Ellis Vanicor

Ellis Vanicor, 96 of Lacassine, passed away in his home peacefully with his family by his side on August 31, 2025. Ellis was born on August 14, 1929, to parents Jules Vanicor and Hermina Thibodeaux Vanicor in Church Point, Louisiana.

At the age of 14, Ellis developed an interest in playing the fiddle, acquired his first fiddle, and began teaching himself by watching his brother, Milton. His love for Cajun music began with his mother, Hermina.

As a young adult, Ellis worked first in the cotton fields with his parents and then transitioned into the carpentry trade. Ellis met his beautiful wife, Lena Jane Lantz, in Pine Island, Louisiana, and they were married for 53 years. They made their first home in Ardoin Cove and had four children: Daniel, Malcolm, Charlotte, and Annette. In 1971, Ellis and Lena moved to Lacassine, Louisiana, and opened Ellis Vanicor's Grocery, which they operated for 23 years. Ellis and Lena retired from the grocery business. In his retirement, Ellis enjoyed working in his garden, bragging about his tomatoes, and cruising around Lacassine on his trusty tractor. Later in life, after Lena's death, Ellis was blessed to meet Una Leger and her family and became a loving companion to him for 16 years.

Throughout his life, Ellis was deeply involved in the Lacassine Community, helping to pioneer and organize the Lacassine Volunteer Fire Department, the Optimist Club, and the establishment of the Lacassine Community Center. After the Lacassine Community Center was built, Ellis organized Cajun Days, which brought many talented Cajun musicians together for a day filled with Cajun music and dancing. He continued to volunteer his time for church bazaars, community events, and benefits to help others in times of need.

Ellis was a parishioner of the St. John the Evangelist Catholic Church of Lacassine and a member of the Knights of Columbus Council #9281, of which he was a 3rd Degree Knight.

Ellis was considered a legend in Cajun music and, in the mid-1940s, joined the original "The Lacassine Playboys", which consisted of the legendary Iry Lejuene, Jimmy Aguillard, Orsy Vanicor, Milton Vanicor, Ivy Vanicor, and Asa Lejuene. He also played with the "Lake Charles Playboys" and "The Has Been Band". In the late 1990s, Ellis and Orsy Vanicor reformed "The Lacassine Playboys" with band members Jimmy Aguillard, Robert LaPoint, and Kaleb Trahan. Throughout the years, the band entertained thousands of Cajun music lovers.

Ellis was inducted into the CFMA (Cajun French Music Association) Lake Charles Chapter Cajun Music Hall of Fame and the CFMA National Cajun Music Hall of Fame in Eunice. LA. The band received many awards throughout the years. Ellis also received "Fiddler of the Year." And the band received "The People's Choice Award" and "Band of the Year." In 2010, "Ellis Vanicor and The Lacassine Playboys" recorded their first CD, "Don't Bury Me!"

At 90 years of age, Ellis retired from the band, but many times was asked to get back on the bandstand to play and sing a few tunes. Even in his last days of life, he still got out that fiddle for one more song.

He is preceded in death by his parents, Jules and Hermina Vanicor, and his wife, Lena Jane Lantz Vanicor, his son, Daniel Jules Vanicor, his daughter-in-law, Brenda Chaisson Vanicor, and his siblings, Clarence Vanicor, Nute Vanicor, Milton Vanicor, Cecil Leger, Rena LeJeune, Ivy Vanicor, and Preston Vanicor. Ellis is also preceded in death by his friend and companion, Una Leger.

He is survived by daughter-in-law, Brenda Vanicor; son,Malcolm Vanicor and his wife, Anna; daughter, Charlotte Vanicor Ardoin and her husband, William (Bill); and daughter, Annette Vanicor DiGiovanni and her husband, Sean. Ellis was blessed with twelve grandchildren that he loved and spoiled, and through his example, taught them how to love hard, work hard, and live simple family lives. He is, and will forever be, their "PopPop". He is survived by his grandchildren, Michelle, Bridget, Justin, Kyle, Brannon, Katie, Kristina, Halie, Brooke, Madison, Christian, and Kelly. The family continued to grow, and he is survived by his fifteen great-grandchildren: Lylian, Natalie, Laken, Lyssa, Lenah, Lanna, Kinlee, Kohen, Austin, Hayden, Josie, Clay, Kynadi, Ashlyn, and Willow.

The family would like to thank the countless talented musicians who played with Ellis throughout his life. He was proud that a select younger generation continues to learn and entertain with Cajun music. He was extremely proud of notable musicians like Chris Miller and Kaleb Trahan, whom he watched grow into the great musicians they are today.

The family would like to thank Ellis's beautiful caregivers, Bobbie Granger, Beth Benoit, and Charlotte Carnahan, also known as "My Girls," for their love, compassion, and gentleness in caring for our Pop. We would also like to thank his Heart of Hospice nurse, Tracy Klumpp, for her love and affection.

Visitation will begin at 4:00 p.m. until 8:00 p.m. on Thursday, September 4, 2025 at Lacassine Community Center with a Cursillo Rosary led by the Catholic Cursillo Movement at 6:00 p.m. Visitation will resume at 10:00 a.m. on Friday at the Community Center.

A Mass of Christian Burial will begin at 2:00 p.m. on Friday, September 5, 2025 at St. John the Evangelist Catholic Church with Rev. Jom Joseph, Rev. Roland Vaughn, and Rev. Aubrey Guilbeau officiating. Burial will follow in Lacassine Cemetery under the direction of Hixson Funeral Home of Welsh.