Lawrence Dean Berdon

"Lawrence was 76 years old, a resident of Baton Rouge and native of Natchez, MS. He died Monday, January 16, 2017 at his residence. Lawrence, who was known by many as Sugar Bear, was a strong intelligent man with a soft heart. He graduated from Natchez High School and received a football scholarship to Tulane University. He attended the University of Southern Mississippi and received a Bachelor of Business from the University of Mississippi. Lawrence was an avid golfer and member of Sherwood Forest Country Club and enjoyed fresh water fishing. He was a member of Sigma Chi Fraternity and a Naval Officer on the USS Ogden. Lawrence D. Berdon, CPA, was a Director in the Accounting and Assurance Services Group at Postlethwaite & Netterville (P&N). He joined the firm in 1966 and retired in 2010. In addition to serving as the firm's senior audit and quality control partner, Lawrence was on the initial peer review committee of the Private Companies Practice Section of the American Institute of CPAs' Division for CPA Firms. His committee services included participation in the development of the first procedures for quality review of member firms. He had a significant impact in the accounting profession, where he was frequently requested to provide educational instruction to other CPAs, as well as was called to provide expert testimony on technical accounting matters. In 2015, he was honored with the Society for Louisiana Certified Public Accountant's Life Membership Award to recognize his life-long record of achievement to benefit the future of CPAs throughout Louisiana. For 44 years, Lawrence was an esteemed member of the P&N professional team, where his focus, integrity, and commitment made a profound and lasting impact. He is survived by his wife, Jamie Walsh Berdon; two sons, Lawrence Dean Berdon, Jr. and wife Courtney Burkett Berdon of Baton Rouge, LA and Bradley Owen Berdon and wife Tina Michtka Berdon of St. John's, FL. And Sheri Kramer Juban, half-sister to Dean and Bradley; nephews, Bill Berdon of Martinez, GA and Martin Berdon of Baton Rouge, LA; niece, Leigh Berdon of Panama City, FL. and grandchildren, Blake Berdon, Josh Berdon and Scarlett Rose Berdon. Lawrence was preceded in death by his father, William Henry Berdon, Jr. and mother, Rubye Smith Berdon; brother, William Henry Berdon, III and sister-in-law, Betty Hugh Berdon. Visitation will be at Rabenhorst Funeral Home, 825 Government St., Thursday, January 19, 2017, 10:00 a.m. until Memorial Service at 12 noon, conducted by The Reverend Camille C. Wood. A reception will immediately follow in the Reception Room at Rabenhorst Funeral Home. Honorary pallbearers will be William Steve Sandahl, William Balhoff, Jake Netterville, M. O'Neal Walsh, Brooks Patterson and Shawn Patterson. The family would like to thank St. Joseph Hospice, Kimberly Davis and Sonja Landry of Healing Waters.