Alton Joseph Schexnider

The skies parted, the clouds disappeared, and the sunshine came through on that glorious day! A tear of joy was shed by him as he crossed over to the great beyond to meet our Lord and Savior. Alton Joseph Schexnider died peacefully, surrounded by his loving family after a brief illness, December 22, 2011 in a local hospital. The youngest of 9 children, Alton was born December 15, 1932, to Cleobule and Olivia Harrington Schexnider in a settlement called Mouton Cove now considered to be a part of Abbeville, La. Originally a rice farmer, Alton moved to Holly Beach, LA in 1954 with his father and brother to start Schexniders Holly Beach Grocery and other business ventures. He became an apprentice electrician with the International Brotherhood of Electrical workers local 861 in January 1957. Hurricane Audrey hit that same year, and he relocated his family to Hackberry where he was a member of St. Peter the Apostle Catholic Church. Upon completing his JATC training in 1961, Alton was named outstanding apprentice. He worked in various capacities as journeyman wireman, foreman, general foreman, and superintendent on numerous job sites throughout his career, and retired in 1988. Alton was instrumental in starting the Boy Scouts of America Troop 78 in Hackberry and served as its first Scout Master. He was an original member of the Board of Directors of the Cameron Parish waterworks District #2 in Hackberry where he served as president for 35 years, In 2009, after enduring Hurricanes Rita and Ike, he moved to Sulphur, LA and was a member of Our Lady of Prompt Succor Catholic Church. Early in his adult life, he was an avid duck hunter, working part time as a hunting guide for Sam Sonnier. Always loving to fish, he owned a camp in Toledo Bend where he spent many, many days fishing with his wife and family. He loved to share his hunting and fishing stories with his family and friends, especially at the 3:00 coffee hour. He will always be remembered as a loving, easy-going spirit who was most content at family gatherings watching and being a part of a large clan that he and Mama created. Alton is left to cherish his memories by his loving wife of 61 years Mama , Joyce Broussard Schexnider of Sulphur, two sons, Ronald Schexnider and wife, Jeanne of The Villages, FL, and Darrell Schexnider and wife, Pat of Carlyss, three daughters, Glenda Abshire, Cheryl Sanders and husband, Jeffrey, and Tina Dickerson all of Sulphur, his sister, Mabel David of Abbeville, La, 9 grandchildren, 12 great grandchildren and 1 great-great grandchild. He was preceded in death by his parents, three brothers, Wilton, Dalton, and Norris Schexnider, four sisters, Alice Labbe, Agnes Meaux, Pearl David and Bernice Luquette, his son-in-law, Richard Abshire, his grandsons, Marcus Lee Dickerson and Alan Joseph Dickerson and his great granddaughter, Catherine Renee Boudreaux. Funeral services will be held on Tuesday, December 27, 2011, at 11 a.m. at Our Lady of Prompt Succor Catholic Church with Father Edward Richard officiating. Burial will be in New Hackberry Cemetery in Hackberry, LA, under the direction of Robison Funeral Home. The family will receive friends on Monday, December 26, 2011 at Robison Funeral Home Chapel from 3-9 p.m. with a rosary at 6 p.m. and will resume at the funeral home on Tuesday at 8 a.m. until time of service.