FEBRUARY 24, 2020 • MARDI GRAS SOUTHWEST • 55
Krewe du Masque held its 22nd
annual Mardi Gras Ball on Saturday,
February 15. This year’s theme
was White Trash, so members and
guests dressed up in their Sunday
best (or should that be “dressed
down?”) with camo, flannel, mullets,
rollers, cutoff jeans, animal
print and tattoos to celebrate this
Mardi Gras season.
Captain Doris Mudd and fellow
board members President Rachelle
Dunn, Vice President Rita Crochet,
Treasurer Jill Breaux, and
Secretary Joyce Hemker welcomed
members and guests to the Ball.
The 2019 King Etienne XXI
Brandon Rathman and Queen
Andrianne XXI Patty Rathman were
presented as they made their final
walk to the end of their reign.
Captain Doris Mudd presented
Krewe du Masque’s Royal Court for
2020.
Jesters of Classy White Trash
are Kris and Joyce Hemker. Kris
has been a journeyman electrician
at Dollar Electric with IBEW Local
861 for 24 years. Joyce is a clerk
for Calcasieu Parish School Board
for over 13 years. They live in Lake
Charles and their children are
Talia (Tyler) Daigle and Cassidy
Hemker They have been married
for the best 24 years and are in
their 6th year in the Krewe.
The first Court couple are
Duke Ty Edmaiston and Duchess
Heidi Edmaiston. Duke Ty has
been a machinist at PPG for two
years. Duchess Heidi has worked
for the Calcasieu Teachers and
Employees Credit Union for two
years as a member service representative.
They have been married
for one year and look forward to
many more together. They enjoy
the weekends and are always hanging
out with friends and family,
but also like a quiet night at home.
Next are Duke Tyler Daigle
and Duchess Talia Daigle. Duke
Tyler has been the electrical shop
supervisor for Dupont Building,
Inc. for five years, and Duchess
Talia has been a service advisor
for Bolton Ford, also for five years.
They are both graduates of Sowela
Technical College. They’ve been
married for a year and live in
Moss Bluff, and have been Krewe
members for three years.
Finally, the moment everyone
was waiting for. The 2020 King
and Queen of Krewe du Masque
are King Etienne XXII Scott Matteson
and Queen Andrianne XXII
Lisa Matteson.
His Royal Majesty is a native of
St. Louis, Missouri and made his
residence in Southwest Louisiana
after being in the Army at Fort
Polk. He is currently a general
foreman in Cameron at the LNG
plant for APTIM. Scott has 25 years
of experience in the construction
industry, working from Texas to
Southwest Louisiana. Her Royal
Highness is a native of Texas. She is
a graduate of Lamar University in
Beaumont with a degree in nursing,
and has many years of experience,
mostly in cardiovascular ICU
and cardiac care. She is currently
a charge nurse on the cardiovascular
floor at Lake Charles Memorial
Hospital.
The Royal Couple recently
lived in Texas for several
years, but relocated to Southwest
Louisiana in 2017. They
have five children, seven grandchildren
and one very spoiled
Labrador named Rebel. They
enjoy spending time with family
and friends, and now that
they are empty-nesters, they are
always looking for something fun
to do. They enjoy traveling, live
music, bass fishing and weightlifting.
Krewe Captain, the King and
Queen and their Royal Court
made a toast to fellow members
and guests and welcomed everyone
to celebrate the festivities of the
season.
Krewe du Masque was formed
and held their first ball in 1998. The
Krewe is small and family-oriented,
and they always enjoy a good time
with family and friends.