Earl Fitzgerald Lavalais

A funeral service for Earl Fitzgerald Lavalais, of Mansura, will begin at 11:00am on Tuesday, October 21, 2025 at Our Lady of Prompt Succor Catholic Church in Mansura. The visitation will begin at 8:00am until 10:30am on Tuesday, October 21, 2025 at the Kilpatrick’s Rose-Neath Funeral Home Chapel in Marksville. A rosary prayer service will be recited at 10:00am on Tuesday, October 21, 2025 at the Rose-Neath Funeral Home in Marksville. Burial will follow mass at the St. Paul Catholic Cemetery.

Earl Fitzgerald Lavalais, age 55, passed away on Friday, October 3, 2025 in Flint, Michigan.

Fitz was an altar boy, certified lifeguard, and earned a black belt in karate. He played piano, and saxophone, as well as guitar, and had a natural talent for music and sports. He had a love for computer programming, which became one of his favorite hobbies. Fitz was very active in sports, running track in high school and playing basketball. He loved sharing his musical talents as a member of the school choir and the Flint Urban Ministry Gospel Choir. Fitz also enjoyed fishing and friendly competition as part of the Hot Dogs bowling team. With a curious and bright mind, his favorite subject was science; and as a child, he loved to read books about dinosaurs as well as the encyclopedia. Handy and always willing to help others, he enjoyed fixing things and lending a helping hand. Fitz was God-fearing with strong Catholic faith. His favorite saint was Saint Michael the Archangel, whose strength and courage reflected his own spirit.

There is a long list of reasons that Fitz was loved, admired and appreciated by literally everyone who got to know him: His genius ability to evaluate, simplify and explain complex issues; his uncanny ability to build, repair and program computers with very little formal training; his comprehension and mastery of IT technology; his obvious compassion for all living things and his ability and eagerness to offer help to anyone in need with no expectation of receiving any benefit for himself. Fitz was a servant to those in need; a comforter to those in crisis; and an ally to anyone in trouble. Those of us who were fortunate enough to know him are certain that he can not and never will be replaced. We can only strive and hope to be more like him in all our endeavors.

Those left to cherish his memory are his mother, Mercy Lavalais of Houston, TX; son, Aquavious Burks of Michigan; and his brother, Carlos Lavalais of Houston, TX.

Those honored to serve as active pallbearers include: Isaiah Greenhouse, Gregory Prier, Michael Lavalais, Larry Spencer, Marcus Roberts, Carlos Lavalais, and Richard Lee. Honorary pallbearers include: Aquavius Burks Lavalais, Newman Greenhouse, Lonnie Roberts, Charles Greenhouse, Jervis Greenhouse, Tony Prier, Sarnie Randle, Larry Coy Jones, Herald Prier, and Lawrence "Bruce" Turner.

He was proceeded in death by his father, Earl Lavalais; paternal grandparents, Norman Lavalais & Vynella Wilson; maternal grandparents, Harold Prier & Walton Ann Augustine; close friend, Homer Doris.