Eston Bellow

Eston Bellow, age 94, passed away on Thursday, December 18, 2025. A Mass of Christian Burial will be held at 10:00 AM on Tuesday, December 23, 2025 at St. Anthony's with Father Hampton Davis Celebrant. Burial will follow in Mt. Calvary Cemetery.

At the request of family, visitation will be held on Monday, December 22, 2025 at Quirk & Son from 4:00 PM until 8:00 PM, with a Rosary at 6:00 PM by Deacon Gary Gaudin. Visitation will resume at 8:00 AM on Tuesday until time of departure for Services.

Eston is survived by one son, David Bellow; one daughter, Delores Fontenot (Verbis Deaillon); daughter-in-law, Jolene Bellow; one brother, Lawrence Bellow, Jr.; eight grandchildren, Lisa Myers, Paul Bellow (Melissa), Kelly Ordonez (Moises), Marcus Bellow (Victoria), Ryan Fontenot (Lacy), Jamie Broussard (Jarrod), Jeremy Fontenot (Randi), Summer Bellow; sixteen great-grandchildren, Brianna Myers, Taylor Adams (Michael), Jordan Bellow (Ashley), Lundin Bellow, Carter Thomas, Mallory Thomas, Vivienne Lassiter, Victoria Bellow, Wyatt Fontenot, Drake Fontenot, Remme Broussard, Gage Fontenot, Maddie Fontenot, Bryce Calandrelli, Carli Calandrelli, Brett Calandrelli; one great-great grandchild, Colton John Fontenot.

He was preceded in death by one son, Ricky Bellow; his parents, Lawrence Bellow, Sr. and Lena Brown Bellow; three brothers, Norris Bellow, Jim Bellow, Sr., Melvin Bellow; one sister, Helen Miller.

Eston had a deep love for life and delighted in sharing stories from his childhood and his rich Cajun heritage. He loved Jesus, his Cajun music, and above all, his family. He never met a stranger-always making everyone feel welcome-and he carried one of the biggest hearts anyone could know.

Eston was born on August 5, 1931 in the community of Swords and was a lifelong resident of Eunice. He excelled on the football field and remained a devoted supporter of his Eunice High School Bobcats. In 1949, he began working at the local Ford dealership, where he dedicated 50 years of service before retiring.

Inspired by his grandfather, Frank Francois Brown, as a teenager Eston taught himself to play the guitar and later the drums. That passion marked the beginning of a lifelong musical journey. At the age of 18, he began playing music with his cousin Harry Lafleur and Amar "T-Frere" Devillier, at house dances, birthday celebrations, and community events throughout the area.

Eston and Harry named their group "Harry and the Louisiana Aces". In 1950, Eston and his bandmates recorded their first two songs for Khourey Records of Lake Charles: "Durald Two-Step" and "Shoe Pick Waltz."

Over the years, Eston went on to perform with many of the greats of Cajun music, including Amar "T-Frere" Devillier, Joseph "Cabri" Menier, Dennis McGee, Isom Fontenot, Wallace Lafleur, Whitney Doucet, Robert Bertrand, the Balfa Brothers, Marc Savoy, Jean Savoie, Ray Landry, J.C. Labbie, Don Thibodeaux, Nunc Allie Young, Blackie Forestier, Jerry Devillier, Paul Daigle, Austin Pitre and the Evangeline Playboys, among many others.

In 1984, Eston and his cousin, Harry Lafleur, co-founded the Cajun French Music Association (CFMA), a nonprofit dedicated to preserving Cajun music and heritage. The first chapter was established in Eunice, with Harry serving as the first president and Eston as the inaugural treasurer. Today, CFMA boasts over 2,000 members across Louisiana and South Texas, continuing to promote and protect the rich Cajun cultural tradition.

Eston has received numerous honors for his lifelong dedication to preserving Cajun culture and its musical heritage. In 2018, he was presented The Heritage Award by the CFMA Acadiana Chapter and was also named a Cajun Culture Association Honoree for his many years of commitment to preserving Cajun culture through the performance of Cajun music. In 2022, he was inducted into the CFMA Lake Charles Chapter's Cajun Music Hall of Fame. In 2024, Eston received the CFMA Lifetime Achievement Award and was also inducted into the CFMA Hall of Fame in Eunice, Louisiana.

Eston extensively documented his life, writing hundreds of pages about his upbringing, the Cajun way of life, and the stories of his music career, family, and friends. He also preserved hundreds of pieces of memorabilia from both his personal life and musical career. The University of Louisiana at Lafayette has archived a large portion of these materials to ensure their preservation and to share them with future generations.

When he could no longer perform music, Eston found a new outlet for his creative spirit as an artist. Beginning in 2015 and continuing until just days before his passing, he turned to drawing. Under the pseudonym, Gro-Brod, which means little brother in Cajun French, Eston had his artwork exhibited at the Acadiana Center for the Arts in Lafayette, Louisiana from July to October 2025. The exhibition featured only a small portion of his extensive body of drawings, which ranged from depictions of exotic wildlife and childhood cartoon characters to scenes of the home where he was born and memories of his rural upbringing.

Above his love for music and art, Eston deeply loved his family. He cherished gathering everyone together in his home for holidays and special occasions. While we will miss him dearly, we were truly blessed for the time we shared with him. Eston lived his 94 years fully-rich in happiness and joy-and was surrounded by the love of those who meant the most to him.