Robert Peter Labat

Robert Peter Labat
 
Robert Peter Labat was born on April 27, 1963 in New Orleans, LA. He was the third child born to his mother, Peggy Ann Labat, and father, the late Elliot Roger Labat, Sr, both from New Orleans. He was a resident of Bay St Louis, MS, a small, quiet, coastal town that he came to know and love, which was the birthplace of his paternal grandfather, the late Marks Labat, Sr. There, he became a dedicated parishioner of St Rose De Lima Catholic Church. He died on the morning of April 14, 2021 at Ochsner Hospital in Jefferson, LA. Robert grew up in both the 7th Ward and Gentilly neighborhoods of New Orleans. From early childhood, he demonstrated a true love and affinity for the outdoors. As a young boy, he would spend days on end, walking or riding his bicycle to either Peoples Ave canal, City Park, Bayou St John, the seawall on Lake Ponchartrain, the pond on West End, and the like, just to drop a fishing line or scoop net to see what he could catch. And catch, he would. Almost always. There was not a body of water in the New Orleans area that he did not fish. Anyone and everyone who knew Rob, knew this about him. And it stayed with him throughout his life, until the very end. It was truly his personality and part of his DNA. Robert was a graduate of Brother Martin High School, class of 1981. He was a bright student who possessed innate artistic talent, as well as strength and natural athletic ability. Because of the latter, he was asked by several of the school’s coaches to try out for the track and football teams. But after proving himself in just 1, 2 or maybe 3 practices, to the dismay and disappointment of the coaches, he would let them know that he did not want to be on the teams because it did not allow time for him to do what he really loved; to go fishing. Being someone who loved “working with his hands” as well, after high school, he went to work installing carpet under the guidance of the late Malcolm Bonseigneur of New Orleans. He stayed with “Mac” for several years until he got a notion during the late-1980’s to try his hand at plumbing. And he turned out to be an excellent and knowledgeable plumber, acquiring his journeyman’s license, working for several companies as well as freelancing at this type of work until the end of his life. But perhaps the biggest influence in his life was his father, Elliot. An avid outdoorsman himself, it was Elliot who first introduced him to hunting and fishing. Together they would spend their free time in the woods and on the water. One of their loves was to go out on any of several boats that Elliot purchased for fishing and shrimping. It didn’t matter when or where it was. They would always go. Together they spent countless days and nights on Bayou Bienvenue and Lake Borgne, or at Delacroix Island or Pointe-a-la-Hache, just to name a few. This evidently had a profound effect on Robert. So much so, that as a younger man, he worked to purchase a house in Pointe-a-la-Hache, in Plaquemines Parish, LA, just so he could live close to the waters and marsh lands that he loved and enjoyed. He resided there until his home was literally washed away by the devastation of Hurricane Katrina in 2005. In his later years, he grew very close to his mother, Peggy. Shortly after the passing of his father in 2010, he lived with her in New Orleans, making sure that she would not be alone. He stayed with her until 2016, after she encouraged him to find a home for himself, where he would be happy. He finally found that in Bay St Louis. Robert was preceded in death by his father, Elliot; paternal grandparents, Marks Labat Sr and Yvonne Johnson-Labat; and maternal grandparents, Warren Llado Sr and Margery “Margie” Smith-Llado. He is survived by his mother, Peggy Ann Llado-Labat; daughter, Leah Labat (mother, Lori Schnexnyder), a talented visual artist and author; son, Roy Labat (mother, Lori Domingue), a talented, young musician; brothers Elliot Roger Labat, Jr (wife Mary) and Christian Anthony Labat (wife Connie), sister Elizabeth Mary Labat; aunts Justine Labat-Parker and Carolyn Llado-Baquet (husband Richard); uncle Warren Llado, Jr; and a host of nieces, nephews, cousins and good friends. A private memorial service will be held in Bay St Louis at a later date. Anyone wishing to honor Robert is asked to donate to Passages Hospice, 617 Dublin St, New Orleans, LA 70118. You may sign the guest book on www.gertrudegeddeswllis.com. GERTRUDE GEDDES WILLIS FUNERAL HOME INC., IN CHARGE (504) 522-2525.