Ory “Junior” Bergeron, age 80, passed away unexpectedly at his home on Saturday, August 21, following complications from knee surgery. Junior was born on December 3, 1940, in Baton Rouge where he spent most of his life. In 1957, Junior met Jackie Braud through their lifelong friend and third musketeer, Mae Wethey (“Aunt Mae”). Junior and Jackie were married in 1959. Junior was well-known for being a drummer, having started his musical career at the age of 11, and he played drums for Johnny Rivers and Jimmy Clanton with the Dick Hollier Rockets. In 1961, Junior began playing drums for Van Broussard which he continued to do for over 50 years. Even after his retirement from music, he could often be found singing and whistling along to whatever tune was playing on the radio or in his head. While Junior was perhaps best known for playing music, he also loved going to the beach, making trips to Biloxi, and taking care of his car. One of his other talents was knowing every road, highway, and interstate in Louisiana and their traffic patterns and telling you which route to take to avoid traffic, along with where you should park when you got there, no matter where you were going. Junior leaves behind his wife of 62 years, Jackie, as well as children, Celeste Caruso, Gwen Van Zandt and husband Jimmy, Michelle Youngblood and husband Michael, Neil Bergeron and wife Heather, Scotty Bergeron, and honorary son, Frank Caruso. He is preceded in death by his daughter Piper Bergeron, infant son Linen Joseph, and son-in-law Eric Nelson, as well as his parents Ory Sr. and Louise Bergeron, brothers, Roger Bergeron and John Alvin Bergeron, and sister Gertie Chandler. He is survived by his sister, Lydia Yarnell of Lancaster, Pennsylvania, and brother, Jimmy Bergeron of Baton Rouge. He also leaves behind fifteen grandchildren, thirteen great grandchildren, and one great-great granddaughter. Visitation will be held on Thursday, August 26 at Rabenhorst Funeral Home (11000 Florida Blvd) from 5-8 pm, and on Friday, August 27 at St. George Catholic Church (7808 St. George Drive) from 10:30 am-12 pm followed by a mass of Christian burial at 12 with graveside services at Greenoaks Funeral Home and Memorial Park (9595 Florida Blvd).
