Cyrus Jude Provost,95, a native of Lafayette, Louisiana, died Monday, October 26, 2026, at his home in Morgan City, Louisiana. He served his country in the U.S. Naval Reserve, and then in the U.S. Army before moving to Morgan City and marrying the former Christine Guarisco.

Cyrus devoted over forty years of service to Morgan City and St. Mary Parish as an educator, elected official, and volunteer. A graduate of Southwestern Louisiana Institute with a master's degree from LSU, he began teaching science at M.D. Shannon Elementary in 1957 -later serving as principal of Julia B. Maitland Elementary, M.D. Shannon Elementary, and the first Morgan City Junior High School. He later served the St. Mary Parish School Board as Supervisor of Instruction and Assistant Superintendent, retiring in 1986. The Cyrus J. Provost Chapter of the National Junior Honor Society at Morgan City Junior High was named in his honor.

In 1966 he was elected to the Morgan City Council, serving as Mayor Pro Tem, a post he held for two terms. He originated the Tourist Commission, proposed the servicemen's memorial at City Hall, and served on the Beautification Commission. Making Morgan City greener was a lifelong cause: in 1965 he asked the council to plant palms on Federal Avenue and helped plant the first Cypress 2000 tree at the city's welcome sign in 1990. He served as interim executive director of the East St. Mary Area Chamber of Commerce and kept its work going until a successor was hired--supporting a heritage trail through east St. Mary. He was a faithful supporter of the Morgan City Archives, serving more than a decade on its Commission. He was also a past president of the Morgan City Kiwanis Club and a lifelong member of Holy Cross Church.

He is survived by his wife, Christine and children- Catherine Holcomb (Tommy Gegenheimer), John Provost, Mary Lee Sherlock (John), Christine Myers (David); grandchildren- Elizabeth Kounalakis (George), Mary Catherine Holcomb, Kenneth Holcomb, Vincent Holcomb, Lee Holcomb (Laura Leigh), Mary Grace Dartez (Thomas), Christopher Sherlock (Cole Catherine), Thomas Myers, and John Patrick Myers; great-grandchildren -Theodora Kounalakis, Anne Marie Dartez, and Cyrus James Dartez. He is also survived by his younger brother The Most Rev. Glen John Provost, Bishop of Lake Charles.

Cyrus was preceded in death by his parents, Cyrus Martin Provost and Sadie Blanchet Provost; daughter Anne Marie Provost; granddaughter Christina Marie Myers; and sister Unifred (Faye) G. Maddox.

The family would like to thank his caregivers—Evelyn, Gail, Monica, Bobby, Cindy, and Tammy—and also Crystal and Teracita of Hope Hospice for their compassionate support.

Visitation will be at Holy Cross Catholic Church on Friday, October 30 from 9:00-11:00 a.m. Cyrus’s brother The Most Rev. Glen John Provost, Bishop of Lake Charles will celebrate a Mass of Christian Burial at 11:00 a.m. Concelebrants are The Very Rev. Ruben Buller, V.G. and the Rev. Patrick Riviere, Pastor of Holy Cross. Following mass, Cyrus will be laid to rest in the Morgan City Cemetery, where military honors will be rendered by the Patterson Memorial VFW, Post 12182 and the Navy.