Mervin Paul "Jesse" Gannard

Lafayette – A Mass of Christian Burial for Mr. Mervin “Jesse” Gannard, 90, will be held at 10:00 AM on Thursday, December 15, 2016 at Sacred Heart Catholic Church in Broussard, with Fr. Bill Ruskoski associate Pastor of Sacred Heart Catholic Church, officiating. Interment will follow at Calvary Cemetery.

Visitation will be held at David Funeral Home of Lafayette on Wednesday, December 14, 2016 from 12:00 PM until 8:00 PM with a recitation of the Rosary at 7:00 PM recited by Kim Bergeron and Tanya Greenwald. Visitation will resume Thursday, December 15, 2016 until the time of services. Musical selections, How Great Thou Art, Here I Am, Lord, Be Not Afraid, and Old Rugged Cross will be performed by organist and singer Jodie Bollich.

A native of Lafayette and a resident of Broussard, Mr. Gannard passed away at 5:22 PM on Monday, December 12, 2016 at his residence. A Veteran of the United States Navy, Jesse was a retired bus driver for the Lafayette Parish School System who enjoyed telling jokes, traveling, playing Bouree’, going to the casino and camping in Holy Beach with his friends and family.

He is survived by his wife of 66 years, Mrs. Patricia Gannard; son, Randy Gannard; grandson, Jason “Tad’ Gannard; granddaughter, Jessica Lyn Gannard; great granddaughter, Chloe Gannard; lifelong friends, Elton Miller and Freddie Deshotel; and numerous nieces and nephews.

He was preceded in death by his parents, Zena Mary Rabalais and Herbert Gannard; two brothers, Herbert Jr., and Russel Gannard and his two sisters, Barbara Boudreaux and Ruby Angelle.

Serving as pallbearers will be Charles “Buddy” Guidry, Rickey Guthrie, Jason Gannard, D.J Bergeron, Joshua Ware and Michael Theall. Honorary pallbearers will be Elton Miller, Freddie Deshotel, Laris “Bruce” Broussard, Doug Greenwald, Joel Theall and Kyle Guidry.

The family wishes to extend a special thanks to all doctors and staff with Heart of Hospice.

David Funeral Home of Lafayette at 316 Youngsville Hwy (337) 837-9887 will be handling the arrangements.