Kathy Butaud opens business, holds on to memories of husband

JEFFERSON COUNTY - On this Labor Day weekend when troopers vow that if you drink and drive you'll go to jail, a woman is carrying on with her life, opening a new business and dealing with the death of her husband at the hands of a suspect accused of driving drunk.

"I believe that by God's grace he was taken instantly," said Kathy Butaud. "He never applied his brakes. He never saw the other person coming. And I just choose to believe that he (God) just swooped down and took him before impact. And that helps me. It really does. To know that he did not suffer."

Dudley Butaud, 55, of Groves, was killed July 19 on Highway 365 in Port Arthur when a woman crashed into his vehicle.

Thursday the Jefferson County grand jury indicted Tanjia Colleen Chandler, 46, of Port Arthur, on a charge of Intoxication Manslaughter.

Chandler collided with Butaud's vehicle on the day he and his wife were celebrating their 30th wedding anniversary.

Now, just one day after the indictment, Butaud's wife has opened a coffee shop, The Lazy Bean, at Central Mall.

It was a dream she shared with her husband. Kathy is vowing to carry on that dream while sending a message to people who choose to drink and drive.

Kathy Butaud is the proud owner of The Lazy Bean coffee shop at Central Mall in Port Arthur.

But opening day is a bittersweet moment.

"I have to re-learn how to live," said Kathy.

The coffee shop was a dream of Kathy's, and her husband, Dudley.

"Someone drinking chose to get in their car," said Kathy. "It's a choice that was made. You're choosing to do that knowing you can be a danger to others."

The accident left a giant void in Kathy's life. She's surrounded by co-workers, customers and friends, but not the man she calls her other half.

"My whole world has changed," said Kathy. "There have been mornings for the last 7 1/2 weeks until Tuesday morning when this went up. There was no reason for me to get out of bed in the morning. But I'm still alive. I have kids, grandkids. Life goes on for everyone else. That didn't stop. Well, mine did, but everybody else's didn't."

With the holiday weekend here, Butaud is sending a message to other drivers who have a choice.

"Think about what you might risk taking from yourself or someone else," said Kathy. "Every night at bed time I have my husband's picture in a frame. I kiss him and lay him on his pillow."

A pillow that remains empty-and a woman fulfilling her dream-alone.

"I believe he wants me to go on and accomplish everything we would have wanted to accomplish together."

If the suspect in Dudley Butaud's death is convicted of Intoxication Manslaughter she could face up to 20 years in prison.