J. Lionel Poirrier, devoted husband, father and grandfather passed away Tuesday, December 29, 2020 at the age of 82. He was a native and resident of Gonzales, Louisiana. A funeral mass, celebrated by Father Rubin Reynolds, will be held at St. Mark Catholic Church in Gonzales on Tuesday, January 5, 2021 at 11:00 a.m.
Lionel was born on December 11, 1938 and graduated from Gonzales High School. He served in the United States Army-National Guard 769th Battalion. He was retired from Baton Rouge Water Works. Upon his retirement, he owned and operated Dutch’s Cleaners of Gonzales, Inc. He also proudly owned and operated Poirrier Farms, Inc. He was a lifelong cattleman who enjoyed his farm with his sons and grandchildren in Centreville, Mississippi. He passed on his traits of hard work and always enjoyed telling a good story. He was a member of St. Mark Catholic Church and Holy Family Mission Catholic Church in Gloster, Mississippi.
Lionel is preceded in death by his parents, Dewey John Poirrier and Ina Villar Poirrier; and his sisters Lucille Poirrier Ducote and Helen Poirrier Templet. He is survived by his wife of 59 years, Ionne Evans Poirrier; his brother, Landis Paul Poirrier; his sons Duane (Barbara), Dwight (Dianna), and Shane; his grandchildren, Sarah (Les), John, Michelle, Hannah, Sophie, Alexia, Emily, Alenia, Alecia, Blake, and Cody; and his great-grandchildren Barrett, Gabe, and Rosemary.
Pallbearers will be Blake Knight, John Poirrier, Cody Poirrier, Les Maloney, Tracy James, and Chandler St. Pierre. Honorary Pallbearers are Irah Decoteau, Don Keller, Vic Hughes, Landis P. Poirrier, Ory Duplechein, and Wayne Moore.
A special thanks to the doctors and nurses at Oschner and OLOL-Ascension, and to the caretakers at Always Best Care. In lieu of flowers, donations to the American Heart Association or American Diabetes Association would be greatly appreciated.
