On Monday, September 16, 2024, we lost our beloved Keelan Wayne Manuel. He was born December 25, 1964 in Houston, Texas. He was always told that he shared the same birthdate with Baby Jesus. Because of grand mal seizures early in life, Keelan went to live in Pinecrest Supports and Services in Pineville, LA, at the age of 3 ½ years. He had the very best care throughout his life there. The staff will miss his laughter and his blowing kisses to them.
Those left to cherish memories of him are his mother, Lula Reed Naylor-LeJune and husband Robert; sister, Kimberly Manuel Fontenot; brother, Keith A. Manuel (Cyndi) of Sulphur; half-sister, Kelly Manuel Podraza (Brian) & family of Conroe, Texas; bonus sister, Terry Robinson (Kent) of Des Moines, Iowa; nephews, Keelan James Manuel and Wacey Manuel of Sulphur, and Brett Reed Manuel of Lake Charles, Chad Robinson of Des Moines, Iowa, and Sean Robinson of Phoenix, Arizona; stepbrother, Alex Naylor (Kathy) & family of Houston, Texas. New family members are Shalom LeJune Thompson (Brian) & family of Sulphur, and Robby LeJune (Natasha) & family of Moss Bluff.
He is preceded in death by his maternal grandparents Maria Klumpp and Raleigh Reed; bonus Dad, W.H. (Bill) Naylor; maternal aunts & uncles, Loretta Reed Beech (Henry Dee) and Lassie Rene’ Reed Storm (Bill); his biological father, Gary Lawrence Manuel (Anna); and paternal grandparents, Bertile Klumpp and Eurel Manuel.
Words cannot express the appreciation for all past and present employees who took such great care of Keelan at Pinecrest. There are so many but among those more recent are Lori Reynolds, Susan Young and Linda Baker along with so many direct care givers and doctors.
We want to thank the LSU doctors at Rapides Regional Hospital and the staff of Heart of Hospice in Alexandria for their compassionate care of Keelan in his last few days.
A Mass of Christian Burial will be held at 10 a.m. Saturday, September 21, in Our Lady of Lasalette Catholic Church in Sulphur. The Rev. John Welch, M.S. will officiate. Burial will be in Reed Cemetery in Tee Mamou under the direction of Hixson-Sulphur Memorial Funeral Home. Visitation is from 5-8 p.m. Friday and from 8:30 a.m. Saturday in the funeral home. Words of comfort and expressions of sympathy may be shared with the family at www.hixsonfuneralhomes.com.
In lieu of flowers, if you wish to donate in Keelan’s name, please consider a tax deductible gift to Pinecrest Parents’ Association, c/o Brenda Turnage, Treasurer, PO Box 10, Tioga, LA 71477 or any organization of your choice.
