Obituaries

KELLY WAYNE DARBONNE
MARCH 26, 1977 – MARCH 26, 2021
EUNICE – It is with heavy hearts that the family of Kelly Wayne Darbonne announces his sudden passing on March 26, 2021, at the Allen Parish Hospital in Kinder at the age of 44. A Memorial Mass will be held at a later date.
At the request of the family, visitation was held at Ardoin’s Funeral Home in Eunice on Sunday, March 28, 2021, from 11 a.m. until 8 p.m.
Ardoin’s Funeral Home of Eunice was in charge of arrangements.
The passing of a wonderful husband, father, son, brother, and friend has left a hole in our hearts. He had a very outgoing personality; he never met a stranger and always was the life of the party. He loved his family and loved nothing more than spending time with them, especially his boys.
He will be missed each and every day by his loving wife of eleven years, Kelly Deculus Darbonne, of Mamou; his parents, Frank and Joyce Darbonne, of Mallet; his four sons, Jared, Jadon, Jacob, and Jordan Darbonne, all of Mamou; his brother, Shawn Darbonne, of Mallet; his in-laws, Howard and Janice Decules, of Mamou; as well as extended family and friends.
He is preceded in death by his grandparents, Oliver and Cecelia Guillory Darbonne and Hillary and Erena Guillory Jordan.
Family and friends may view this obituary and sign the guestbook at www.ardoinfuneralhomes.com.

MICHAEL “MIKE” V. LAUNEY
December 18, 1947 – March 27, 2021
VILLE PLATTE – Funeral services for Mr. Michael “Mike” Vernon Launey, 73, were held Monday, March 29, 2021, at 4 p.m. at Our Lady, Queen of All Saints Catholic Church. Mr. Launey, a resident of Ville Platte, passed away Saturday, March 27, 2021, at Eunice Manor in Eunice.
Father Mitch Guidry officiated the funeral Mass.
LaVille Funeral Home was in charge of arrangements.
Visitation was held at LaVille Funeral Home Monday, March 29, 2021, beginning at 10 a.m. A Rosary was recited at 2 p.m.
Michael was an avid golfer, hunter, and jokester. He will be missed by many.
He will be missed by his loving family, wife, Fonda M. Launey of Ville Platte; son, Chet McCauley of Costa Mesa, California; brother, Robert Launey and wife, Elaine, of Ville Platte; sisters, Laura LaHaye, of Lafayette, Claudia Ortego, and husband, Randy, of Baton Rouge, Ramona Hebert and husband, Warren, of Lafayette, and Cindy Rosenberry, of New Orleans; sister-in-law, Connie Launey, of Lafayette; father and mother-in-law, Woodrow and Bertha Morein, of Ville Platte; brothers-in-law, Don Morein and wife, Beth, and Dave Morein and wife, Kathy, both of Ville Platte; and numerous nephews and nieces.
He is preceded in death by his parents, Donald Launey and Ramona Soileau Launey; brothers, Donald “Donny” Launey and Kenneth Launey; grandparents, F.V. Launey, Edna Doucet Launey, Wade Soileau, and Belle Vidrine Soileau.
The guestbook can be signed online at www.lavillefuneralhome.net.

CHESTER SYLVESTER, JR.
March 12, 1931 – March 28, 2021
WHITEVILLE – It is with heavy hearts and great sorrow that the family announces the passing of its beloved father, grandfather, and great-grandfather, Chester Sylvester Jr. He died peacefully at his home in Whiteville surrounded by his family at 10 a.m. on Sunday, March 28, 2021.
A Mass of Christian Burial was held at the Chapel of the Resurrection in Whiteville with Father Donavan Labbe officiating on Wednesday, March 31, at 11 a.m.
Entombment followed at The Chapel of the Resurrection Mausoleum under the direction of Ardoin’s Funeral Home in Ville Platte.
Visitation was held at Ardoin’s Funeral Home on Tuesday, March 30, 2021, from 2 p.m. until 8 p.m. with a Rosary being recited at 6:30 p.m. Visitation resumed on Wednesday from 8 a.m. until the time of service.
He was 90 years old, born on March 12, 1931, in Ville Platte.
Chester was a 1950 graduate of Ville Platte High and then served his country as a member of the U.S. Air-Force for two years. In 1954, he became a dairy farmer in Morrow. In 1968, he started farming rice, soybean, and crawfish. Chester established Sylvester’s Crawfish Processors in 1983. He was also a cattleman.
Chester devoted his life to the care of his family. He and his beloved Una began their legacy raising their six children in Whiteville. His great joys in life were fishing, hunting, and playing cards with his family and his friends.
Chester will be greatly missed by his two daughters, Jennifer Fontenot and her husband, Darwin, of Lafayette and Lisa Tujague and her husband, Frank, of Ville Platte; his four sons, Chet and his wife, Paula, of Whiteville, Ted and his wife, Terri, Jeffery and his wife, Catherine, and Tim and his wife, Allison, all of Ville Platte. He is also survived by 27 grandchildren; 36 great-grandchildren; and one daughter-in-law, Terri Fontenot Sylvester.
He is preceded in death by his beloved wife of 57 years, Una Lee Thibodeaux Sylvester, and his wife of two years, Arlene Feaster Sylvester. He is also preceded in death by one daughter, Mary Sylvester; parents, Chester Sr. and Alicia Deville Sylvester; and one brother, Donald Sylvester.
The Sylvester family would like to express its deepest appreciation for the wonderful caretakers Chester had for the last four years.
Family and friends may send condolences to the Sylvester family at www.ardoinfuneralhomes.com.

MILDRED BLANCHARD
June 30, 1931 – March 27, 2021
MAMOU – Funeral services were held at a 2 p.m. Mass of Christian Burial at St. Ann’s Catholic Church in Mamou on Wednesday, March 31, 2021, for Mildred Deshotel Blanchard, 89, who passed away on Saturday, March 27, at Care Center Nursing Home in Baton Rouge.
Father Billy Massie, pastor of St. Ann’s Catholic Church, was celebrant of the Mass and conducted the funeral services.
Burial took place in the New St. Ann’s Cemetery under the direction of Ardoin’s Funeral Home in Mamou.
The family requested that visitation be observed at Ardoin’s Funeral Home in Mamou on Wednesday, March 31, from 10 a.m. until time of service. A Rosary was prayed in her honor on Wednesday at 1 p.m.
Mildred Deshotel Blanchard was born on June 30, 1931, in Mamou, to Felca and Pauline Ortego Deshotel. Mildred was always a hard worker. Growing up, she helped in the fields of her family’s farm and later worked in a clothing store. Mildred was very talented and loved to crochet and sew. She also enjoyed an occasional trip to the casino. Mildred’s greatest joy was that of taking care of her family and providing them with a loving home. She will be greatly missed and fondly remembered by those close to her.
Mildred is survived by her son, Robert Wayne Billiodeaux and wife, Sallie, of Kissimmee, Florida; daughter, Brenda Ann Biliodeaux Breaud and husband, Floyd, of Denham Springs; brother, Jimmy Deshotel, of Mamou; and sister, Loreta Deshotel Baker, of Mamou. Also left behind to cherish her memory are her three grandchildren, Dylan Billiodeaux, Christopher Henge, and Ryan Billiodeaux.
She is preceded in death by her husbands, Ryan Billiodeaux and Jake Blanchard; brother, Herbert Deshotel and wife, Jeanette; sister-in-law, Glenda Deshotel; and two nieces, Balinda Baker Mayeaux and Michelle Baker Lejeune.
Family and friends may leave condolences for the family at www.ardoinfuneralhomes.com.

MARY LEE KELONE
June 30, 1940 – March 28, 2021
Mary Lee Kelone passed away March 28, 2021, at the age of 80 in her cherished home in the woods of Pine Prairie.
Respects may be paid on Friday, April 2, from 11 a.m. until 1 p.m. at Hixson Brothers in Marksville with graveside services immediately following at French Cemetery in Deville.
Hixson Brothers Funeral Home is in charge of arrangements.
She will be remembered as Artris’ devoted wife, an always-loving mother to Paul, Larry, and Jadenda, an unfathomably loving grandmother, and a passionately joyous great-grandmother. Her grandchildren, Brandon, Amanda, Dustin, and James were the stars of her world, but her great-granddaughter was the nova in her universe. And to many others, Mary will be remembered as a caring friend with a quick smile, a foundational love for Christ, and an unquenchable desire to learn something new by reading every scrap of written word she could find.
Born in Brinkley, Arkansas, in 1940, Mary worked to get her education the hard way, while raising her three children. She attended late-night classes to earn her high school certificate, then a bachelor’s in education through extension courses from Southern University, and finally a master’s in special education from Henderson University during summer breaks. Ms. Mary taught to instill her belief that anyone—no matter their circumstances—can do and be something better through knowledge and education. She expected her students to live full lives and did everything she could to prepare them. One of her greatest prides was seeing her former students as grown, contributing adults.
She married Artris Kelone on June 28, 1958, and followed him through Arkansas, Oklahoma, and all around the state of Louisiana before finally settling into Pine Prairie and calling it home in the early 60s. While she spent much of her life residing in Arkansas and Louisiana, Mary loved a road trip anywhere. She camped across most of the continental United States from Florida to Alaska. Being an expert map reader, she navigated through nearly every state in the country along the way. She always wanted her hands busy, especially holding a book, a love that she worked hard to impress upon the people who were blessed to call her “Mom” or “Nana.” And, if she wasn’t reading, you could find her embroidering, crocheting, painting, basket weaving, spinning yarn, or watering her flowers.
She gave the best hugs, and always believed that her family was capable of amazing things, even when they struggled to see it in themselves. She filled her home with treasures to find, and absolutely nothing was off-limits to the grandchildren she loved. She cherished holidays like no other and left no surface unadorned with the season’s decor. She was unabashedly and proudly well-known for her sneaking treats or helping in some kind of mischief with her grandchildren, especially when she knew that their parents disapproved. She never let anyone leave her home hungry, far preferred a home-cooked meal to anything from a restaurant, and her pecan pie was the best that this world has ever known.
She is survived by her husband, Artris Kelone; her children, Paul David Kelone (Denise Kelone), Larry Kelone (Gigi Obren), and Jadenda Prochaska (Joel Prochaska); her grandchildren, Brandon Kelone, Amanda Strong (Maarten Cappaert), Dustin Kelone, and James Prochaska (Lexi Kjorlien); and her great-granddaughter Nova Cappaert.
Mary is preceded in death by her mother, Maude Fryer; her father, Fred Moon; her siblings, Eunice Martin, Irene Shrader, Leeland (Pete) Fryer, and Leonard Fryer; and her very best friend in the world, Betty Holden.
Pallbearers honored to serve will be Paul David Kelone, Larry Kelone, Joel Prochaska, Brandon Kelone, Dustin Kelone, and James Prochaska. Honorary pallbearer will be Maarten Cappaert.
To extend online condolences to the Kelone family, you may visit our website at www.hixsonbrothers.com.