My grandfather passed away peacefully, if not somewhat unexpectedly,
Friday with most of his immediate family near him for his final
moments. There is so much I would like to write about Papa, about how
special he is to me and how close we were – but I’m not up to the task
just yet.

Services were held all weekend with the funeral today, and I think our
family has had about 10 hours of collective sleep over the past three
days.

So, I am exhausted – emotionally and physically. But the
services, and my family, my beautiful family, and all the people who
knew and loved Papa so well, have really helped me through this very
difficult time.

If you’re reading, please keep my family in your thoughts this
Memorial Day – the world is certainly a different place without my
grandfather in it.

You can view the memorial and obituary
here,
but I’ll post the fantastic obituary written by my father, for those
who don’t care to make the jump:

Harry was a loving and devoted husband, father and
grandfather, who possessed exceptional wisdom and wit. He was born in
the Second Ward of Lafayette Parish to Cleus P. Breaux and Amy Breaux,
nee Albarado. He was a direct descendant of the pioneer Acadian,
Vincent Brault, the first member of the Brault (Breaux) family to
immigrate from France to North America, settling in the Port Royal
area of L’ Acadie (present day Nova Scotia) in 1652; and Athanase
Breau (Breaux) a native of L’ Acadie who in 1755 eluded the British
during the infamous forced deportation of the Acadian people. In
1762, Athanase migrated to Louisiana and served as a volunteer to
Spanish Governor-General Bernado de Galvez during the American
Revolutionary War against the British as a member of the Militia of
LaFourche des Chetimachas.
Harry was raised on the family farm by loving parents of modest means.
He graduated from Scott High School in 1942, and only three years
later he earned his B.S. degree in accounting from SLI (now the
University of Louisiana at Lafayette).

He worked his way through college serving as bookkeeper for the
college cafeteria and waiting on tables. Later he was the business
manager for The Vermilion, the SLI newspaper. During this time, he
was also employed part-time by the Mike Donlon Real Estate Agency.

At SLI he served as President of the Boys Club, President of Sigma
Alpha Sigma Fraternity, Secretary of the Inter-Fraternity Council, and
was a member of the Veterans Council and the Newman Club. He was also
inducted into the Blue Key National Honor Fraternity.

Notwithstanding his small physical stature, he was a talented athlete,
and earned a place on the SLI varsity boxing team, 112 pound class.
After college he continued to compete whenever possible in adult touch
football, and fast pitch softball through the Lafayette Playground and
Park Commission.

He proudly served his state and country as a member of the National
Guard of Louisiana and the National Guard of the United States;
Medical Co. 156th Infantry. He earned an Honorable Discharge with a
rank of Sergeant E-5.

Following graduation from college, and at the behest of then SLI
President, Dr. Joel L. Fletcher, he accepted an accounting position in
the college’s business office.

In 1948 he began a respected career in the private sector, initially
with Stanolind Oil & Gas Company, which later became the Pan American
Petroleum Corporation. In 1960, he joined the British American Oil
Company, which was later acquired by the Gulf Oil Corporation. In
1982, after more than two decades with the Gulf Oil Corporation, he
retired from his final assignment as a Special Projects Analyst.

Among his civic endeavors was serving as President of the PTC at
Comeaux High School, being one of the initial benefactors for the
construction of the original St. Pius X Mission Chapel (now St. Pius X
Catholic Church) where he was a parishioner for many years, and
running as an Independent candidate for a seat on the Lafayette Parish
School Board.

His interests were many and varied. He was a keen political observer
and a voracious reader who also enjoyed the great outdoors. In
addition to his career in the oil industry, he also was at one time or
another an accomplished gardener, a cattleman and a real estate
developer. He collected antique automobiles and antique farm tools.
He lived long enough to enjoy dozens of live oaks that he personally
planted and nurtured to maturity on his homesite.
Among his greatest joys in life were the relationships he enjoyed with
his family, co-employees and friends. He especially enjoyed attending
scholastic and athletic events in which his children and grandchildren
participated, and the musical performances of his son, Dana, who was
an original member of the acclaimed Cajun band, Coteau.

During his retirement, he lovingly devoted much of his time to the
care of his parents. Though in his final years he suffered from
serious health setbacks, in his typical fashion he bravely endured in
all, and in doing so inspired all who knew and loved him.

Survivors include his beloved wife of sixty years, Lula M. Breaux, nee
Meyers; one son, Lafayette attorney, Timothy D. Breaux, and his wife
Beverly of Lafayette; two grandchildren, Jessica L. Breaux of
Lafayette and Jonathan D. Breaux of Baton Rouge, as well as numerous
nephews and nieces. He was predeceased by his parents; one sister,
Dolly M. Thomas; and his beloved youngest son, Lafayette musician,
Dana P. Breaux.

Pallbearers will be Timothy D. Breaux, Jonathan D. Breaux, Ricky J.
Thomas, Dallas J. Meyers, Mark V. Winslow and Horace D. Urquhart.
Honorary pallbearers are Milton J. Meyers and Lee Roy Guillot.

His family wishes to thank his special caregivers: Dr. S. R.
Kothapalli, M.D., Dr. Gary Guidry, M.D., Dr. John J. Mickey, M.D. and
Nurse Lynn Thigpen.

This entry was posted by jon on Monday, May 26th, 2008 at 2:02 pm and is filed under Milestone, journal. You can follow any responses to this entry through the RSS 2.0 feed. You can leave a response, or trackback from your own site.