Loreauville " A Memorial Mass will be conducted for Forbus Joseph Bag Mestayer, Age 90, at 11:00AM Saturday March 20, 2010 at St. Josephs Catholic Church in Loreauville with Father Buddy Breaux officiating. A gathering of family and friends will be held Saturday from 9:00AM until the time of the Mass at David Funeral Home in Loreauville. Forbus Joseph Bag Mestayer, Sr was a native and lifelong resident of Loreauville, LA. He was born: March 5, 1920. Mr. Mestayer, one of 12 children who grew up during the depression era, was a lifelong resident of Loreauville. He was successful mayor, politician, businessman, and family man. A veteran of World War II, Mr. Mestayer served in the U. S. Army Air Corp on an air/sea rescue boat, rescuing downed pilots in the Gulf of Mexico. Their duty also included anti-submarine patrols throughout the gulf protecting shipping and the oil industry. He began working in 1948 for Alfred Granger & Sons as their salesman and installer for Kool Vent Awnings and Carports. He later purchased the business, which was called Forbus Mestayer Awning Co, and retired from the business in 1985. But his true passion and love, was being mayor of, and working for the people of the village of Loreauville. When Mayor Mestayer was elected in 1955, little did the people of the village know that they had elected an entire public relations firm to work for them. For eleven terms, he worked tirelessly to improve the village. He constantly was working to acquire funding through the parish, state, and federal governments, as well as applying for any grants available for municipalities to make improvements for the village. He started in 1956 with getting funding for blacktopping the then gravel roads in the village and continued to improve the village with new water and drainage systems, building a fire station, and creating a civil defense, unit which served as the volunteer fire department. He worked to get a new bridge, library, post office, hospital, sewerage treatment plant, a town hall, and so much more. As mayor, his duties included fire chief, street commissioner, city marshal, and municipal judge, which he felt was the most difficult aspect of his position as mayor, because justice is supposed to be blind, but he always saw the people who stood before him. In 1997, the Louisiana Municipal Association awarded Mayor Mestayer the 10 Star Diamond service award for 10 terms or 40 years of elected service. Mr. Mestayer also served several years as a member of the Iberia Parish Port Commission. Mr. Mestayer also enjoyed all sports, music and dancing, playing cards with his friends, and spending time with his family. He will be sadly missed by his family, friends, and the people of the village of Loreauville. Survivors include his wife of 62 years, Myrtle Granger Mestayer of Loreauville, Daughter, Joy M. Hudson, and husband, William Mack Hudson of New Iberia, LA Son, Forbus Forby Mestayer, Jr., and wife, Marguerite Judice Mestayer of Houston, TX. Grandsons, Will Hudson of Lafayette, LA, Scott Mestayer and wife, Jennifer of Cypress, TX. , Jeff Mestayer and wife, Amber of Kingwood, TX. Great Grand children, Drew, Dean, and Amanda Mestayer, Sisters, Norma Sis Bazar, of New Iberia, Merle M. Williams, of Rogers, Arkansas, and Donna Faye Lanza, and husband Charles Lanza of New Iberia. Sisters- in- Law, Anne Broussard, Janet Mestayer, and June Granger of Loreauville, Gladys Mestayer of New Iberia, and Evelyn Granger of Bayou Vista and Numerous nieces and nephews. He was preceded in death by his parents Raoul and Norma Neuville Mestayer, brothers, Donald, Carroll, and Raoul Ray Mestayer, Jr. and sisters Audrey M. Labry, and Sharon M. Lucas, Muriel, Karen, and Lucille Mestayer. Special thanks to Melissa Duhon and Mary Antoine as well as St. Josephs Hospice for all the care and help during his illness. Honorary pallbearers include, Alfred Benny Granger, Jr, Louis Prince, Archie Polk, Blaine Broussard, Wade Mestayer, Gary Granger, Kenneth Labit, Wayne Johnson, Kenny Bazar, Steven Lanza, and Gerald Granger In lieu of flowers, the family asks that donations can be made to St. Judes Childrens Hospital. David Funeral Home, 118 Main Street, Loreauville, La. (337)229-8338 is in charge of arrangements.
