Dillard Paul "Butch" Deville

1930 - 2017

Dillard Paul "Butch" Deville

GRAND PRAIRIE - Dillard Paul "Butch" Deville, 86, died on February 3, 2017 at the Lafayette General Medical Center in Lafayette, Louisiana of complications from a head injury sustained at his home in Grand Prairie, Louisiana.

Visitation will be held at from 2:00p - 8:00p on Monday, February 6th at LaVille Funeral Home in Ville Platte, Louisiana. Visitation will continue from 8:00a - 1:00p on Tuesday, February 7th, followed by a memorial service at 1:00p at LaVille Funeral Home. Internment will follow at the St. Peter Catholic Church cemetery in Grand Prairie, LA. Memorial services will be officiated by Deacon Sammy Diesi. A special selection of music will be performed by Sharee Doucet Hunter.

Dillard is survived by his wife of 65 years, Georgie G. Deville, daughter Marsha Deville and her husband Mark Pope of Lafayette, son Renwick P. DeVille and his wife Lauren Pierson of Baton Rouge, son Duncan N. DeVille and his wife Yan Xue DeVille of Denver, Colorado, and son Philip P. Deville of Erath, LA. Additionally, he is survived by six grandchildren - Matthew R. DeVille of Baton Rouge, Danielle C. DeVille of Tulsa, Oklahoma, Stephen P. Deville of Opelousas, Jacob P. Deville of Erath, Devereux X. DeVille and Darcy X. DeVille of Denver, Colorado - and one great-granddaughter, Amelia Deville.

He is also survived by a special nephew, Keith Guidry and his wife, Lisa Guidry, and three dear daughters-in-law, Jeanne Johnston of Baton Rouge, Holly Alfano of Alexandria, VA, and Denise Deville of Erath. He also has several other nieces and nephews.

He is preceded in death by parents, Milton Deville and Myra D. Deville, brothers Davis Deville, Wallace Deville and Raymond Deville, and sisters Rose D. Vidrine and Ethel D. Harmon.

Dillard was born in Mamou, Louisiana on April 21, 1930. He graduated from Grand Prairie High School and earned bachelor's and master's degrees in education from the University of Southwestern Louisiana.

Mr. Deville, as he was affectionately known by hundreds of former students, dedicated more than 60 years of his adult life to public education. After graduating from USL, he started his teaching career at Pine Prairie High School and then began a lifelong career at Grand Prairie High School where he worked as a teacher, guidance counselor, basketball coach, assistant principal and principal. Upon retirement, he served as the assistant principal at Opelousas Catholic School for 1½ years. He left Opelousas Catholic to devote 100% of his time to the St. Landry Parish school system where he served as an elected member on the St. Landry Parish School Board for 20 years before retiring in 2011. He demonstrated unwavering commitment to public education.

He loved his family and was proud of his children and grandchildren.

Butch loved his farm and worked his herd of cattle every day, whether he needed to or not. He loved his Tuesday and Wednesday night card games with his buddies and took pride in never losing "too much."

He was a good man who did a lot of good for a lot of people in the years we had him with us. He will be dearly missed.

His family would like to thank his wonderful doctors, Dr. Richard Tate, Opelousas and Dr. John Mickey, Lafayette. We also offer our sincere thanks to the staff at Lafayette General Medical Center and Acadia St. Landry Hospital, as well as all of his caregivers from A First Name Basis and Synergy Home Health.

The guestbook an be signed online at www.lavillefuneralhome.net

LaVille Funeral Home

2353 East Main St.

Ville Platte, LA 70586

337 363 1100