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Funeral services will be held Wednesday, June 25, 2008 at a 10:00
am Mass of Christian Burial in St. Landry Catholic Church in Opelousas
LA, for Thomas Adam Schexnayder. Mr. Schexnayder, 84, passed away peacefully
June 23, 2008 at 10:03 am, at his home surrounded by his family. Interment
will be in Bellevue Memorial Park Cemetery.
The Reverend Monsignor Robert Romero, Pastor of St. Landry Catholic
will be the Celebrant of the Funeral Mass and will conduct the funeral
services.
Mr. Schexnayder was born on February 8, 1924 at Lauderdale Plantation
in St. James Parish. In 1940 he entered Louisiana State University.
In April of 1943, he entered military service as a Lieutenant and served
in the 17th Airborne Division. He made several combat jumps in Europe
and served in "Operation Varsity" the first Allied airborne invasion
into Germany. He was awarded the Bronze Star. After military service,
he returned to LSU and graduated in Agriculture.
For many years he worked in the farm machinery business, and in 1978
formed his own company, Louisiana Farm Power. He was active in the Louisiana
Farm Bureau, the Louisiana Cattleman's Association and the Deep South
Equipment Dealers Association, serving as its President. He also farmed
and had numerous real estate holdings in St. Landry Parish.
Survivors include his wife of 15 years, Janys Huntington, of Opelousas, his daughters Kathy Gauthier and her husband Steve of Sunset, Anne Hebert of Youngsville and son, Tom Schexnayder and his wife Jeanne of Richmond, VA; three grandchildren, Claire Owens and her husband John and great
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granddaughter, Grace, all
of Alabaster, AL, Bryan Hebert and his wife Lindsey and Elli Hebert
all of Lafayette. He is survived by three sisters, Imogene Berthelot
of White Castle, Grace Gough of New Orleans and Mildred Orr of
Salem, OR. He is also survived by Denise DeBlanc of New Iberia, Dr. Hunt DeBlanc
of Opelousas, and Donald DeBlanc of Tigard, OR.
He was preceded in death by his former wife, Marilyn Halphen Schexnayder
of Opelousas, his parents Camille and Grace Schexnayder of Donaldsonville,
one brother, Edmond Schexnayder of Copperas Cove, TX, and three sisters:
Jeanne LeBlanc of Donaldsonville, Camille Bartlett of West Peabody,
MA and Barbara Hyde of Wheaton, IL.
Visiting hours will be observed in the Lafond-Ardoin Funeral Home
of Opelousas on Tuesday from 3:00 p.m. to 9:00 p.m. and will reopen
on Wednesday from 8:00 am until time of service. A rosary will be held
on Tuesday at 7:00 p.m.
Mr. Schexnayder's family would like to extend their thanks to Dr.
J.Y. Bordelon and his staff, to St. Landry Home Health and to Hospice
of Acadiana for their professionalism and kindness.
In lieu of flowers, donations may be sent to Hospice of Acadiana
or to St. Jude Children's Research Hospital.
[LaFond-Ardoin Funeral Home, Opelousas, LA]
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[courtesy of Sharon Soileau]
Grave marker for Thomas A. Schexnayder in
Bellevue Memorial Park, Opelousas (St. Landry Parish), Louisiana.
2nd Lt Schexnayder was transferred from 82nd Airborne
Division Headquarters to Company F, 508th PIR on 14 October 1945.
He was then transferred to Company E on 31 October 1945.
On 10 November 1945, he was promoted to 1st Lieutenant.
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