Barry Guillet was known as a colorful entertainer and businessman in Natchitoches for many decades. Many of his oldest friends met him at St. Mary’s Catholic School, where he attended and graduated in 1964. Barry’s parents, Curtis and Kitty Guillet, educated all of their eight children at St. Mary’s, where Curtis served as a founding board member for the new school in 1967.

When Barry passed away in September 2024, he left a significant donation to the St. Mary’s Foundation, in recognition of the school’s importance to his family, including his six grandchildren, all of whom attended St. Mary’s. His grandchildren included: Abby Guillet (SMS Class of 2022), Adam Guillet (attended SMS for many years, and will graduate from Natchitoches Central in 2025); Claire Guillet (SMS Class of 2019), Michael Guillet (SMS Class of 2021), Ella Guillet (SMS Class of 2024), and Henry Guillet (currently a junior at SMS). Barry’s enduring connection to the school, and his commitment to Catholic education were exemplified by his gift to the Foundation, ensuring that future generations of students may benefit from the values and community he experienced there.

About the St. Mary’s Foundation

Rooted in the values of mission, faith, and tradition, the St. Mary’s Foundation exists to support the continued growth and excellence of St. Mary’s Catholic School in Natchitoches, Louisiana. As a 501(c)(3) nonprofit, the Foundation was established to ensure that the school’s legacy of Catholic education remains strong and accessible for future generations.

Through its three primary initiatives, the Foundation helps meet the school’s most vital needs:

· Tuition Assistance: By easing the financial burden for families, the Foundation helps open the doors of Catholic education to more students.

· Faculty and Staff Support: Recognizing the dedication of educators and staff, the Foundation provides supplemental compensation to help St. Mary’s stay competitive with public school salaries.

· Campus Improvements: The Foundation also contributes to capital outlay projects, assisting with renovations, new construction, and ongoing improvements that enhance the learning environment.

Each gift to the Foundation, like the one made by Mr. Guillet, is an investment in the future of St. Mary’s—ensuring that faith-filled, academically strong education continues for generations to come.

To learn more about the St. Mary’s Foundation or how to support its mission, visit smstigers.org/st-marys-foundation.