Church Point, La.: Funeral Services will be held at 2:00 P.M. Thursday, October 30, 2008 at St. John Catholic Church; Lewisburg, La. for Mervin J. Benoit,72, who died at 12:50 A.M. Wednesday, October 29, 2008 at his residence in Lafayette, La. He was born in Church Point. Monsignor Jefferson J. DeBlanc will conduct the services with interment following in the Our Lady of the Sacred Heart Catholic Cemetery; Highway 35, Church Point.
Survivors include his wife, Mamie Lavergne Benoit of Lafayette; two daughters: Kathy B. Cannata and husband Pete of Lafayette and Tammy B. Blackwell and husband Kevin of Broussard, La.; two sons: Gary J. Benoit and wife Donna of Carencro, La. and Cory D. Benoit and wife Kelli of Lafayette; two brothers: Larry J. Benoit, Sr. and wife Sandra and John L. Benoit-all of Church Point and a sister, Brenda B. Courville and husband Willis of Maurice, La. Mr. Benoit is also survived by six grandchildren: Macy and Emily Blackwell and Kevin Blackwell, Jr., Samantha Cannata and Blake and Bailey Benoit. He was preceded in death by his parents, Ervin J. "Too-Too" and Leora Lejeune Benoit.
The family requested that visiting hours be observed from 2:00 P.M. until 10:00 P.M. on Wednesday and continue from 9:00 A.M. Thursday until the time of the services. A recitation of the Rosary will be held at 7:00 P.M. on Wednesday by Deacon Bryne Winn.
A veteran of U.S. Army service in the U.S. and Italy (SETAF) from 1957-1960, Mr. Benoit was in sales and management in the "Oilfield" for over 30 years. He retired from Land and Marine Rental Tools (Tesoro Petroleum) in 1988 and Hytorc (division of Unex Corp.) in 2000. He also worked part-time, then full-time, for Professional Arts Pharmacy; retiring in 2006. A gifted Cajun musician, Mr. Benoit performed and recorded with several Cajun bands; playing his beloved steel and bass guitars. He received several awards over the years, but his greatest loves were his wife of 48 years, his children and his grandchildren.
Pallbearers will be: Larry Benoit, Sr., Gary and Cory Benoit, Kevin Blackwell and Kevin Blackwell, Jr. and Pete Cannata.