JOHN LOYD "TEE" BRUSSARD

Broussard John Loyd Tee Bruce Broussard John Loyd Tee Bruce Broussard, 81, of China, died Thursday, March 18, 2010, at Memorial Hermann Baptist Beaumont Hospital. He was born in Port Arthur February 25, 1929, to Mr. and Mrs. Loyd Broussard who were second generation Acadian French. Tee Bruce grew up and graduated from Thomas Jefferson High in Port Arthur in 1947 and served in the Air Force for two and a half years (21/5) as an aircraft repair specialist working on B-29's and converted B-50'S, and trained on the then new generation of jet aircraft at Biggs Air Force Base. He traveled around the country training in at least 12 specialties that kept our boys flying safely. Tee Bruce has not only lived the life and history of the Cajun segment of our combined American fabric but had also proudly broadcast the unique music of his culture, every Sunday, for over forty-six years, to millions of Cajuns and converts alike. The commitment to Cajun Music on KLVI was past to Tee-Bruce from the late Johnny Janot. For over four decades at the KLVI studios in Beaumont Texas at 6:00 am every Sunday, a humble, later white haired Tee Bruce awakened the normally quiet A.M. airways with Well, All Right!! and the request phone lines lit up to start the Cajun Jamboree. After forty-six years, the Cajun Jamboree was as much a part of families Sunday morning ritual as getting ready for church and dinner at the grandparents. It really was his culture, that of his extended family of listeners and he understood his influence and his responsibility to preserve and carry on the Cajun legacy and values. In May of 1990 Tee Bruce was inducted into the Cajun Music Hall of Fame in Lake Charles, Louisiana, which was an incredible honor for this proud Port Arthur native. Then on August 15th of 2003, Tee Bruce was invited to Lafayette, Louisiana by the Cajun French Music Association, which is the global organization representing the Cajun music genre, and was inducted into its Hall of Fame in Eunice, Louisiana. In addition, he has been honored with several declared Tee Bruce Days in both Texas and Louisiana. Tee is survived by his wife, Bonnie Broussard of China; his first wife and mother of his children, Ethel; daughters, Mary Ann Broussard of Dallas and Barbara Clark and her husband Joe of Beaumont; sons, Johnny Broussard of Port Arthur and Mike Broussard and his wife Sylvia of Groves; a brother, Stanley Broussard of Port Arthur; grandchildren, Christy Marceaux, Joshua Marceaux and his wife Betty, April Harris and her husband Mike, D. J. Broussard, Johnny James Broussard; great grandchildren, Matthew Marceaux, Elijah Harris, Ian Harris and Sean Harris; step children, Dickey Stapleton and Dena Holmes and her husband Ira; step grandchildren, Lauren Perez, Alexa Armstreet, Aceson Holmes, Trace Holmes, Stacey Rayner, Ruby Balsano and Elisa Garrison; step great-grandchildren, Gracie Armstreet and Johna Armstreet; and numerous nieces and nephews. His funeral service will be 10:00 a.m. Monday, March 22, 2010, at Broussard's, 1605 North Major Drive, Beaumont. A graveside service will be 1:00 p.m. Monday afternoon at Beech Creek Cemetery in Spurger. A gathering of his family and friends will be from 4:00 p.m. until 7:00 p.m. Sunday, March 21, 2010, at Broussard's. Memorial contributions may be made to American Heart Association, P.O. Box 7015, Beaumont, Texas 77726. Complete and updated information may be viewed at www.broussards1889.com