Allen Ray Bares

Funeral service will be held at a Mass of Christian Burial at 11 a.m. Monday, Aug. 18, 2008, at St. Pius X Catholic Church, Lafayette, for Allen Ray Bares. A devoted husband, loving father and grandfather, Allen Ray Bares passed away peacefully on Thursday, Aug. 14, surrounded by his family. He died of complications of myelofibrosis. He was 71. Visitation at Delhomme Funeral Home, 1011 Bertrand Drive, Lafayette, on Sunday, Aug. 17, from 2 p.m. to 9 p.m., with recitation of the rosary at 5 p.m. and 7 p.m. by the St. Elizabeth Seton Rosary Group. Visitation resumes at the funeral home on Monday from 8 a.m. to 10 a.m. Entombment will be in Calvary Cemetery Mausoleum. Allen will be remembered for his abundant love of his family and his dedication to public service. He is survived by his wife of 46 years, Elizabeth "Betty" Jeanne Baquet Bares; his eight children, Camille Massie, Jude Bares, M.D., Jeannine Martin, John Bares, Michelle Tober, Jacques Bares, Allen Bares II and Elizabeth Mackie; two daughters-in-law, Anne Walker Bares M.D., and Tanya Cambre Bares. He had 17 grandchildren who adored their "Paw Paw." He is also survived by a sister, Agnes Richard; and two brothers, Eno Bares and Emery Bares. He was preceded in death by his parents, John and Oneida Bares, his brother Emmett Bares and his sister-in-law Grace L. Bares. Pallbearers will be Allen's sons-in-law, Jim Massie, David Martin, Eric Tober and Patrick Mackie, and his nephews, Barry Bares, Wymon Bares, Stephen Bares and Luther Richard. Allen was born on Sept. 24, 1936, and was raised in the LeBlanc community in Vermilion Parish. He graduated from Erath High School, LSU and LSU School of Law in 1960. He was a member of Sigma Nu fraternity at LSU and helped establish the Sigma Nu chapter at the University of Louisiana at Lafayette. After graduating from college, he joined the Louisiana National Guard and was later commissioned as a second lieutenant. He began his legal career in Abbeville, and in 1961 he moved to Lafayette as an associate general counsel with All American Insurance Co. He was an organizer of Val-u Investment Corp. and served as its vice president and general counsel for many years. He was a practicing attorney in Lafayette for almost 50 years, most recently with Oliver and Way. He also represented many interests as lobbyist before the Louisiana Legislature. In 1972, Allen was elected to the Louisiana House of Representatives, and in 1980 he was elected to the state Senate, representing District 23 for 12 years. He was elected by his colleagues as president of the state Senate in 1988 under the administration of Gov. Buddy Roemer. He was a passionate leader in the pro-life movement and authored historic legislation to protect the precious lives of the unborn in Louisiana. He was active in education reform, having served as national vice president of the Education Commission of the States from 1985-1986. He championed tort reform and was a lead author of the 1987 Workman's Compensation Reform Act. As a French-speaking legislator, Allen was a staunch supporter of CODOFIL and was honored to serve as president of the Louisiana Chapter of the Association of French Speaking Legislators. For his work with the preservation of French in Louisiana, the country of France presented him with the prestigious Medal of Merit in 1991. Allen selflessly gave his time and energy to many community organizations, including the Boy Scouts, Kiwanis Club, Lafayette Chamber of Commerce, Serra Vocation Club and St. Pius X Catholic Church. He was the first elected president of Our Lady of Fatima Church. Allen was an enthusiastic supporter of the Boy Scouts, having served as president of the Evangeline Area Boy Scouts Council, and was honored to have received the Silver Beaver Award from the Boy Scouts in 2000. He was an avid horseman and enjoyed golfing, hunting and fishing with his children and grandchildren. He was a faithful servant of the Lord, and an inspiration to all those who knew and loved him. His presence in our lives will be greatly missed, and we are honored to have shared in his life. In lieu of flowers, the family asks that contributions be made to the Evangeline Area Boy Scouts Council, 2266 S. College Road, Lafayette, LA 70508, the Carmelite Monastery, 1250 Carmel Drive, Lafayette, LA 70501 or to St. Pius X School, 205 E. Bayou Parkway, Lafayette, LA 70508. Personal condolences may be sent to the Bares family at www.delhommefuneralhome.com. Delhomme Funeral Home, 1011 Bertrand Drive, Lafayette, is in charge of funeral arrangements.