Hardy Lee O’Neal entered into Heaven on Sunday morning, October 18th, 2020 at the age of 98 years. He was born on June 26, 1922 in Tillman, LA located just west of Elizabeth in Vernon Parish to Ada Golemon and Alfred L. O’Neal. He was a graduate of Fairview High School.
O’Neal, a WWII veteran, served in the US Army Air Corp from 1942 until 1946. He was an airplane mechanic, working mostly on the B-17 bombers, and was stationed at an Army Air Base in Pyote, TX. Upon discharge from the service, he enrolled in SLI, which is now the University of Louisiana at Lafayette. He graduated in 1949 with a degree in Mechanical Engineering. He remained a loyal ULL Alum and loved his Ragin Cajuns.
After college, he met and married the love of his life, Faye Marie Chesnutt. They moved to Sulphur a few years later and have been long-time residents since. Together, they enjoyed singing and traveling with the Agin’ Cajuns. He was a member of the Maplewood-Hollywood Lions Club for many years. He has attended First Christian Church and First Baptist of Sulphur.
Throughout his career as an engineer, he was employed at the Elizabeth Paper Mill, W.R. Grace, and PCI. In 1952, he went to work for Cities Service, which is now Citgo. After an early retirement in the 1980s, he returned to Citgo under employment of Levingston Engineers until his second retirement.
If there was ever a man that was a true depiction of the Greatest Generation, it was Hardy. Pawee, as he was known after grandkids came along, had a quiet, humble demeanor. He was patriotic, loyal, and had an appreciation for the simplicities of life. His work ethic and faith in the Lord are some of his most memorable qualities.
He is preceded in death by his parents, three brothers, and three sisters.
Those left to cherish his memories include his loving wife of 70 years, Faye Marie Chesnutt O’Neal; their children, Kim Gorsulowsky and husband, Pat; Kevin O’Neal and wife, Christa, and Sue Molitor and husband, Kenneth; grandchildren, Christopher Broussard and wife, Hope; Kate O’Neal Trisler and husband, Hunter; K. Cade O’Neal; great-grandchildren, Reece, Piper, and Mila Broussard; brother in-law – Charles Chesnutt and wife, Mary; sister in-law, Ronda Bishop and husband, Ronnie; and numerous nieces and nephews. .
Visitation will begin at 10:30 a.m. on Thursday at Hixson-Sulphur Memorial until time of service.
Funeral services will be held at 2:00 p.m. on Thursday, October 22, 2020 at Hixson-Sulphur Memorial Funeral Home Chapel. Rev. Todd Tucker will officiate. He will be laid to rest in Mimosa Pines Cemetery South, Carlyss under the direction of Hixson-Sulphur Memorial Funeral Home. Pallbearers will be Jason Molitor, Jeremy Molitor, Christopher Broussard, K. Cade O’Neal, Hunter Trisler, Chris Gustin, Chad Turner, Honorary pallbearers will be Reece Broussard and Piper Broussard.
Fond memories and expressions of sympathy may be shared at www.hixsonsulphurmemorial.com for the O'Neal family.
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