Norman McCall

Norman McCall was born March 2, 1924 in Grand Chenier to Henry and Gladys Miller McCall where his playground was the Mermentau River and his first toys were small, homemade boats. He graduated from Grand Chenier High School in 1941 and attended Louisiana Tech in Ruston for one year. In 1942, he joined the US Navy and volunteered for submarine duty. He was trained as an electrician before joining the crew of the USS Jack. He served on the USS Jack for 3 years and 4 months. During this time, the Jack made seven war patrols in the South Pacific and South China Sea. He was honorably discharged in 1945.

Upon returning home, he immediately began a long, successful and impressive career in the offshore oil industry. He started as a deckhand on vessels owned by Superior Oil Co. from 1946 - 48. In 1948, he earned a Masters License and served as captain of vessels for Pure Oil Co.

In 1957, he became Port Captain for LA-Tex Marine Service- a subsidiary of Brown & Root, based in Cameron.  During this time, he was also Operations Manager of all Pure Oil Company owned boats working in the offshore oil industry.

In 1966, he purchased 2 used vessels and formed his own boat company- Cameron Crew Boats, Inc. He later formed other corporations that owned and operated offshore vessels. By 1996, his companies owned and operated 42 crew/supply vessels. In May 1996, he merged the family-owned companies with Seacor Marine and served as manager of the Cameron office and following Hurricane Rita, the Lake Charles office. Seacor is a worldwide corporation, which owns and operates over 350 marine vessels that support offshore oil and gas exploration and development projects. Its fleet consists of supply and handling, towing, anchor handling, project and geophysical, freight, and standby safety vessels in the Gulf of Mexico, West Africa, and the North Sea, Mexico and South America and the Middle East.

Norman was the builder of the first 4 engine crew boat 11O' in length in 1970, the first 5 engine crew boat 145' in length in 1984, and the first 6 engine crew boat 160' in length in 1989. He was also instrumental in the delivery of the first 185' crew boat ever delivered in the world as well as the first catamaran crew supply vessel.  He is known as a true pioneer of the oil industry.

He actively participated in the U.S. Sub-Vets WWII and Offshore Marine Service Association (OMSA). He has held membership in the American Legion of Foreign Wars, Cameron Parish Lions Club, Propellor Club, Louisiana Cattlemens Association, Louisiana Farm Bureau and served on the West Cameron Port Harbor and Terminal District when it was created. He is also a member of the Knights of Columbus Council 5461 and 4344 and as a member was chairperson for the building of the Hurricane Audrey Memorial Shrine in Cameron, LA located at Our Lady Star of the Sea Catholic Church.  He served on the Louisiana Wildlife & Fisheries Commission May 1988 – May 1992 appointed by Governor Roemer and again by Governor Foster from 1996 through 2002 as well as serving as a Supervisor of Elections for Cameron Parish.   He was an avid sponsor of the Cameron Parish 4H and FFA clubs and the Cameron Parish Livestock Show.

There was never a dull moment with Norman around.   He enjoyed playing jokes on people and usually had a group to help pull them off.   He was making people laugh up until the very end.  His drive and determination as well as the cows and tractors at the farm kept him young.   At 97 he was still driving a tractor, baling hay and keeping up with his friends on a daily basis. 

Norman is survived by his wife of 64 years, Joyce Colligan McCall; daughter, Phyllis McCall of Grand Lake; sons, Alan McCall (Carlene) of Livingston, Montana and Joe McCall (Paula) of Lake Charles; grandchildren, Tomas Johnston (Kelly), Caleb McCall (V), Adam Johnston (Trista), Blair McCall, Aaron McCall (Trevor), Annabeth McCall, Ashley Trahan (Kyle), Alyse Frisbie (Jake), Sam Johnston and Seth McCall; great-grandchildren, Liam and Ava Johnston, Olivia, Winnie and Jack Frisbie, Eleanor and Henry Johnston, Avery Trahan and bonus greats, Ki and Christine; and brother, Henry “T-Boy” McCall (Faye) of Lake Charles.  He also leaves a host of special people who worked for him over the years and they each held a special place in his heart as he saw them as his family.   

He was preceded in death by his parents, Henry & Gladys Miller McCall; first wife, Phyllis Donatelli McCall; children, Philip Alan and Doreen McCall; grandson, Jered Johnston; sisters, Oma “Blue Eyes” Miller and Emma Arceneaux; and brother, Pete McCall.

Special thanks to his doctors – Dr Brian Clements & Dr King White, his care givers – Frances Benoit, Tena Benoit, Siera Mitchell and Miss Mildred, Southern Home Health and Heart of Hospice and dear friend and “family” Stephanie Richard.

His funeral service will be at 2:30 PM on Tuesday, October 11, 2022 at St. Martin de Porres Catholic Church.  Fathers Wayne LeBleu and Rojo Koonathan will officiate.  Burial will follow in Immaculate Conception Cemetery in Grand Chenier, LA.  Visitation will be at Johnson Funeral Home on Monday from 5:00 PM to 8:00 PM, with a rosary at 6:30 PM.  Visitation will continue on Tuesday at the funeral home from 12:00 PM to 2:15 PM.

In lieu of flowers, please consider donating in honor of Norman to the Cameron Catholic Cemetery Fund at First National Bank of Deridder on Nelson Road in Lake Charles, LA.