Dr. Percy “Chris” Christian

Funeral services for Dr. Percy Herbert “Chris” Christian were held at 11 a.m. on Wednesday, May 13, at the Sibille Funeral Home Chapel in Opelousas. Interment followed in the Myrtle Grove Cemetery in Opelousas with Rev. Perry Hubbs officiating.
Dr. Percy Herbert “Chris” Christian passed away quietly, surrounded by family and loved ones, in his home on Sunday, May 10, 2015, after a prolonged illness at the age of 87.
Chris was born in Opelousas on June 28, 1927. He was a graduate of Southern College of Optometry in Memphis, Tennessee, in 1950. He attended the U.S. Naval Academy Preparatory School and Louisiana State University, where he was an LSU cheerleader.
He was the Class of ’44 at Opelousas Senior High. After graduation from optometry school, he returned to Opelousas to start his family and build his thriving optometry practice, serving St. Landry Parish for over 53 years. He built his family home in Opelousas in 1958, where he remained until his death.
He was an Eagle Scout and a member of the Elks Lodge 1048. He was instrumental in the creation of the Sportsman’s League (to refurbish the boating docks and replenish the deer population within the parish). He was a recreational pilot and built his own racing boat while participating in many competitions on False River and surrounding bayous.
His hobbies included photography, hunting and fishing in Pecan Island and Mexico, flying his plane and working in his workshop. Above all else, he was a wonderful father and grandfather. His family meant the world to him.
He is survived by his wife of 33 years, Wilda Savoy Christian; children, Margaret Christian Gaddis and husband Ken, Van Christian and wife Karen, Christy Thomas Stoll and Bob; Mark Christian and wife Rita; stepdaughters, Skye Christian and Jorge Shipley; grandchildren, Courtney, Chris, Keelie, Ashley, Casey, Sommer, Piper, Loren, Christina, Candice, Christopher, C.L. and Nicholas; 24 great-grandchildren; and sister, Joy Christian Lain.
He was preceded in death by his father, Errol Pete Christian; mother, Margaret Lorena Higginbotham Christian; grandson, Don Michael Gaddis II; and brother-in-law, James M. “Jim” Lain Jr.
Pallbearers will be Casey Gaddis, Richard Cloy, Blake Speyrer, Adam Thibodeaux, Ryan Arceneaux and Byron Briggs. Honorary pallbearers will be Christian Henslee, Jim Tatman, Manny Veltin and Ike Chachere.
Visiting hours were held at the Sibille Funeral Home in Opelousas on Tuesday, May 12, from 5 p.m. until 8 p.m. On Wednesday, the visitation resumed at the funeral home beginning at 8 a.m. and lasted until 11 a.m. The Elks Service was held at 6:30 p.m. on Tuesday evening in the funeral home.
In lieu of flowers, the family requests that donations be made in Chris’ name to St. Jude Children’s Research Hospital.
The family would like to extend special thanks to his caregivers: Gloria, Claudia, Audrey, Darlene, Pam and Marita. They would also like to thank the staff of the Louisiana Hospice and Palliative Care for their excellent services and his nurse, Ailee.
Words of comfort to the family may be expressed at www.sibillefuneralhomes.com. Funeral arrangements were entrusted to Sibille Funeral Home of Opelousas.