Henry Grant Babcock

After a five year battle with dementia, Henry Grant Babcock peacefully went to his eternal rest on Monday, December 16, 2013. He is survived by his son Mark Babcock and his wife Shelley and his daughter Brycelaine Babcock, her husband Kenny Dehoff and a grandson Oliver Dehoff. Born November 13, 1926 he lived a full, productive and happy life. A man who could fix things, his work life ran a gamut from paper boy, longshoreman, steam engineer, builder, contractor, salesman, cattleman, and property manager among other things. His parents raised sugar cane near Lafourche Crossing, but were bankrupted in the Depression. They moved to Metairie where he was raised. He graduated from Metairie High School and attended Tulane University, but left for the Merchant Marine during the latter years of WWII. He worked in the engine rooms of the Liberty ships, ultimately obtaining a chief engineers license. Dad was drafted for the Korean War. While serving as a clerk/typist in Japan, he earned an appointment to Officer Candidate School by successfully tutoring a staff officer's son in the quadratic equation. In June 1953 he married the love of his life Bernelle Dressel. They were married for fifty-eight years until her passing in 2012. During the 1960's he was one of the pioneers in custom in-ground swimming pool construction while continuing to develop and maintain rental property. By the early 1970's he and Mom were able to purchase land in southern Mississippi where he devoted himself to becoming a cattleman. Reeber Farm, as it became known, was a joy to him for many, many years. My father's life was a wonderful example of the wisdom set forth so long ago in the book of Ecclesiastes "There is nothing better for a man than that he should eat and drink and find enjoyment in his toil." We wish to thank the wonderful caregivers of Heart of Hospice and all the staff of Sunrise Senior Living Center for the care they have shown in these last trying years. Private funeral services will be held at a later date. To view and sign the guest book, visit www.lakelawnmetairie.com.