Herbert John Levron

Oakdale-Homegoing services honoring Herbert John Levron 89, will be held at 6:30 p.m. on Friday evening, September 6, 2024, at First United Pentecostal Church in Oakdale. Revs. Tim Kelley, Donnis Ashworth, and Ryan Kelley will officiate. Herbert will be laid to rest at 2 o'clock p.m. Saturday afternoon, September 7, 2024 at Resthaven Cemetery in Oakdale.
Herbert's family will receive friends and visitors at First United Pentecostal Church of Oakdale on Friday evening, September 6, 2024, from 4 o'clock p.m. until time of service. All of Herbert's arrangements have been entrusted to the care of Ardoin/Allen Parish Funeral Home of Oakdale.
Born on August 5, 1935, Herbert John Levron was a child of the Great Depression. Upon completing fifth grade, he did not return to school, but instead worked odd jobs to help support the family. At just seventeen years of age, he joined the Marines where he was able to earn his GED. Before being honorably discharged in January 1957, he married Betty Peters on March 16, 1956. They quickly welcomed their first daughter, Debbie, born pre-maturely on December 27, 1956. In September 1957, he began a career with Texaco that would last over twenty-five years. The twins, Susan, and Suzette, were born in 1959, followed by Theresa in 1963. In 1964, the family relocated from Marrero to Oakdale in order to be close to a school specially equipped to work with Debbie's physical challenges. Shortly after getting settled in their new home, Betty started taking the girls to the Oakdale United Pentecostal Church for Sunday School. It took a little longer for Herbert, but in 1969 he attended with them and received the precious gift of the Holy Spirit. In later years, Debbie would fondly reflect on her handicap and life events and wonder if God used her to lead her entire family closer to Him. Herbert loved attending church. Upon becoming a member of the Oakdale United Pentecostal Church, he found many and various ways to serve. He cooked often for the pastor and visiting ministers and would even drive the pastor to his preaching engagements. When his girls were younger, the youth would gather at his home for fundraising events. He served as Trustee and/or Deacon from 1980 – 2006, a total of twenty-six years. Tragically, in 1972, his wife and unborn child were killed in a car accident. Herbert immediately became a single parent to four girls while working offshore. So many caring people from the church stepped up to help during that difficult time. Almost one year later, on August 31, 1973, Herbert married Betty Durant, who became his loving and devoted wife of fifty-one years. Herbert was what many would call a "coonie." His French heritage spilled over into his speech, his hobbies, and especially his cooking. He would often breakout in a litany of Cajun French where the only thing anyone around him might could understand was the occasional "mon Cherie." Some of his favorite times were spent trawling for shrimp, crab, or crawfish with his nieces and nephews. And some of his family's favorite times were eating the gumbos and barbequed shrimp that would often come from those outings. Herbert loved people, young and old alike. He was special to many young people, which was evidenced by the number who came to visit and sing with him in those last days at home. His home had a revolving door it seemed. Even during family holidays, there would always be someone from the community or church stopping by for coffee and a chat. Often, one or more of his "adopted" daughters – Karen LeBlanc, Rita Stanley, Connie Young, and Suzanne McKnight - and their families would join in the celebrating. They and so many more were always welcome. The unspoken family motto that Herbert established was - "The More, The Merrier!" To be known by Herbert meant you probably had a nickname. His church family knows this all too well! If you didn't have a nickname, you might be party to one of his many familiar clichés. More often than not when he would greet his granddaughter Laura, he would say, "Laura Denise, where's de nephew?" And if you happened to ask him how he was doing, you'd likely get one of the following:
"I'm just sitting here looking pretty."
"I'm doing so good I can't stand it! That's why I'm sitting down."
"I'm as good as gold paint. I used to be as good as gold, but now it's just gold paint."
Or if you took it upon yourself to help fix his plate or some such effort that required you to ask him "What do you want?" Your answer would likely include, "Six days off and a big check!"
Most importantly, Herbert was at peace. When told by the doctors that he could no longer eat by mouth and would need a feeding tube in his stomach, he said, "I'm going home." Upon getting settled at home, those caring for him dutifully offered him his liquids by syringe. He looked at them, pointed his finger, and said, "I hope I don't have to drink my coffee this way in the morning." And there you have it. He spent his last days drinking his crude oil coffee from a cup surrounded by the people he loved and that loved him back. At one point during a visit, Herbert wasn't engaged in the conversation at the moment. More to himself than for anyone else in the room to hear, he started singing the old hymn:
I have hope, when troubles come my way
I have hope, because Jesus has come to stay
I have hope, when things aren't well with me
I have hope, it's a beautiful hope, that sets me free.
That beautiful hope gave him perfect peace to end his time on earth in his way and in God's timing. What a legacy! Herbert will be taking the last ride in his 1992 Ford F-150 super cab, which he owned for thirty-two years, to his final resting place at Resthaven Cemetery.
Those left to cherish Herbert's memory include his wife, Betty Durant Levron; three daughters, Susan Whitstine, Suzette Ashworth and husband Donnis, and Theresa Whatley and husband Gary; one brother, C.J. Levron, one sister, Bertha Bivalagua; six grandchildren, Laura Droddy, Farrah Meiners, Stacy, and Jonathan Whatley, Dustin Ashworth, and Aimee Propst; and a host of nieces, nephews, extended family, and friends.
Herbert is preceded in death by his parents, Dewey, and Hattie Guidroz Levron; his first wife and mother of his three daughters, Betty Peters; one daughter Deborah Levron; one brother, Huey Levron, and two sisters, Marie Melancon, and Ethel Tabor.
Condolences and words of comfort may be shared with Herbert's family at www.ardoinfuneralhome.com or on Facebook at Ardoin/Allen Parish Funeral Homes.
In lieu of flowers, the family requests donations be made in his memory to the Oakdale United Pentecostal Church building fund, youth department, or Sunday school department.