Earl William "Red" Waits

DELCAMBRE – Funeral Services will be conducted for Mr. Earl William “Red” Waits, age 84, at 11:00 am on Thursday, May 28, 2015 at Evangeline Funeral Home in Delcambre with Rev. Ed Downs officiating. Interment will follow at Our Lady of the Lady Mausoleum in Delcambre.

Visitation will be held from 4:00 pm until 9:00 pm on Wednesday. The funeral home will reopen at 8:00 am on Thursday until the time of services.

A native of Fostoria, TX and resident of Delcambre, Mr. Waits passed away at 11:30 am on Sunday, May 24, 2015 at his residence surrounded by his loving family.

Mr. Waits proudly served his country in the United States Navy during the Korean Conflict. During his four years of service, Mr. Waits was stationed on the aircraft carrier U.S.S Lexington (CV-16), nicked named “The Blue Ghost” where he served as a welder and pipefitter. He later went on to be stationed all around the world in places like Japan and Adak, AK.

Mr. Waits was a member of the Delcambre chapter of the American Legion. Red worked for Shell Oil Co. as a drilling supervisor for 35 years before retiring. He enjoyed hunting and fishing at his lake home in Toledo Bend and all over the United States. Mr. Waits was a proud supporter of the Louisiana State Police. He was a gentle giant who knew no strangers and loved his family and friends. He will be greatly missed by all those he knew and loved.

He is survived by his daughters, Tammy W. Bertrand and husband Michael of Delcambre, Margarette W. Derise of Lafayette, and Earlene W. Cheek and husband Charles of Springdale, AR; grandchildren, Robert Guerra, Boyer Derise, and Charli Derise; step-grandchildren, Pamela Redden and Brett Ulbig of Texas; twelve great-grandchildren; and brother, Harold Waits and wife Paula of Houston.

He was preceded in death by his wife of 51 years, Mazie Delahoussaye Waits; step-daughter, Gale Hebert Loesch; parents, Earl and Marquerite McShan Waits; and sister, Ida “Sue” Hooper.

Pallbearers will be Michael Bertrand, Charles Cheek, Robert Guerra, Boyer Derise, Jeff Derouen, and Harold Waits.

The family would like to express their sincere gratitude to the staff of Hospice of Acadiana for their care and compassion.

To view on-line obituary, video tribute and sign the guest register, please visit www.evangelinefuneralhome.com.

Evangeline Funeral Homes, Inc. of Delcambre is in charge of arrangements.