Gilbert LeGrand

BENTON - Gilbert Henry LeGrand, 79, died May 7, 2003, at St. Francis Medical Center in Cape Girardeau.

Born July 27, 1923, in New Hamburg, son of the late William A. and Lucy Grojean LeGrand, he owned and operated LeGrand's Tavern for 40 years, retiring in 1990. A lifelong resident of New Hamburg and Benton, he was a member of St. Denis Catholic Church in New Hamburg, the Chamber of Commerce and American Legion Post 369. He was a veteran of the U.S. Navy.

On Oct. 24, 1944, at Benton, he married Mildred LeGrand who survives of the home.

Other survivors include: four sons, Tim LeGrand of Cape Girardeau, Tedman LeGrand of Advance, Raymond LeGrand of Oran and Kevin LeGrand of Washington, D.C.; seven daughters, Doris Jean Priggel of Portageville, Denise LeGrand of Ballwin, Nancy Weissmueller of Kelso, Tammy Cowell of Metropolis, Ill., Patricia Hobek of Friedheim, Minn., Taryn LeGrand- Lovett of Charleston and Mary Campbell of Benton; two brothers, William LeGrand of Cape Girardeau and Emil LeGrand of Sikeston; three sisters, Bertha LeGrand and Virginia Glaus of Benton and Dorothy Hipes of Clarksville; and 37 grandchildren and 16 great-grandchildren.

Three brothers, three sisters and two grandchildren preceded him in death.

A funeral Mass was celebrated Saturday at St. Denis Catholic Church with the Rev. Normand Varone officiating.

Military graveside rites were conducted by the American Legion at the church cemetery.

Ford and Sons Funeral Home was in charge of arrangements.