- Date Of Birth: September 20, 1924
- Date Of Death: March 28, 2015
- State: Louisiana
Ilva Olean Bertrand Bryant, 90, passed away peacefully in her home Saturday, March 28, 2015. Ilva was born September 20, 1924 in Elton, Louisiana to Odel and Ida Bertrand. After graduating from Elton High School and completing business school in Lake Charles, Ilva moved to Monroe in 1942 with her employer when the company was contracted by T. L. James to help build Selman Army Field. It was there, that she first met and quickly fell in love with a handsome young Army paratrooper, Carl “Leo” Bryant, Sr. They were married in December 28, 1944 while Leo was home on a furlough.
After World War II, they settled in Leo’s hometown of Rayville, Louisiana where they had two sons, and made a simple, but beautiful life on their farm.
