Douaine Paul Conner

A Mass of Christian Burial will be celebrated Wednesday, December 13, 2017, at 11:30 a.m., at Sacred Heart of Jesus Catholic Church in Creole, Louisiana for Douaine Paul Conner, 60, who died at home on Sunday, December 10, 2017, after battling cancer for the last several years. Reverend Wayne LeBleu will be the celebrant.

Serving as pallbearers will be, Travis Broussard, Tony Hay, Butch LaBove, Steven Landry, Thomas McDaniel and James Mock. Honorary pallbearers are, Jocelyn Broussard, Angie Davis, Brian Hardie, Karen McCall, Kellie McKoin, Coy Mudd, Ryan Nash, Arleen Nunez, Debbie Savoie, Russell Savoie, and Jeff Wainwright.

Mr. Conner was born on January 3, 1957, in Creole, Louisiana, and was an active member of Sacred Heart of Jesus Catholic Church in Creole until he relocated his family to Iowa, Louisiana and attended Masses at various Catholic churches, after losing his family’s home to Hurricane Rita in 2005. He graduated from South Cameron High School in 1975. He trapped during high school and began working for Crain Brothers. In November 1979, he was hired by Amoco Production that was acquired by the Apache Corporation in 1979, then Texas Petroleum in 2014, working throughout all of the transitions. He later worked for Roy Bailey Construction, driving a vacuum truck. He served the citizens of Cameron Parish for 4 non-consecutive terms, as a Cameron Parish Police Juror, for a total of 16 years. Mr. Conner was active on a number of public boards in Cameron Parish during his lifetime.

Left with a lifetime of memories to forever cherish are his wife, Shiela Broussard Conner, whom he married at Sacred Heart Catholic Church in Creole on April 24, 1976; his sons, Jobe Johnson and his wife, Dana, Lancey Conner and Laura O’Quinn, both of Iowa, John Pradia and Shontell of Lake Charles, and daughter, Santana Wilkerson and her husband, Trey of Sweetlake; his grandchildren, Baleigh Conner, Taylor Conner, Cayden O’Quinn, Grayson and Makenzi Johnson, and Wyatt, Adrianna, Liam and Ella Kate Wilkerson, Jordan Ware, Channing and Emerson Pradia; his father, Gervis Conner and mother-in-law, Rebecca Broussard; his brother, Tim Conner and sister-in-law, Cynthia, sister, Jackie Huse, sister, Jan Broussard and brother-in-law, Shane, brothers-in-law,Travis Broussard and wife, Jocelyn, and Kurt Broussard and wife, Angie, sisters-in-law, Debra Henderson, Theresa Smith and husband, Butch, Renee Mock and husband, Jimmy, and Darla Montie and husband, David; his godchildren, Courtney Conner, Chasity Boudreaux and Alex Broussard, and many nieces and nephews, cousins and friends.

Preceding Mr. Conner in death were his son, Channing Conner, mother, Leola Conner and father-in-law, Woodrow Broussard.

Mr. Conner’s life was dedicated to his family, and he supported the livestock and sports programs in which his children were involved. His interest in their livestock projects, particularly in exhibiting hogs, was enhanced by his co-ownership of Superior Swine Farms, giving his children the opportunity to view and learn all aspects of the hog business while also providing other children with quality animals to exhibit. As they were in every endeavor, Mr. Conner’s children and grandchildren were highly competitive in the show arena while always exhibiting good sportsmanship.

As a volunteer, he coached elementary wrestling and football at both Grand Chenier and South Cameron Elementary Schools when his sons were competing, but it was his love and passion for coaching girls and boys softball for which he will always be remembered. From T-Ball through Little Chicks, Lady Cajuns, Young Guns, Lady Tarpons and Stars and Stripes, Coach Douaine or Paw Paw Wayne, as he was known, helped his teams amass championships, trophies and unbeatable reputations, while teaching them to love the game and to always remember that only their best would do. As he and his teams played across Louisiana and in various states throughout the country, whether a great play or a bad call was the issue, he reacted in ways that will never be forgotten and will be the subject of stories for generations yet to be born. As a volunteer softball coach for decades, moving on from his children to his grandchildren, Mr. Conner was a beloved critic and taught his players the “never give up” attitude, making them better people as they developed into better athletes, always having pride in themselves and their team. That unique competitive edge that he taught them has helped his athletes of yesterday develop into successful young adults and parents of today. They will all attest to having learned priceless life’s lessons from a coach like none other, who simply chose to dedicate his time to his children, grandchildren and their friends, as they competed on the softball field in the sport they all loved.

Family and friends are invited to the visitation beginning from 3:00 p.m. until 9:00 p.m., on Tuesday, December 12, 2017, with a Holy Rosary prayed at 7:00 p.m.; then, again on Wednesday, December 13, from 8:00 a.m. until leaving for Sacred Heart Catholic Church in Creole, all at Hixson Funeral Home in Lake Charles. Mr. Conner will be buried right next to his son Channing, at Sacred Heart of Jesus Cemetery in Creole. Words of comfort may be shared with the family at www.hixsonfuneralhomes.com