Roy Jean Bushnell

In Loving Memory of Roy Jean Bushnell
November 16, 1952 – November 16, 2025

Roy Jean Bushnell, a beloved husband, father, grandfather, and friend, passed away on November 16, 2025, in Iowa, Louisiana, on his 73rd birthday. Born in Kinder, Louisiana, on November 16, 1952, Roy was the cherished son of Elton Bushnell and Eva Guillory Bushnell.

Roy was a certified journeyman through Local 198 (formerly 106). Throughout his career as a pipefitter, he traveled all over the United States to provide for his family, leading him and his family to relocate to California for five years in 1987, ultimately leading to another 25 years and later securing a permanent job with Dow Chemical in 1992, as an operation mechanic and retiring from American Styrenics in 2016 and returned home to his beloved state of Louisiana.

A man of many talents and boundless energy, Roy started working at a young age and was known for his hard work, ingenuity, and ability to build, fix, or create just about anything. His hands shaped not just buildings, but memories for all who knew him.

Roy's life was marked by his deep faith and commitment to the Catholic Church. He grew up worshipping at St. Phillip Neri Catholic Church in Kinder, Louisiana, and was a dedicated member of Immaculate Heart of Mary Catholic Church in Lake Charles, Louisiana.

He is survived by his devoted wife, Willa Jean Jordoin Bushnell; his children, Magdalyn L. Bushnell-Williams (Jason), Jordan Scott Bushnell; his treasured grandchildren, Alana J. Williams and Nathaniel Elton Bushnell; his mother-in-law, Sayretha Popillion Jordion; sister, JoAnn Simien; sister-in-law, Dorothy Robinson (Kenneth); brothers-in-law, Anthony Jordoin, Clarence LaChapelle, and Bradford Matthews; and a host of friends and extended family who loved him dearly.

Roy was preceded in death by his loving parents, Elton and Eva Bushnell; his father-in-law, Herman Jordoin, sisters-in-law, Magda Lorena Jordoin and Mary Jordion Matthews; and seventeen siblings.

Roy loved cooking, especially hosting crawfish boils, and was well-known for his fried turkeys, and cherished time spent with family and friends in California. While he was a quiet man, his words always carried meaning, and his actions spoke volumes about the depth of his character.

Roy's legacy is one of love, faith, perseverance, and creativity. He will be deeply missed by all whose lives he touched.

Family will receive friends from 9:00 - 11:30 a.m., a Rosary will be recited at 10:00 a.m., at Riley Smith & Sons Funeral Home, 517 Broad Street, Lake Charles, Louisiana. A Mass of Christian Burial will be held at 12:30 p.m. Immaculate Heart of Mary Catholic Church, 2031 Opelousas Street, Lake Charles, Louisiana, with Father Rommel Tolentino officiating. Interment will follow at Sacred Heart of Jesus Cemetery Mausoleums, 2646 Opelousas Street, Lake Charles, Louisiana. Repast will follow in the Immaculate Heart of Mary Catholic Church Founders' Hall.