Venard "Van" Mestayer

Loving Husband, Father, Grandfather and Friend

Jeanerette- Funeral services will be conducted for Venard Van Mestayer, age 85, Thursday July 28, 2011 at 1:30PM at St. John the Evangelist Catholic Church with Fr. Jody Simoneaux officiating. Interment will follow in Beau Pre Memorial Park Mausoleum. Visitation will begin Wednesday July 27, 2011 from 4:00PM until 9:00PM with recitation of the Rosary lead by Fr.Ed Degeyter at 6:00PM. Visitation will resume Thursday July 28, 2011 from 8:00AM until service time.

A native of Iberia Parish and resident of Jeanerette, Mr. Mestayer died Monday July 25, 2011 at 5:45PM at his residence. Mr. Mestayer was a Veteran of the United States Navy and retired from Shell Oil Company after 34 years of service. In Vans younger years, he was an accomplished boxer and dedicated much of his time to coaching both boxing and baseball. He enjoyed playing golf, collecting toy cars and was avid LSU Fan.

Mr. Mestayer is survived by his wife of 62 years, Frances Barbara Landry Mestayer of Jeanerette; sons, Scott Mestayer, Sr. of Broussard, Van Mestayer and wife Phyllis of Jeanerette and Randall Mestayer and wife Trisha of Charenton; daughters, Barbara Bobbie Louviere and husband Farrell of Jeanerette; Shelly Boutte and husband Jason and Julie Dooley and husband Neil, all of New Iberia; grandchildren, Amanda Hebert of New Iberia; Tammy Louviere of San Diego, CA; Tiffany M. Boutte and husband Beau of Youngsville; Stacey Mestayer of Lafayette; Scott Mestayer, Jr. of New Iberia; Blake Boutte and wife Lacie of Youngsville; Lance Boutte of New Iberia; Andrea M. Sibille and husband Keith and Daniel Mestayer, all of Baton Rouge; Kira Mestayer and Hilari Mestayer, both of St. Martinville; great-grandchildren, Caitlin Hebert of New Iberia; Ashton Sonnier of Lafayette and Alex M. Sibille of Baton Rouge.

Mr. Mestayer was preceded in death by his parents, Gaston Mestayer and Helen DeBlanc Mestayer, brothers, George, Daniel, Gaston and Francis Mestayer, sisters, Myra Louise Lawrence, Helen Gary, Tullie Ferney and Rita Gonsoulin.

Serving as pallbearers will be Scott Mestayer, Van Mestayer, Randall Mestayer, Farrell Louviere, Neil Dooley and Jason Boutte.

Honorary pallbearers will be Mr. Mestayers grandchildren, his golf friends and breakfast buddies.

The family would like to extend a special thanks to Fr. Ed Degeyter, Pat Napier, Dr. Barry Bourgeois, Fr. Jody Simoneaux and the St. John the Evangelist Community,Pam Shelton and the staff of Regional Home Care.

David Funeral Home 400 Provost St. Jeanerette (337)276-5151 is in charge of arrangements.