Abstracts of Obits Appearing in the Advocate, Pointe Coupee, La.
File submitted by Donald W. Johnson (DW9JOHNSON@aol.com)

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BALLIET,   STEPHEN CLAY  "MR. STEVE"

A resident of Baton Rouge, he passed away Friday morning, Jan. 9, 1998, at
Baton Rouge General Medical Center. He was 88, born Oct. 21, 1909, in Paulding
County, Ohio, the seventh of 10 children of Stephen Hiram Balliet and Florence
May Bailey Baillet. Graveside services at Resthaven Gardens of Memory. Survived by a
brother, Wallace Eugene Balliet; former wife, Mildred Craig Balliet; three
daughters, Krispin Babin, Judy Balliet and Jerry Lynne Guerin, all of Baton
Rouge; a son, Stephen Clay Morris Balliet, Jasper, Ark.; eight grandchildren,
Clay Babin, Florida, Brad Babin, Vermont, Amy Babin Kopsa, Massachusetts, Mike
Babin, Missouri, Millicent Volentine, Texas, Joel Guerin and Craig Volentine,
both of Hawaii, and Chris Balliet, Texas; a great-grandson, Benjamin Kopsa,
Massachusetts; and numerous nieces and nephews. Preceded in death by parents
and eight brothers and sisters. He began his optical career in 1929 as an
errand boy in Lima, Ohio, and continued in various phases of the optical
business in Columbus, Ohio, San Antonio, El Paso and Dallas, Texas, and New
Orleans before moving to Baton Rouge in 1945. In 1948, along with Berta Mae
“Miss Brown” Robertson, he opened Steve’s Optical Dispensary in the Roumain
Building on Third Street. They operated at this location, as well as two
branch offices, until 1974 when they relocated to Government Street. After 45
years of service to the Baton Rouge community, they retired in 1993. The
Steve’s Optical tradition continues under the ownership of Bill Tigner.
Balliet was one of the founders of the Baton Rouge and Louisiana Associations
of Guild Opticians in the late 1950s, serving as the first state president.
After 10 years of research, he published in 1968, The Balliet, Balliett,
Balliette, Balyeat, Bolyard and Allied Families genealogy, which the National
Genealogical Society reviewed as a contribution to history, as well as to
genealogy … which other genealogical writers might well emulate for its
thoroughness, adherence to documentary sources and careful compilation.” He
was a life member of the American Philatelist Society, compiling many rare
stamp collections, and the International Brotherhood of Magicians. His other
interests included photography and carpentry. He was a member of First United
Methodist Church for 52 years.