was released on a summons.
Michael Johnson, Choctaw Street, Charenton, was arrested for on Sunday for failure to appear for misdemeanor arraignment for buy commercial fish from unlicensed fisherman. He was transported to the parish jail.
Le Hieu Hoang, 44, South Central, Abbeville, was arrested on Monday for theft of goods. Hoang was released on a summons.
Gilbert Ramagos III, 23, of 1064 Grace St., Siracusaville, was arrested Tuesday at 8:06 p.m. on a charge of following too closely, improper lane use and reckless operation.
Devon Marsh, 25, of 148 Ciro St., Siracusaville, was arrested Tuesday at 8:06 p.m. on charges of possession of marijuana and violation of a drug free zone.
Ramagos was released on a $1,000 bond. Marsh was released on a summons to appear in court.
John F. Shibley, 49, of 225 Greenwood St., Morgan City, was arrested Tuesday at 7:51 p.m. on an Assumption Parish warrant charging him with possession of marijuana with intent to distribute. No bond was set.

November 10, 1924 – March 25, 2017
Funeral services for Mr. Robert L. “Bob” Williams will be held Wednesday, March 29, 2017, at 10 a.m. at the First United Methodist Church in Franklin. Following the service, Mr. Bob will be laid to rest with Military Honors in the Franklin Cemetery. Rev. Steve Porter will conduct the services with Rev. Sue Pugh assisting. Military Honors will be provided by the United States Army. Serving as pallbearers will be James Borello, Jason Kauffman, Trace Bost, Robbie Robinson, David Mendisabal, and Dennis Smith.
Relatives and friends are invited to join the family for the visitation on Tuesday, March 28, 2017, at Ibert’s Mortuary in Franklin from 6 p.m. until 8 p.m. Visitations will resume Wednesday, March 29, 2017, at the First United Methodist Church in Franklin at 9 a.m.
Bob was a native of Crosby, Mississippi and a longtime resident of Franklin. A veteran of the United States Army, Bob proudly served his country and fellow man during World War II in the European Theater, taking part in the Battles of Normandy, Northern France, and Rhineland. In his early years he worked for South Central Bell and later worked for Cabot where he retired from in 1986. He enjoyed working out in the yard, cutting not only his grass, but neighbors and his church as well. He also enjoyed shrimping until age would no longer allow it. Bob passed away at the age of 92 on Saturday, March 25, 2017, at his home surrounded by family. He will be dearly missed and fondly remembered by all who knew and loved him.
Those he leaves to cherish his memory include his wife of nearly 15 years, Gene K. Williams; four daughters, Mary Lee Williams Borello and her husband Frank of Houston, TX, Gale Williams Kauffman of Colorado Springs, CO, Martha Murphy Chauvin of Patterson, and Judith Murphy Baker and her husband Joe of Houston, TX; ten grandchildren, Janeen Farkas and her husband Dave, Bonnie Fraley, Ginger Mendisabal and her husband David, James Borello and his wife Sarah, Jason Kauffman, Monique Covert and her husband Brent, Tonya McCoy and her husband Jaron, Michael Baker and his wife Marci, John Baker, and Katie Pisani and her husband Alton; 14 great grandchildren; as well as numerous nieces and nephews.
He was preceded in death by his first wife Gert Williams; his parents, Daniel N. Williams and Felicia Rymer Williams; and six siblings, Clyde, Alfred, Jessie Mae, Frances, Marie, and Willie Roy.
In lieu of flowers, the family asks that contributions be made in Bob’s name to the First United Methodist Church, 920 Main Street, Franklin, La. 70538, 337-828-5259.
Family and friends may view the obituary and express their condolences online by visiting www.iberts.com. Arrangements have been entrusted to Ibert’s Mortuary, Inc., 1007 Main Street, Franklin, La. 70538, (337) 828-5426.

Ophelia “Big O” Edwards Green, 66, a resident of Morgan City, La. and a native of Ville Platte, La., passed away on Friday, March 24, 2017 at 8:45 p.m. at her residence.
Visitation will be observed on Thursday, March 30, 2017 at Jones Funeral Home, 715 Sixth St., Morgan City, La., from 9 a.m. until funeral services at 11 a.m., Reverend Ron Bias, will officiate the services. Burial will follow funeral services in the Berwick Cemetery in Berwick, La.
Memories of “Big O,” as she was known to many will forever remain in the hearts of her son, Delmas C. Green, III of Phoenix, Arizona; her daughter, Ebony T. Gant of Spring, Texas; three brothers, Melvin Edwards of Spring, Texas; Henry Edwards of Winda, Georgia and Micheal Edwards of Berwick, La.; one sister, Barbara Porsche of Morgan City, La.; nine grandchildren, a daughter-in-law, two sisters-in-law and a host of nieces, nephews, other relatives and friends.
Ophelia was preceded in death by her parents, one sister, and five brothers.
Jones Funeral Home of Morgan City-Franklin-Houma-Jeanerette in charge of arrangements.