J.W. “Boysie” Landry Jr.
A Mass of Christian Burial will be held at 11 a.m. Saturday, Jan. 10, at St. Michael the Archangel Catholic Church for J.W. “Boysie” Landry Jr., 96, who died on Tuesday, Jan. 6, 2015, in Crowley.
J.W. Landry Jr. was born on April 24, 1918, in Lake Arthur and resided in the city of Crowley from 1921 until his death. He was known by his close friends and family as “Boysie”.
J.W. was married to Lois Kathryn Bel from 1949 until her death in 1984. Together they had six children: John Edward Landry (Suzanne) of St. Gabriel, Robert Bel Landry, Anne Landry Keller of Lafayette, Dorothy Landry Sullivan (Joseph) of Baton Rouge, James D. Landry (Barbara) of Crowley and Michael H. Landry (Angela) of Crowley.
J.W. was married to Peggy Fogleman Bordelon from 1988 until her death in 2013.
J.W. had five stepchildren, Martin Bordelon III (Glyn) of Seattle, Washington; John Bordelon (Catherine) of Gulf Breeze, Florida; Jeanie B. Summerlin (Harry) of Eunice; Alice Catherine B. Politz of Shreveport; and Paul Bordelon (Lynn) of Bellevue, Washington.
In addition to his children and stepchildren J.W. was blessed with 12 grandchildren, 14 step-grandchildren, nine great-grandchildren and 28 step-great-grandchildren.
Landry graduated from St. Michael High School in 1934. He graduated from Southwestern Louisiana Institute (now University of Louisiana at Lafayette) with a Bachelor of Arts in 1940.
He earned his Juris Doctor degree in 1941 from the Louisiana State University School of Law where he had the honor of being vice president of the LSU Law School, a member of the Louisiana Law Review, a member of the LSU Moot Court Advisory Board, and a member of the LSU Law School Honor Court.
He was appointed by the Chief Justice to serve as defense counselor for the LSU Law School Honor Court.
After graduating from law school, Landry entered the United States Army in 1941 and served honorably for four and one-half years, including 18 months in Italy, earning the rank of captain. During his service, Landry received the Combat Infantryman Badge, the Bronze Star Medal for his acts of heroism and meritorious service in a combat zone, and the Fifth Army Commendation Medal for meritorious service.
Upon being honorably discharged from active military duty, Landry served as a major in the United States Army Reserves.
Landry practiced law in Crowley for over 70 years, and was active in the community. He was elected to the board of directors of Bank of Commerce & Trust Company in 1970 and served on the bank’s board for 43 years, serving as chairman for 36 years until his resignation in 2014.
He was a member of the board of directors of American Legion Hospital for over 50 years and for many years served as the hospital’s president and chairman of the board.
In 1994, Landry was recognized by the Crowley Chamber of Commerce as its “Humanitarian of the Year.” He was an Honorary Life Member of the Knights of Columbus and was a member of Acadia Post 15, American Legion, for 68 years.
He was also the recipient of the Crowley Rotary Club Vocational Award, which honors individuals that demonstrate vocational excellence and high ethical standards in the work place. He was a strong supporter of the LSU Athletic Department.
In addition to his children and step-children, Landry is survived by his sister, Louise Landry Morrow; and sister-in-law, Laura Hepenstal Landry.
He was preceded in death by parents, John Wilfred Landry Sr. and Beatrice “Budzie” Daboval Landry; son, Robert Bel Landry; brother, Francis James “Noot” Landry; and sister, Beatrice Lydia “Peggy” Landry Sartain
Pallbearers will be his grandchildren: Joshua T. Landry, Eric B. Landry, Ryan R. Landry, John Nicholas Keller, Christian J. Landry and John Richard Landry.
Honorary pallbearers are Causby Hamic Jr., John W. Sarver, Joseph Sullivan, John Bordelon, Paul Bordelon, Harry Summerlin and Jared Politz.
The family of J.W. Landry would like to thank Acadia General Hospital’s doctors, nurses and aides for the care given to him. The family would also like to give special thanks to Drs. Mulraj Katira and Dwayne Bergeaux.
Lastly, the family would like to thank Isalee Malbrough with the Acadia Parish Library who always went out of her way to make sure that J.W. had several books to read every week.
Funeral arrangements are scheduled with Geesey-Ferguson Funeral Home, located at 301 N. Avenue F, Crowley. Visitation will be held on Friday from 4 p.m. to 8 p.m. with a rosary recitation at 6 p.m.
The funeral home will re-open from 8 a.m. to 10:30 a.m. Saturday. The Mass of Christian Burial will be held at 11 a.m. at St. Michael the Archangel Catholic Church in Crowley with Fr. Mikel Polson, pastor of St. Michael the Archangel Catholic Church, officiating.
Interment will be at Woodlawn Cemetery in Crowley following the Mass.
Memorial donations in the name of J. W. Landry, Jr. may be made to St. Michael’s Catholic School of Crowley, Notre Dame High School of Acadia Parish or the Acadia Parish Library.