Ernie P. Broussard
ESTHERWOOD – A Mass of Christian Burial will be held at 11 a.m. on Monday, Oct. 20, at St. Margaret’s Catholic Church in Estherwood with burial in Estherwood Memorial Cemetery for Ernie P. Broussard, 89, who died peacefully surrounded by his family Oct. 14, 2014, at 12:55 p.m. in Estherwood after a brief illness.
The family is requesting visiting hours to be held Sunday, Oct. 19, from 10 a.m. until 9 p.m. and again on Monday, Oct. 20, from 8 a.m. until the Funeral Mass at 11 a.m. at St. Margaret’s Catholic Church in Estherwood.
The Chaplet of Divine Mercy will be sung by the Luminaries of our Lady Sunday at 6 p.m., followed by a rosary led by Fr. Randall Moreau and then eulogies by E. Paul Broussard and other family members.
Father Randall Moreau will be the celebrant with Msgr. Russell Harrington, Msgr. Paul Metrejean, Fr. Mikel Polson, Fr. Mark Miley and Fr. Clint Trahan, con-celebrating with Deacon Tom Sommers assisting.
He was a native of Vermilion Parish, born in Kaplan, Jan. 23, 1925, to Paulite and Edmay Clostio Broussard. He moved with his family to Estherwood in 1937. He was educated at Estherwood Elementary and Estherwood High School, graduating in 1941.
He began college at Southwest Louisiana Institute (SLI) now UL-Lafayette until enlisting in U.S. Navy in 1942. He was trained as a medic at SLI and University of Notre Dame in the V-12 Program and continued his basic training at Treasure Island in San Francisco Bay and commenced active duty on July 1, 1943. He served in the Pacific Theater aboard the USS Victoria (a naval fueling ship) as a Storekeeper Disbursing Officer 2nd Class (SKD2c) until his honorable discharge on May 1, 1946. His ship was anchored in Manila Bay when the Japanese Surrender Documents were executed upon the USS Missouri, ending World War II.
After the surrender, his ship sailed to Mobile, Alabama, passing through the Panama Canal and was decommissioned upon arrival in Mobile.
He is survived by his wife of 68 years and 10 months, Sylvia Sellers Broussard. He is also survived by his seven children, Susan Broussard Meaux (Julius), Becky Broussard Lamm, Ernie Paul Broussard II, Ginger Broussard Comeaux (Keith), Cathy Broussard Savant (Timmy), Scott David Broussard (Julie) and Kevin Victor Broussard (Holly); 23 grandchildren, Chris Meaux (Missy), Angele Meaux Mire (Jude), Brant Lamm (Khristy), Jed Meaux (Lauren), Christa Broussard, Paul Broussard (Aimee), Jason Lamm (Paula), Aylie Broussard Gray (Taylor), Brittany Lamm Meagher (David), Josh Savant (Katy), Ashley Comeaux Hurlburt (Robert), Jeffrey Broussard, Trent Broussard (Lannah), Bart Savant (Abby), Lindsey Comeaux Munn (Chase), Tyler Comeaux (Katie), Trey Broussard, Morgan Comeaux, Emily Broussard, Taylor Broussard, Elizabeth Broussard, Ashton Broussard and Kelsey Broussard, and forty great grandchildren with two more great grandchildren on the way; four sisters, Audrey Broussard Guidry, Delores Broussard Hoffpauir, Godchild Beverly Broussard Hains (Johnny) and Lauralie Broussard Mackey (Vance); godchildren, Vickie Broussard Carney, Vance Mackey III and Christine Doucet; and many nieces, nephews and great-nieces and nephews.
He is preceded in death by his parents, Paulite and Edmay Clostio Broussard; brother, J.B. Broussard; sister, Loretta Mae Broussard; his sisters-in-law, Gertrude Sellers Broussard, Helen Sellers Myers and Margaret Sellers David; brothers-in-law, Laryman Guidry, Sabra David, Don L. Myers and Warren Hoffpauir, and his nephews, Keith Broussard, godchild Laryman Guidry Jr. and Timmy Guidry.
Following his honorable discharge from the U.S. Navy, Ernie and his bride resided in Estherwood and continued their education at SLI, graduating in 1948, whereupon he was hired by CLECO as a right-of-way purchaser for the growing utility company.
In 1949, he moved his wife and first child to Ville Platte until obtaining a job with Kaplan Lumber Yard in 1950. He moved to his hometown of Estherwood in 1951 and began working with his brother, J.B., in Estherwood Insurance Agency for the next 47 years.
He was involved with the management of the family businesses of Broussard Farms, Broussard Rice Mill, Morse and Midland Rice Driers, as well as mayor of Estherwood from 1952 until 1990, and for the past 18 years in the health care industry at SABS and Kailo, where his employees became part of his family.
He was an active member of the Louisiana Municipal Association (LMA), serving as president in 1979-80, as well as member of the National League of Cities.
He began membership in American Legion Post 15 immediately upon discharge in 1946. He served as Post Commander and Delegate of the Post for many years to both the State and National American Legion Conventions from 1955 until 2013.
He was a member of the State of Louisiana Veterans Affair Commission under Govs. John McKeithen, Edwin Edwards and David Treen, serving as chairman for two years. He was appointed to the position of state director of Veterans Affairs by Gov. Edwin Edwards from 1992 to 1996.
He was also a member of VFW, 40 and 8 and ANAVICUS. He also served on the Emblem Committee for the National American Legion Organization.
He is a charter member of Father Fontaine KC Council in Estherwood, serving as the first Grand Knight in 1959 and a Knight in the Fourth Degree of Msgr. George Mollo Assembly since 1952. He also obtained the distinguished honor of being named a Commander of the Fleur de Lis, a Catholic Men’s Honor Society comprised of bishops, monsignors, priests, deacons and lay persons from Louisiana, Mississippi, Arkansas, Alabama and Tennessee.
He along with his son, E. Paul, and brother-in-law, John E. Hains, former State Master of the Knights of Columbus, were privileged to stand honor guard with 1200 other Sir Knights for a Mass at the National Shrine of the Immaculate Conception in Washington, D.C., in September, 2002, for the first anniversary of 9/11 tragedies.
His hobbies and interests included any activities that involved family and friends, attending and supporting UL-Lafayette athletics and RCAF as a season ticket holder for football, basketball and baseball for over 50 years.
He was an avid golfer, picking up the sport when he was 62. At age 78, he started scoring his age regularly and scored two holes-in-one during his 27 years of golfing. He could be seen several times a week at Bayou Bend Country Club participating in weekly “dog fights.”
Pallbearers will be his 12 grandsons and draping his casket for the Funeral Mass will be his 11 granddaughters.
The family would like to thank Dr. Paul Stringfellow, Dr. Stephen Simpson, Acadia General Hospital, Heart Hospital of Lafayette, St. Joseph Hospice and loyal and loving caretakers, Pam Cloud, Lola McLean, Roberta Miller, Suzette Yokum and Phyllis Pousson.
In lieu of flowers, contributions can be made to St. Michael Elementary School or Notre Dame High School of Acadia Parish or a Catholic school or veteran’s charity of your choice.
Arrangements have been entrusted to Geesey-Ferguson Funeral Home of Crowley.