Eugene Rowland Preaus

“Gene” was born in Farmerville, LA on September 22, 1941, to the late Fred Tidwell and Mona Gill Preaus. He frequently talked about his idyllic childhood in the small north Louisiana town in 1940’s-50’s America. Summers were spent shoeless and carefree. The Farmerville Public Library was a frequent stop and served as a gateway to Gene’s lifelong love of the study of history and genealogy. He attended Farmerville High School, and graduated from Sewanee Military Academy in Sewanee, TN. He was also a proud Eagle Scout. Gene graduated from Princeton University in the class of 1963, where he excelled in the classroom and made many lifelong friends. From Princeton, he returned to Louisiana and attended law school at Tulane. Gene settled in New Orleans, where he led a full and thriving life.

Gene’s law career, successful as it was, paled in comparison to his interest in a wide range of relationships and hobbies. Gene created his own world, and its most important inhabitants were his family. He celebrated his 57th wedding anniversary with his wife Ann Kerr Preaus, who he married on January 27, 1968, in Saint Louis Cathedral. Children David, Darnell, and Virginia followed, and Gene took great delight in each of them throughout their lives.

A Renaissance man, Gene took keen interest in art, music, and gardening. He and Ann loved to cook together and entertain their many friends at their family home on Pine Street. He read constantly, sometimes holding an open book in each hand. He loved classical music and learned to play a piano piece from his favorite composer, Rachmaninoff. An avid card player, he joined in many bridge games across the city.

His love of history and genealogy flourished through his active membership in the Society of Colonial Wars, The Society of the Cincinnati, and the First Families of Virginia, among other organizations. He loved helping others research their family histories, as well as finding long-lost connections. Gene was a member of the Boston and Louisiana Club and numerous Carnival and social organizations. He loved New Orleans, where he and Ann were active and enthusiastic participants in social events and local institutions. He was a board member of the New Orleans Botanical Garden and a founding member of Christwood Retirement Community. Later in life, he enjoyed writing for the Lambeth Literary Journal.

Gene is survived by his wife, Ann Kerr Preaus of New Orleans, son, David Carrington Preaus and his wife, Susan of Silverthorne, CO, and their children, Theodore Lobrano Preaus, Noah Tidwell Preaus, and Hamilton Fauntleroy Preaus; daughter, Darnell Preaus Heywood and her husband, Will of Columbus, OH, and their children, William “Liam” Heywood V and Charles Eugene Heywood; and daughter, Virginia Preaus Barba and her husband, Lee of New Orleans, LA, and their children, Adele Lobrano Barba and Litchfield “Field” Clark Barba.

He was preceded in death by his parents, Fred Tidwell and Mona Gill Preaus and brother, Frederick Tidwell Preaus.

Relatives and friends are invited to a Celebration of Life on Friday, September 25th from 3:00pm to 5:00pm at Lambeth House, 150 Broadway, New Orleans, Louisiana. In lieu of flowers, please donate to the Lambeth House Foundation at www.lambethhouse.com/donations/