Deaths and Services
Published 12:00 am Wednesday, May 5, 2004
By Leonard Gray
BECNEL
METAIRIE – Brandon Aaron Becnel, 24, a native of Metairie and resident of Destrehan, died May 2. He was the son of Gary and Susan Lassalle Becnel and brother of Andrea and Ryan Becnel.
He was also the grandchild of Francis and Josephine Becnel and Tommie and the late John Lassalle.
He was a 1998 graduate of Destrehan High School and a personal fitness consultant and assistant manager at Fitness Connection. He was also a member of the Aerobics and Fitness Association of America.
Services are today at 2 p.m. in the chapel of Leitz-Eagan Funeral Home, Metairie, with interment at Garden of Memories, Metairie. Visitation starts at 10 a.m.
BELL
GRAMERCY – Leslie Bell Jr., 79, a native of Central and resident of Gramercy, died April 29. He was the husband of Florence Johnson Bell and father of Elaine Nicholas, Erica Griffin, Cozell McColl, Janene Scott, Adrienne Bell, Ezell Blues and Junius Washington.
He was also the son of the late Leslie Bell Sr. and Octavia Bell Jakcson, and brother of Olivia kenndard, Lettie Smith, Stella Mae Jenkins, Lorraine Coldtrain, Mary Ann Anderson, Joyce Cary, Brenda Walters, Nathan Bell, Arizona Batiste and Robert Bell.
He is also survived by 12 grandchildren and three great-grandchildren.
Services are today at 10 a.m. at Most Sacred Heart of Jesus Catholic Church, Gramercy. Visitation starts at 8:30 a.m.
BLANK
GRAMERCY – Georgia Decoteau Blank, 67, a native and resident of Gramercy, died April 29. She was the wife of Ralph Blank and mother of Charmaine Bullock and Faron Blank.
She was also the daughter of the late Douglas and Myrza Brignac Decoteau, and sister of Ruby Dencausse, Billie and Leo Decoteau, and the late Robert Decouteau.
She is also survived by one grandchild.
Services were May 1 at Most Sacred Heart of Jesus Catholic Church, Gramercy, with interment at St. Joseph Mausoleum, Paulina.
BRAZEN
SOUTH VACHERIE – Mercedes Billon Brazen, 88, a native of St. James and resident of Vacherie, died May 2. She was the wife of the late Henry Brazen, and mother of Paulette Onley, Gordon and Craig Brazen, and the late Rosary Ann Brazen.
She was also the daughter of the late Paul Sr. And Aline Hymer Billon, and sister of the late Camille and Paul billon Jr.
She is also survived by eight grandchildren and one great-grandchild.
Services were May 3 at Our Lady of Peace Catholic Church, South Vacherie, with interment at the church mausoleum.
BREAUX
DES ALLEMANDS – Noland Paul “Doogie” Breaux Jr., 34, a native of Luling and resident of Bayou Gauche, died April 30. He was the son of Noland Sr. and Anna Mae Bourgeois Breaux and brother of Darnell Hebert and Derrell Breaux.
He was a member of ARC of St. Charles and the Special Olympics.
Services were May 4 at Community Assembly of God, Des Allemands, with interment at Sunset Cemetery, Bayou Gauche.
GRAYSON
OAKDALE – Murrey W. Grayson, 73, a native of Lecompte and resident of LaPlace for 23 years, died April 28. He was the fathe rof Kim Zeigler and Dana Seruntine.
He is also survived by five grandchildren.
He was a bookkeeper for Gifford Gravel Co. and a U.S. Navy veteran of the Korean War.
Services were May 2 in the chapel of White Oaks Funeral Home, Oakdale, with interment at Butler Cemetery, Forest Hill.
PARKS
PARADIS – Irene Cavalier Parks, 81, a native of Brusly and resident of Paradis, died May 2. She was the wife of Venis Parks and mother of Kathleen Kinler and Greta Valliant.
She was also the daughter of the late Godfrey and Eloide Landry Cavalier, and sister of Thomas Cavalier.
She is also survived by four grandchildren.
Services are today at 11 a.m. at St. John the Baptist Catholic Church, Paradis, with interment at St. Charles Cemetery, Luling. Visitation starts at 8:30 a.m.
POCHE
PAULINA – Arlen Richard “Plug” Poche Sr., 67, a native of Paulina and resident of Prairieville, died May 2. He was the husband of Charlene Blank Poche, father of Arlen Poche Jr., and stepfather of Chastity Braud and Jamie Millet.
He was also the son of the late Rodolphe and Noemie Kinler Poche, and brother of Marelyn Schexnaydre, Earl, Ronald, Sherwood “Jack” and Lanny Poche, and the late Gail Troxclair and Marvin Poche.
He is also survived by seven grandchildren.
He was a U.S. Air Force veteran, a member of VFW Post 5852 and a tool room expeditor for Brown & Root.
Services were May 4 at St. Joseph Catholic Church, Paulina, with interment at the church cemetery.
WACTOR
RESERVE – George “Butch” Wactor Jr., 36, a native and resident of LaPlace, died May 1. He was the son of George Sr. And Shirley Wactor and brother of Mona Reeves.
He was also the grandchild of Bonnie Wactor.
Services are May 6 at 11 a.m. at First Baptist Church, Reserve. Visitation is today at 5-8 p.m. and tomorrow at 10 a.m.