Allison J. Abshire

Allison J. Abshire, Ph.D., long-time Crowley resident, died Aug. 24, 2015. Funeral services will be held at 11 a.m. Friday, Aug. 28, at Geesey-Ferguson Funeral Home.
The family requests visitation be observed Thursday from 2 p.m. to 8 p.m. and Friday from 8 a.m. to the time of service. Interment will be in Woodlawn Mausoleum.
Dr. Abshire is survived by his wife, Marjorie H. Abshire; one son, Alan D. Abshire and wife DeEtte; two daughters, Gail Abshire and Mary A. Fleming and husband Ray; six grandchildren, Laura Abshire, Jamie A. Fleming and husband Glenn, Kelly A. Bennett and husband Bobby, Kerry Abshire, David Page, and Shannon Fleming; one great-grandchild, Hikari Fleming; one sister, Evelia A. Doucet and husband Polite; and one sister-in-law, Etheleen G. Abshire.
He is preceded in death by his first wife, Elaine G. Abshire; his parents, Jeneus and Alicia Simon Abshire; and three brothers, Milton Abshire, Wilbert Abshire, and Danes Abshire.
Dr. Abshire was a veteran of World War II service as a Naval officer in the Pacific area. He remained in the Naval Reserve until retirement. He was a member of the Veterans of Foreign Wars and the American Legion.
He worked for an insurance company for several years, first as an adjuster, and then as the company’s claims supervisor of Louisiana.
For many years, he taught school in Egan, Rayne, and Crowley, and later served as director of the Southwest Louisiana Vocational Technical School, now known as the Louisiana Technical College, Acadiana Campus. After that, he served a Regional Director of seven schools in Southwest Louisiana. He belonged to several educational organizations.
For four years Dr. Abshire was in charge of a group of educators from Texas A&M University assisting the Tunisian government develop a small agricultural college in Sousse, Tunisia, North Africa. For six years he worked for Louisiana State University leading educators in the development of agricultural schools in Mali, Senegal and Niger in West Africa.
Pallbearers will be Ray J. Fleming, David K. Page, Bobby Bennett, Lester Guidry, Todd Henry, and Tim Henry.
In lieu of flowers, memorial contributions may be made to VFW Post 6720.
Condolences may be sent to the family at www.geesey-ferguson.com.
Arrangements have been entrusted to Geesey-Ferguson Funeral Home of Crowley.