Clarence Guillory, Sr.

Our family mourns the death of our dear father, Clarence Guillory, Sr., a resident of Covington, Louisiana, who unexpectedly died on June 15, 2025, after a brief illness. Clarence was born in Mamou, Louisiana on July 20, 1927. Similar to many in his generation in Acadiana, he was the first in his family to have a formal education and speak English. After high school he entered the United States Navy where he served in Corpus Christi, Texas from 1946-1948. Following service in the Navy, he attended Louisiana State University for five consecutive years without a summer break, majoring in business administration and education. After a year teaching school in Missouri, he settled in New Orleans and married his first wife, Ray Marie Zemmer Guillory. They had three children, Julie Ann Fenger (Bobby), Therese Guillory (Steve), and Clarence Jr. Ray Marie Guillory died in July 1962. He remarried Janice Thriffiley Guillory and one child was born of the union, Paula Margaret Brightman (Tommy). After years working as an executive for the Boy Scouts of America and the United Way, he became the Director of Planned Giving at Loyola University New Orleans, a job he enjoyed immensely on a personal and professional level. He was a devout Catholic and avid reader of religious books and literature. He loved attending yearly retreats at Manresa. He was also an opera buff. Clarence was especially proud of his Mamou roots and Cajun heritage and spoke and read French fluently. He loved family dinners no matter what the occasion. He was preceded in death by his parents, Savan and Marie Guillory, and wife, Janice Thriffiley Guillory. He is survived by his four children and grandchildren, Ray Marie Fenger, Caroline Fenger, Robert Fenger, Jr., Genevieve Lemoine McGee (Miles), Spencer Lemoine, Margarita Wong (Lamgee), Mary Brightman, and Thomas Brightman, and great-grandchildren, Nicole McGee, Olivia McGee, Isla Wong and Cole Wong. Clarence will be greatly missed by his family. The services will be on Monday, June 23, 2025 at Lake Lawn Metairie Funeral Home, 5100 Pontchartrain Blvd. New Orleans, LA 70124. The visitation will begin at 9:30 am until the funeral mass at 11:00 am. The interment will follow within Metairie Cemetery.