Mearl Joseph Barilleaux

Mearl Joseph Barilleaux, 88, long time resident of New Braunfels, Texas slipped away to heaven on February 7, 2018. Mearl was born in New Orleans, Louisiana on March 21, 1929 to Lionel Charles Barilleaux and Gertrude (Martin) Barilleaux. Mearl grew up in the small town of Breaux Bridge, Louisiana, hailed as the “Crawfish Capital of the World” and relished his Cajun roots. He could be found helping his dad in their family owned furniture store and loved to share stories about trips he made with his dad to New Orleans to buy and sell furniture. Mearl was raised in a family of six siblings and in a small town such as Breaux Bridge, knew everyone and was related to most. Mearl graduated from St. Bernard High School on May 15, 1946 with a graduating class of eleven. In 1948 Mearl joined the U.S. Naval Reserve as a Fireman Apprentice but was discharged from the Navy in 1950 when he enlisted in the U. S. Air Force to serve as a medic during the Korean War.

As fate would have it, Mearl ended up stationed at the one place he begged and pleaded not to go, Shepard Air Force Base in Wichita Falls, Texas. It was during his time at this duty station he met Marcella George, the woman who would be his wife for the next 63 years. They were married on July 22, 1951 in a small, private ceremony at Sacred Heart Catholic Church in Wichita Falls, Texas. Mearl was honorably discharged from the Air Force in September, 1953. In November, 1954 Mearl and Marcella welcomed their first child, Carla Denise. In June, 1959, they welcomed their second child, Norman Anthony.

Mearl’s career in business and accounting gave him some interesting work choices. One of his favorites was working in a small town on the Texas coast, Port Lavaca, for a dredging company called Bauer Dredging. He enjoyed living near the water, and this job allowed him to go out on the dredges themselves and make trips, such as the one to New Orleans where he took the family and all were treated to a ride on a tugboat. Eventually Mearl and Marcella moved to New Braunfels, Texas in 1974 after Mearl took a position in San Antonio, and that is where they would remain.

Mearl loved to travel and to work with his hands. His creations included a wishing well built in the yard of the home in Wichita Falls, which was featured in the local newspaper, fish ponds, patios, fences, and numerous other projects. Family outings were often times spontaneous as he would arrive home from work on a Friday and tell the family to pack for the weekend. This love of travel carried on through the remainder of his life, until he was no longer able to do so.

Shortly after Marcella’s passing in 2014, Mearl met and married Shirley Guess of Burnet, Texas. He moved to Burnet to live at her home in the hill country which housed two horses, herds of deer that would come to feed, and a view of Inks Lake on a clear day. Mearl loved sitting out on the patio just enjoying being in the country and away from the hustle and bustle of the city.

Mearl was preceded in death by his wife, Marcella George Barilleaux, his parents, Lionel and Gertrude Barilleaux, brothers Ira Barilleaux, L.C. Barilleaux, Donald Barilleaux and Kirk Barilleaux, and his sister Gloria (Barilleaux) Fuselier. He is survived by his second wife, Shirley Guess Barilleaux, his children Carla (Barilleaux) Despault and Norman Barilleaux and wife Charlotte; grandsons Daniel Hall and Daryl Despault; granddaughters Kristina Barilleaux and Sarah Barilleaux; great-granddaughters Sydney Hall and Emmie Wakeling; and great-grandson, Nathan Henry Despault; as well as numerous nieces and nephews.

Funeral service will be at Zoeller Funeral Home in New Braunfels at noon Friday, March 9, 2018, with burial at Fort Sam Houston, San Antonio afterward at 2:00 p.m.