Elaine F. Babcock

Elaine died peacefully at 11:17 a.m. Saturday, Oct. 1, 2011, after a brief illness. She lived in Baton Rouge since 1960 and before that, Bordelonville, where she was born on Sept. 2, 1924, to Etta (Coco) Firment and Estine Firment. Her parents owned a dry goods store, and her mother, known as "Honey," was the postmistress for the post office in town. Mrs. Babcock taught science and math - her students also knew her as Mrs. Hayes or Miss Elaine - and later became a guidance counselor in the East Baton Rouge Parish school system. She loved gardens and decorating, and, as a young girl, had aspirations of becoming an architect. She handed those gifts down to all of her three sons. She is survived by two of her sons, Lance Hayes, of Baton Rouge, and Thad Hayes, of Montclair, N.J.; sister, Marietta Guedry, of Moreauville; daughter and son-in-law, Margo Hayes, of Baton Rouge, and Adam Lippin, of Montclair; two grandchildren, Kyra Hayes and Daniel Lippin-Hayes; and one great-grandchild, Michael Howell. Her eldest son, Paul Hayes, who was of Baton Rouge, preceded her in death, as did her husband, Don Babcock. Visitation will be at Our Lady of Mercy Catholic Church, on Tuesday, Oct. 4, from 9:30 a.m. until a Mass of Christian Burial at 10:30. Interment following at Greenoaks Memorial Park. Arrangements with Rabenhorst Funeral Home, 825 Government St.