Thomas "Tommy" D. Petitjean, Sr.

Thomas D. "Tommy" Petitjean, Sr. Rayne - Funeral services will be held at St. Joseph Catholic Church, Tuesday, October 11, 2011 at 2:00 p.m. for Thomas D. "Tommy" Petitjean, Sr., 81, who died Sunday, October 9, 2011 in Lafayette General Medical Center Hospital, Lafayette, LA. Interment will be in the St. Joseph Cemetery #2, Rayne, LA. Surviving are his wife of 58 years, Evelyn Sonnier Petitjean of Rayne, one daughter, Andree Petitjean Wingate and husband Marvin of Rayne, two sons, Mayor James J. Petitjean and wife Lyn of Rayne, Joseph S. Petitjean of Rayne, six grandchildren, Alexis Wingate, Alanna W. Hensgens and husband Karl, Elise Petitjean, Pete Petitjean, Ann Petitjean, Mariette P. Mahaffey and husband John Michael, four great grandchildren, Audrey Mahaffey, Nicholas Mahaffey, Katherine Hensgens, Caroline Hensgens, one sister, Josie P. Cook of Rayne, one brother, J. Dave Petitjean, Jr. and wife Audrey of Crowley. He was preceded in death by son, Dr. Thomas D. Petitjean, Jr., parents, J. Dave Petitjean, Sr. and May Prejean Petitjean. He was born Saturday, December 21, 1929 in Rayne, LA, son of the late Joseph Dave Petitjean and the late May Prejean Petitjean. Tommy was the quarterback of the 1944 State Champion Football Team at Rayne High School. He went on to receive an athletic scholarship to LSU and finished his collegiate football career at McNeese State University. Mr. Petitjean graduated from SLI, now the University of Louisiana at Lafayette, with a Bachelor of Science in Agriculture in 1951. Mr. Petitjean served in the U.S. Army, during the Korean War. He was elected to the Acadia Parish School Board and the Acadia Parish Police Jury. He held membership in various organizations including the Knights of Columbus, American Legion, Louisiana Agriculture Commissioner's Special Council, Acadia Parish Rice Growers Association, Rice Council, Louisiana Agriculture Industries Association, USL Alumni, McNeese Alumni, Rayne High School Booster's Club, Louisiana Fertilizer Commission Member, and Industrial Development Board for the City of Rayne, Inc. Pall Bearers will be his grandson Pete Petitjean, son in law Marvin Wingate, nephews Louie Cook, Dave Cook, Robert Cook and J. Dave Petitjean, III. Honorary Pall Bearers are B.I. Moody, Charles Chappuis, Douglas Moody, Buddy Gilbert, John Menard, Merrick Young and Donald Sonnier. A rosary will be recited Monday, October 10, 2011 at 6:00 p.m. at Gossen Funeral Home. Friends will be received at Gossen Funeral Home, Inc., Rayne, LA. Monday, October 10, 2011 from 3:00 p.m. until 9:00 p.m. and Tuesday, October 11, 2011 from 8:00 a.m. until 1:30 p.m. Friends may view the obituary and guestbook online at www.gossenfuneralhome.net. Arrangements have been entrusted to Gossen Funeral Home, Inc. of Rayne, LA, (337) 334-3141.

Thomas "Tommy" D. Petitjean, Sr.

December 21, 1929 - October 9, 2011