Thomas John LaHood
A Mass of Christian Burial will be held on Thursday, Dec. 4, , at 10 a.m. at St. Michael the Archangel Catholic Church in Crowley, for Thomas John LaHood, 91, who passed away peacefully on Sunday, Nov. 30, 2014, at his daughter’s home in Lafayette. Interment will be at Woodlawn Cemetery in Crowley.
Reverend Monsignor Paul Metrejean will be the principal celebrant. Concelebrants will include Reverend Monsignor Charles Dubois, Reverend Monsignor Keith DeRouen and Reverend Mikel Polson.
Lectors will be Donna Reggie Fruge, Stephen Fruge and Alicia Reggie Freysinger. Gift bearers will be Victoria Mayer Smith and Margaret Mayer. Pallbearers will be Logan Smith, Fred Reggie, Jimmy Summerlin, Aaron Hornsby Jr., Steve Green, Denis Reggie, Guy Rials and Bobby Mourad.
Mr. LaHood was born on April 11, 1923, in Mansfield to Syrian immigrants who became proud American Citizens and business owners. He received a bachelor’s degree in accounting from Louisiana Tech University in 1944, where he lettered in four sports, football, baseball, basketball and track. He proudly volunteered and served his country in World War II as a second lieutenant in the First Division of the United States Marine Corps, leading his platoon ashore in the Battle of Okinawa on April 1, 1945, shortly before he turned 22 years old. After the war Tom met the love of his life, Yvonne Reggie, married her and moved to Crowley in 1956.
He founded Tom LaHood Insurance Agency and was a prominent businessman in Crowley for more than 50 years. He was a lector and Eucharistic minister at St. Michael the Archangel Catholic Church, a member of the Fourth Degree Knights of Columbus, the Crowley Kiwanis Club, Veteran’s of Foreign Wars, member of the Flower of Carmel Lay Carmelite Community in Crowley, and faithful member of Nocturnal Adoration Society at St. Michaels.
Mr. LaHood is survived by his daughter, Marie Therese; two granddaughters, Victoria Mayer Smith and husband Logan, and Margaret Mayer; and two great-grandchildren, Jude Smith and Catherine Smith.
He was preceded in death by his beloved wife of 47 years, Yvonne Reggie LaHood; his parents, Abraham and Tamam LaHood; and seven siblings, Mary Mourad, Adele Summerlin, Lula LaHood, Agnes Abraham, Pete LaHood, LaHood LaHood and Joseph LaHood.
Visitation will be observed at Geesey-Ferguson Funeral Home in Crowley on Wednesday, Dec. 3, from 4 p.m. to 8 p.m., with a rosary prayed at 6 p.m., and Thursday from 8:30 a.m. to 9:45 a.m. Burial will be in Woodlawn Mausoleum.
The LaHood family would like to thank the nurses, doctors and staff of Hospice of Acadiana, especially Jolayne, Brittany, Caroline and Deacon Jim. Also Mr. LaHood’s caregivers, Kayla, Caitlin, Tammy and Kathy, for their kind and compassionate care.
In lieu of flowers, memorial contributions may be made to Hospice of Acadiana, Inc., 2600 Johnston St., Suite 200, Lafayette, LA 70503; Discalced Carmelite Nuns, 1250 Carmel Drive, Lafayette, LA 70501; or The National World War II Museum, 945 Magazine St., New Orleans, LA 70130, St. Jude Children’s Research Hospital, P. O. Box 1000, Dept. 142, Memphis, TN 38148-0142.
Word of comfort may be sent to the family at www.geesey-ferguson.com
Arrangements have been entrusted to Geesey-Ferguson Funeral Home, 301 N. Avenue F, Crowley, LA 70526, 337-783-3313.