Willis Taylor LaBauve

Published 6:00 am Thursday, November 9, 2017

Willis Taylor “Chick” LaBauve, 82, was born on November 10, 1934, in Beaumont, Texas and moved to New Iberia in 1941. He passed away on November 8, 2017.

He attended St. Peter’s Catholic School and New Iberia High School graduating in 1953. Chick played all sports in high school and excelled in football and swimming.

Services will be November 11, 2017, at Pellerin’s Funeral Home in New Iberia with visitation starting at 11 a.m. followed by a Rosary at noon and services at 2 p.m. Burial will be private. Deacon Steve VanCleve will officiate.

He worked for Mud Supply Company while attending college at SLI (now ULL). Chick went to Marine Officer’s Training Center in Quantico, Virginia and graduated as First Lieutenant. In May, 1957, and remained active in the Marine Reserves as a Sargent.

Chick graduated in Petroleum Engineering and in March, 1959, then he went to work with Shell Oil Company in the Production Offshore Division. He transferred to the Drilling Offshore Division in 1976, and retired from Shell Oil Company in July, 1986. Chick started a new career at age 51 in oilfield sales until retiring again in 2002.

He married Harriet Prosper on February 2, 1958. Together they raised four children in New Iberia.

Chick’s favorite hobbies were hunting, golfing, taxidermy and gardening. He was an avid hunter and had a collection of trophy deer mounts. Golfing was also one of his passions and he scored his age or better well over 107 times (only keeping track for the last five years). Chick played his last round of golf on September 13, 2017, at Squirrel Run scoring an 81. His most fond memory was hunting with his son Wayne. Chick liked spending time with his camp friends and high school classmates.

He is preceded in death by parents, Aline Gary LaBauve and Willie LaBauve; as well as brothers Howard LaBauve, E.A. Beans LaBauve, Leo LaBauve, Lee LaBauve and Wilbert LaBauve.

He is survived by his loving wife of 59 years, Harriet Prosper LaBauve; and children Lisa LaBauve Dugas, Sonya LaBauve Tedesco and husband, Victor “Ted” Tedesco IV, Wayne LaBauve and wife, Ann Galendez LaBauve, and Christy LaBauve Boudreaux.

Chick was known as “Poppa” to his eight grandchildren Jason Dugas, Courtney Dugas, Alexandra Tedesco, Victor Tedesco V, Desmond LaBauve, Brennan LaBauve, Emma Boudreaux and Abby Boudreaux. His grandchildren were very fond of Poppa and the granddaughters frequently competed for his affection and the title of “favorite granddaughter.”

In lieu of flowers the family asks that donations be made in memoriam to either the Miles Perret Cancer Services or the Parkinson’s Foundation.

To view online obituary, sign guest book and view video tribute, please go to www.pellerinfuneralhome.

Pellerin Funeral Home, 502 Jefferson Terrace Blvd, New Iberia, LA 70560, 365-3331, is in charge of the arrangements.