Mary Ann Gray Voorhies Obituary - Visitation & Funeral Information

New Iberia - Mary Ann Gray Voorhies of New Iberia died peacefully at Consolata Home on July 24, 2022, following a long illness. She was 76 years old. Visitation will begin at 3:00 p.m. followed by a ceremony at 3:30 p.m. Saturday, July 30, 2022, at First United Methodist Church in New Iberia. A celebration of life will take place immediately following at Maison Le Rosier, 314 E Main St, New Iberia, LA 70560. Mary Ann will be remembered fondly by students at St. Edwards Catholic Elementary School as a second-grade teacher and later by clients in Louisiana and beyond as a yoga instructor and somatic educator. Mary Ann left her studies in elementary school education at the University of Southwestern Louisiana at the age of 20 to marry the love of her life Paul Voorhies and raise a family. Later on in her life she completed that teaching degree and touched many lives, following in the footsteps of her mother, as an elementary school teacher until the time that her dear mother fell ill and she resigned to care for her in her last days. Mary Ann was passionate about helping others in every way she could. After her elementary school teaching career, she became a certified yoga instructor, teaching classes at various locations around Acadiana for many years. She also volunteered with the New Iberia Neighborhood Association, helping to beautify the downtown area of her hometown, and as a Stephen Ministry Leader with the First United Methodist Church, volunteering to assist hospice patients and their families. Later, when most would have been enjoying their retirement years, she pursued a certification as a Hanna Somatic Educator – a little-known bodywork discipline that focuses on helping sufferers of chronic pain and poor posture. These studies brought this small-town girl to live in Northampton, Mass., and to profess in Boulder, Colo., and San Francisco among other places. She instructed classes and provided one-on-one treatment to countless clients. Her lessons were even available on DVD. By many accounts, she helped relieve people of chronic pain, which brought her great fulfillment. Mary Ann enjoyed spending time with her children and grandchildren – who truly were the light of her life – traveling the world, reading countless books on psychology and religion, cooking delicious meals, and baking the best chocolate meringue pies ever. A native of Weeks Island and longtime New Iberia resident, Mary Ann was preceded in death by her beloved parents Barron Douglas Gray, Sr., and Jimmie Lee Fletcher Gray. She is survived by a brother Barron Douglas Gray, Jr., of New Iberia; her lifelong love Paul E. Voorhies II of New Iberia; three children, Mary Beth Langlinais (Ashton), Paul E. Voorhies III, and Lisa Voorhies Blackburn, all of Lafayette; and five grandchildren, Ashton Paul Langlinais, Connor Langlinais, Isabelle Blackburn, Benjamin “Alex” Blackburn, and Ian Blackburn. In lieu of flowers, contributions may be made to Hospice of Acadiana https://hospiceacadiana.com/. A private interment will be held in Rose Hill Cemetery at a later date. Cypress Funeral Home & Crematory, 206 W. Lafayette St., Maurice, LA 70555, (337) 740-3123, is in charge of Cremation arrangements.

Mary Ann Gray Voorhies

September 11, 1945 - July 24, 2022