LAPLACE — Wise beyond his years, coupled with a passion easily visible in and out of the classroom.

That is how many are describing Evan Michael Simoneaux, a 17-year-old LaPlace student killed in a one-vehicle wreck Sunday morning in St. James Parish.

Simoneaux, a standout student and athlete at St. Charles Catholic High School, was recently named L’OBSERVATEUR’s 2017
All-St. John Parish Boys Soccer Defensive Player of the Year.

Those close to him say Simoneaux’s talents extended far beyond local playing fields.

Jeffrey M. Montz, principal at St. Joan of Arc Catholic School, said he worked closely with Simoneaux when both were at SCC.

Montz said Simoneaux was an outstanding young man, “mature beyond his years,” especially in the way he carried himself.

“He had a direction and a vision that most kids coming into high school in the eighth and ninth grade don’t seem to have,” Montz said. “He was an altar server for years, very dedicated to his faith and well liked by many people.”

St. Charles Catholic High School principal Andrew Cupit said it is a very sad time for everyone at the school.

“The thoughts and prayers of the entire SCC community go out to the Simoneaux family,” he said. “Evan was a wonderful young man who excelled both in the classroom and on the soccer field. He was recently voted ‘most witty’ by his peers and was named as the All-District Defensive Most Valuable Player for soccer. Evan will be greatly missed by the entire St. Charles Catholic School family, especially the seniors and his teammates.”

Religion teacher Ron Courtade said many will miss Simoneaux’s thoughtfulness, wittiness and political astuteness.

St. Charles Catholic High School provided grief counselors at the school on Monday to help students deal with their thoughts and feelings associated with the loss of Simoneaux.

A prayer service and rosary were held Sunday night at Ascension of Our Lord Church in LaPlace, where the school community filled the church and surrounded the family in prayer.

Relatives and friends are invited to attend Simoneaux’s visitation from 8 to 10 p.m. Friday and 9 to 11 a.m. Saturday at St. Joan of Arc Catholic Church on West 5th Street in LaPlace. The Funeral Mass will immediately follow Saturday’s visitation at 11 a.m.

According to State Police, Simoneaux lost his life in a 10 a.m. one-vehicle wreck Sunday on U.S. 61 south in St. James Parish. For unknown reasons, State Police said, Simoneaux’s Ford Focus veered off the right side of the roadway and ended up in a bayou, becoming fully submerged. Simoneaux sustained fatal injuries as a result of the crash and was pronounced deceased at the scene by the St. James Parish Coroner’s Office.

Word of his passing spread quickly across the River Parishes, with friends, family and strangers expressing their condolences by the thousands.

Simoneaux’s obituary was read more than 41,000 times within 12 hours of its posting on L’OBSERVATEUR’s social media page.