Russell James Delahoussaye

Mr. Delahoussaye passed away on Saturday, July 27, 2013 at Our Lady of Lourdes Regional Medical Center in Lafayette, LA.

He is survived by his loving wife of 56 years, Dean Delahoussaye of Erath, LA; two sons, Bryan James Delahoussaye and his wife, Cynthia and Rusty James Delahoussaye and his wife, Shawnee; daughter, Lori D. Arnaud and her husband, Mike; grandchildren, Bess Delahoussaye, Jillian Duhon, Derek Delahoussaye, Lindsay Delahoussaye, Britlyn Delahoussaye, Chad Arnaud, Dustin Arnaud, Meg Ryan Delahoussaye and Jake Viator; great-grandchildren, Dawson Rogers, Jacelyn Duhon, Carlee Rose Arnaud, Jaxon Duhon, Katherine Delahoussaye, Bella Arnaud and Rylan Viator; half "brother, Darrell Boudreaux and his wife, Faye and his extended family and special friends, Gary and Peggy Landry.

He was preceded in death by his parents, Saul Delahoussaye and Rosie Desormeaux Boudreaux; one half-brother, Daniel Boudreaux and one grandchild, Ryan Viator.

Mr. Delahoussaye was a member of Our Lady of Lourdes Catholic Church where he served many years as an Usher. He was also a member of the Past Junior Holy Name Society, Senior Holy Name Society and a 3rd Degree Knight of Columbus with Our Lady of Lourdes Knights of Columbus Council 3872 whom he was selected by as Citizen of Year in 1984.

A 1954 graduate of Erath High School he proudly served his country during the Korean War. He was stationed at Fort Jackson, SC, Fort Lee, VA and also served 18 months overseas at the Nafallenback Quarter Master Department with the 52nd Platoon Supply Company at Strassburg Kaserne Idar-Oberstein, Germany.

Upon his return from Military Service he worked for D & B Boat Rentals on the D-18 Crew Boat during Hurricane Audrey. He then went on to work for Boudreaux & Gary Hardware for 14 years as a Clerk and a Repairman , spent a short time employed as a Relief Skipper on the Lugger Sutton for Lee Bernard and then was Owner and Operator of Delahoussaye Appliance Repair Shop for 17 years. In September 1986 he went to work for the town of Erath for the next 18 years as a paid firefighter, plus served 5 years as the Caretaker at Erath City Park until his illness took over.

He was also a member of the American Legion Post 279 in Erath, LA having served as Past 1st Vice Commander, Past Post Commander of the department and was a member of the Post 279 Honor Guard.

Mr. Delahoussaye joined the Erath Volunteer Fire Department in 1957 and was a Life Member of the department. He served in the capacity of Captain, 1st Assistant Chief, 2nd Assistant Chief and 12 years as Chief of the Department. He was also an active member of the LeBlanc Fire Department and served as a Consultant to Chief Ronald Broussard; a voting member of both the Erath and the LeBlanc Fire Departments and represented them at VFPA meetings and LSFA Conferences. He and his wife, Dean were both very active in raising money and furnishing sweets for fundraisers for both departments.

A Life Member of the Vermilion Fire Protection Association he served as a former Vice President and former President; was one of the co-founders of the Vermilion Fire Protection Association for the betterment of fire protection in Vermilion Parish; a Life Member of both the Louisiana Fire Chiefs Association and Louisiana State Firemans Association; served many years as a member of former Legislative Committees and now Government and Public Affairs Committees for the LSFA and was awarded the Roy A. Robicheaux Legislative Memorial Award in both 2009 & 2011 for outstanding work and dedication to the fire service of Louisiana.

He and his wife, Dean would like to thank the LSFA Board and members for the friends that were made and fond memories. Russell joined the fire service in August 1957 and proudly served until now, in his later years in an Honorary capacity, for a total of 56 consecutive years as a Firefighter.

The Delahoussaye Family would like to give special thanks to the Doctors and Staff of M D Anderson Cancer Center in Houston, TX and Rachel Kratzer with the Department of Veterans Affairs for their extraordinary care and compassion and also to his family and friends for their prayers and support.

Honored to serve as Pallbearers will be Mike Soirez, Gary Landry, Derek Delahoussaye, Ronald Broussard, Tristen Bouillion and George Bellis, Jr. Honorary Pallbearers will be John Landry and Donald Menard.

David Funeral Home of Erath, LA, (337) 937-0405. 209 East Putnam Street, Erath, LA 70533 is in charge of all of the arrangements.