Frank Billeaudeau, Jr.

Frank Billeaudeau, Jr., 82, died on February 21, 2014, at his residence in Lake Charles, Louisiana. He was born in Ville Platte, La., and grew up in Grand Prairie, La. He graduated from. Grand Prairie High School at the age of 16 and immediately enlisted in the United States Navy. While in the Navy, he served as a Gunner's Mate Third Class aboard the USS Toledo and the USS Floyd B. Parks and fought in the Korean war. He was honorably discharged after serving from 1948-1952. After his military service, he earned a B.S. degree in agronomy from USL in Lafayette. Following graduation, he worked as a chemist at the Shell Chemicals facility in Norco, Louisiana, where he retired after thirty years of service. During that time, he was also a successful businessman. He and his loving wife Elsa spent many years together in restaurant, hotel, commercial property, and various other ventures in the New Orleans area. He also served in local politics and on the board of directors of a savings and loan. Frank was very proud of his family and his Cajun roots. His hobbies over the years included training race horses, raising cattle, listening to Cajun music, and hunting and fishing with his family and friends. He was blessed with many life-long friends and greatly enjoyed socializing with them. He loved his daughter, Karen, and his grandchildren, Brian, Scott, and Kristen, and was more proud of their accomplishments than his own. Preceded in death by his parents, Frank Billeaudeau, Sr. and Rose Deville Billeaudeau, his sister, Judy Billeaudeau, and his brother, Alfred Billeaudeau, he is survived by his wife of fifty nine years, Elsa Mandado Billeaudeau, a daughter, Karen Billeaudeau Hanchey, a son-in-law, David Harmon Hanchey, and three grandchildren, Brian Harmon Hanchey, Scott Leon Hanchey, and Kristen Ellen Hanchey. Additionally, he is survived by his brothers, Elby Billeaudeau of Columbus, Ohio, and Roy Billeaudeau of Pocahontas, Arkansas, and his sister, Neva Billeaudeau Blansett of Pocahontas, Arkansas. He leaves a grieving family and many friends to cherish his memory. A memorial service will be held at 12:00 p.m., Wednesday, February 26, 2014, at Johnson Funeral Home, 4321 Lake Street, Lake Charles, La., preceded by visitation for family and friends from 10:00 a.m. until service time.