Lloyd Paul Champagne Sr.

Lloyd Paul Champagne Sr. passed away March 6, 2022 at his home in Scottsdale from natural causes. Lloyd was born just outside New Orleans in the small town of Reserve, Louisiana on December 31, 1927. He attended Leon Godchaux High School and Louisiana State University.

Lloyd volunteered for the Navy in 1946. He was stationed in San Diego then Corpus Christi where he worked as a surgeon assistant. After the Navy, he completed his undergraduate studies at Louisiana State University and was accepted into Louisiana State University School of Medicine in 1950. He completed his surgical internship at Orange County General Hospital and residency at St. Joseph’s Hospital in Houston.

During his internship in Southern California, he met and courted Sarajean Sweeney. Work brought them to Baton Rouge where he established a private medical practice. Lloyd and Sarajean were married in 1960 and shortly after had daughter Charmaine and son Lloyd Jr. Doctor, dad, mover and shaker, Lloyd matriculated through Louisiana State University Law School, graduated in 1971, then passed the bar to become a practicing attorney. In the 70’s, he practiced law in his private law office from morning to noon then went to his medical office until late in the evening. In his “semi-retirement”, he was director of the Louisiana Correctional Institute for Women in St. Gabriel, Louisiana.

Sarajean and Lloyd followed their children, son-in-law and grandchildren to Scottsdale, AZ in 1999 for the real retirement. Surprisingly, Lloyd loved the desert. During her final illness in 2012 Sarajean, in her infinite wisdom, connected her best friend Dolores Gallaway to Lloyd, and the two octogenarians watched over and cared for each other until his death.

Throughout his life he was an educated, erudite and charismatic teacher, physician and lawyer, as well as an accomplished raconteur, boatsman, world traveler, gardener, husband, father and grandfather. He had an unlimited supply of bad jokes and random facts and loved an audience.

He is survived by his daughter Charmaine Champagne Berggreen, her husband Paul, their children Elise and Nicole, and by his son Lloyd Paul Champagne Jr., his wife Laura and their children Lloyd Paul III, Leighton, Lacey, and Liv.

He touched many lives and left a legacy of intellect, charm and sophistication. We will miss him dearly.

The memorial will be a private service at Green Acres in Scottsdale.

Fond memories and expressions of sympathy may be shared at www.greenacresmortuary.net for the Champagne family.