Clarence Eustace Hernandez Jr.

It is with deepest sadness that the family of Clarence Hernandez, Jr. announces that he passed away on December 13, 2014, surrounded by his family, as a result of a year long battle with pancreatic cancer. Clarence was born on December 5, 1930, the first born son of the union of Clarence Hernandez, Sr. and Lena Leonard Hernandez. The family lived on St. Louis Street in Catfish Town near the extended family of Clarence, Sr. Little did anyone know that one month prior to Clarence's birth, that Dr. U.S. Hargrove had delivered Clarence Jr.'s future wife, Wilma (Susie) Lossett. As a youngster, Clarence enjoyed spending time with his grandparents at the camp of his Grandpa Richard Hernandez at Colyell Bay, where he learned to hunt and fish, which he enjoyed until this past October, when he became ill. He was always anxious to learn how things worked, and spent lots of time at the blacksmith and wheelwright shop of his great grandpa, Nicholas Fousse, near his home. He became an expert at rebuilding and maintaining his bicycle and those of his friends. He earned his spending money delivering groceries for the neighborhood grocery store. He also delivered newspapers for the State Times. He and his best friends, J.S. Hymel, and Fate Brown, wore out several bicycles travelling around the neighborhood and around the lakes at City Park and L.S.U. where they fished and swam. They enjoyed getting together with the other neighborhood kids for a football game on the grounds of the old State Capitol, and often invited the students from the School for the Deaf and Visually Impaired. Much fun for all of them! Then off to the Louisiana Theatre for a double feature western, cartoon and news report, all for 9 cents. Clarence attended St. Agnes Catholic School, Baton Rouge Jr. High and Baton Rouge High. As seniors at Baton Rouge High, he, J.S. and Fate decided to join the military. At the tender age of 17, Clarence enlisted in the Navy, during the Korean conflict. He was assigned to the U.S.S. Carpenter, where he spent the majority of his four years seeing the world. He lived his "growing up" years before being honorably discharged after which he returned home. Old friendships were rekindled and lasted through marriages, having children and grandchildren. In 1953, Clarence was introduced to "Susie" at a dance, and as the saying goes, "the rest is history." Eleven months later they were married, and later had three children, Terri, Jerry and Barbara. When Clarence met Susie, she did not know how to fish, so he taught her and she sometimes outfished him. When the children were small, they too were taught to fish and crawfish, which they still enjoy. Clarence was alway interested in "projects" so he found a plan for a wooden boat and proceeded to build it. They used it for several years but eventually upgraded to a bass boat and ski boat as the children grew up.

The children loved going to the beach, so vacations were spent in Gulf Shores, Alabama. Clarence was employed at Kaiser Aluminum in Baton Rouge as an operator. While there he met several new friends who also loved to hunt and fish, Fred Keller, Bud I. Rills, George Ross, Ray Bayhi and Webb Miller. They spent lots of time exploring Bayou Sorrel, Bayou Pigeon, Ramah and the spillway and always caught lots of fish. While hunting, George had an expert dog who had only one eye, but, he was the best dog of all. When Ormet Corp. opened in Burnside, Clarence and several Kaiser employees went to work there. Unfortunately, in November, after being hired in February, Clarence was involved in an industrial accident which severely injured him. After several surgeries, he returned to work and was assigned to the engineering department as a draftsman. He quickly learned to pencil draw and eventually was quite good. He joined Jim Porche, Louis Blanchard and Jimmy LaCour. My, what a team! Clarence excelled in the department and when he retired he held the title of Engineer A. He and Susie will always remember their fishing buddies from Ormet and the great, fun times they shared at the boat club and at The Hilltop Inn, and the many weekends spent with Lucille and Sheldon Begue at False River; the fishing trips to Grand Isle, Cocodrie, Lake Maurepas, and Dulac; and, the vacations they shared making many wonderful memories! While both he and Susie worked, they had a plan. They knew they wanted a camp of their own, so they started saving, and were finally able to begin building their retirement home at Bayou Corne. It took several years to complete, but with help from the children and family, it was completed. They were fortunate to spend 28 years there before having to evacuate because of the sink hole. It broke their hearts to leave that home and all of their friends, but their friends also had to leave. During their years there, they made many friends, who loved to fish as much as they did. They also went on cruises, had Mardi Gras parades and lots of football parties. It was an ideal community where neighbors helped neighbors and everyone enjoyed each other's company. Clarence could be portrayed as a man of all trades and master of all. He could replace car engines, work on appliances, do plumbing, electrical and concrete work, paint, frame and roof. He could work on lawnmowers and all outdoor machines and still have time to help neighbors build boat houses and houses and was an accomplished cabinet maker, as was evidenced in his home. Clarence also had a knack for growing a beautiful vegetable garden, and for years, shared and grew a large vegetable garden with Susie's father, George. Clarence loved life to the maximum!

We would like to thank our friends, neighbors and all those who offered prayers during his open heart surgery last year and his cancer illness this year. He was a fighter and never gave up, believing he would get well. To all of those who expressed concern and offers of help, our family sincerely thanks you. To Dr. Fraiche and staff, Dr. Deumite and Dr. Rigby, Dr. Rhynes and Dr. Hollier, you are the best! To St. Joseph Hospice, we are so happy to have contacted you. You have made these last weeks so much easier for allof us. To Brandi, Alice, Kimberly, Darlene and Dr. Guillory, you are indeed angels in disguise.Clarence is survived by his loving wife of 60 years, 10 months, Wilma "Susie" Hernandez; daughter, Terri Hernandez Morgan and husband Robert W. Morgan; and son, Jerry Paul Hernandez of Denham Springs, LA; daughter Barbara Hernandez Stone of Southaven, MS; sister Roma Hernandez Eichelberger of Denham Springs, LA; and brother Lyndon C. Hernandez and wife Debra of French Settlement, LA; grandson Justin Henry Hullinghorst and wife Silvana Tsankova; and grandson James Matthew Hullinghorst of Baton Rouge, LA; grandson Jeremy Ray Stone of Southaven, MS; grand daughters Sarah Joor Morgan, Claire Pennington Morgan and Emily Christine Morgan; and grandson Justin Matz of Denham Springs, LA; great granddaughters Saivylia Hullinghorst and Ava Matz and great grandson Kaden Hullinghorst. He is preceded in death by his mother, Lena Marie Leonard Hernandez and father, Clarence Eustace Hernandez of Baton Rouge, LA; sister Joyce Hernandez Nicolle and husband Edgar Nicolle of Tampa, FL; sister Ginger McAndrew and husband John Gayle McAndrew of Baton Rouge, LA; and brother Ted L. Hernandez of French Settlement, LA. Visitation will be held at Greenoaks Funeral Home, 9595 Florida Blvd., Baton Rouge, LA on Wednesday, Dec. 17 from 5 p.m. - 8 p.m. and Thursday, Dec. 18 from 9 a.m. - 10 a.m. Services will be conducted by Brother Willie Singleton at 10 a.m. The family invites you to join them for lunch at the reception hall next door.