Emery Lewis Villar

A native of Brignac and a resident of Gonzales, he passed away at The Carpenter House of St. Joseph Hospice in Baton Rouge on Saturday, April 23, 2011, at age 90. He retired with 35 years of service from Exxon Baton Rouge, was a former member of the Ascension Parish School Board, a state representative in the Louisiana Legislature for 16 years, director of the Louisiana State Licensing Board for Contractors, on the board of directors of the Bank of Gonzales, vice president of Louisiana National Security Bank, a member of the board of review with the Louisiana Department of Labor and a member of Ascension Baptist Church. He is survived by his wife of 69 years, Winnie Gautreau Villar; daughters, Dianne Villar Herin and Dolores Villar; son and daughter-in-law, Ronnie and Connie Marchand Villar; grandchildren, Michael Herin, Derek Smith and Dwayne Smith, Russell Villar and Michelle Fortenberry; great-grandchildren, Jonathan Herin, Rebecca Herin, Stephen Herin, Jennifer Smith, Luke Smith, Joshua Smith, Matthew Smith, Danielle Smith, Paul Fortenberry and Eva Fortenberry; sister, Lois Alexander; and brothers, John Villar Jr. and Elmo Villar. He was preceded in death by his parents, Josephine Blackwell and John Daniel Villar Sr.; brothers, Victor Villar and Kernice Villar; and a sister, Hermenie White. Pallbearers will be his grandchildren. There will be a visitation at Ascension Baptist Church, 13432 Airline Highway, Gonzales, on Tuesday, April 26, from 9 a.m. until religious services at 11 a.m., conducted by the Rev. Keith Crider. Interment will be in Sacred Heart Chapel at the Lake Cemetery, Lake. To offer condolences to the family, please visit www.oursofh.com.