Lee Bernard

Erath- A Mass of Christian Burial for Mr. Lee Bernard, 98, will be held at Our Lady of Lourdes Catholic Church on Friday, April 23, 2021 at 3PM with Fr. Donald Bernard officiating. Internment will follow at Our Lady of Lourdes Cemetery.

Visitation will be held at David Funeral Home of Erath on Friday, April 23, 2021 from 9AM until time of services with a recitation of the rosary at 11AM.

A resident of Erath, Mr. Lee passed away Monday, April 19, 2021. Lee is the fifth child born to Henry and Bernadette Bernard. He is a 1943 graduate of Erath High School.

Lee, a WWII Veteran, served as a tank driver for the 739 ^th Tank Battalion. He saw combat in France and Germany in three major battles. In 2009 he traveled to France to receive the French Legion of Honor Award from the French President for service to the French Republic.

Lee helped organize the first Volunteer Fire Department in Erath and served as the first fire chief from 1946-1952.

Lee began a long association with the Civil Defense Department in the 1940’s. Through his association with the CD, he was able to purchase the town’s first fire truck and generator for the town to use in emergencies. He assisted in helping for the 1940 flood and the many hurricanes that hit our town including Hurricane Hilda. Lee was successful in convincing the community leaders to dedicate the new Erath City Hall in memory of the eight citizens who perished in the disaster.

Lee was also helpful in supporting the Bares Ranch.

His entire life was dedicated to assisting and supporting Erath High. Not long after returning from the war, Lee organized a fair and rodeo to raise funds for the Agriculture Department. A few years later, Lee constructed four practice basketball goals for what is now the “old gym” at Erath Middle School along with eight goals on the playground for the kids at recess.

Lee also furnished the tractor and plow to level the football field and later furnished the tractor, plow, land level, and welding machine to redo Charlie Field for the high school baseball team.

When his grandsons came up to play baseball, Lee was there with equipment, time and advice to help get the Henry Baseball field in playing condition for home games. Lee was there to help in the pouring of jump pits and runways when building all the weather track.

Lee served as crossing guard for Dozier Elementary and Erath Middle Schools from 1987-1997. Kids got to know him as “Papa Lee” and was still called that today.

Lee was the Grand Marshall of the Erath Fourth of July Association in 1998. In 2007, Lee was inducted into the “Order if Living Legends’ in the Acadiana Museum of Erath. In 2008 he was Erath High School Honorary Hall of Fame Inductee.

Lee was a small town boy who was able to make some contribution to both his home town and his country he loved so dearly.

He is survived by his son, Shelby Bernard and his wife Debbie of Erath; his daughter Deana Simon of Erath; his grandchildren, Jill Bernard, Bo Ryan Bernard and his wife Brooke, Chesie B. Vargas and her husband Christian, Ross Simon and his wife Courtney, Kallen Simon, and Alie S. Broussard and her husband Gavin; his great grandchildren, Brae Leigh Suire, Tatem Suire, Elizabeth Bernard, Shelbi Grace Bernard, Cecilia Mae Bernard, Cami Lee Vargas, Chett Vargas, Kennedi Simon, William Simon, Camille Simon, Evelyn Mae Broussard and Elliott James Broussard soon to come in May.

He is preceded in death by his wife, Vella Mae Comeaux Bernard; his parents, Henry Bernard, Sr. and Bernadette Bernard; his brothers, Henry Bernard, Jr., Vores J. Bernard, and Leo Bernard; and his sister, Antoinette Lee; and bother-in-law, Roland Girouard.

“In order to help keep the community safe we will honor the July 13, 2020 Louisiana Mandates.  All families and their guests are required to wear a face covering while at the funeral home. Thank you for your understanding during this unprecedented time.”

David Funeral Home of Erath (337) 937-0405 209 E. Putnam St. will be handling the arrangements.