Gerald C. "Jerry" Ledet

1934 - 2018

Gerald C. Ledet (Jerry), 83, of Houma, Louisiana, passed away peacefully at home on Tuesday, August 7, 2018. Jerry was born on October 8, 1934, to Clarence and Bertha Ledet of Gretna, Louisiana. He is survived by his beloved wife of sixty years, Lola Jordan Ledet; his devoted daughters Lizbeth Ledet Baker and her husband Dan Baker; Jan Ledet Miller and her husband Mark Miller; and Jeanne Ledet Norman and her husband Buddy Norman; grandchildren Forrest Norman, Sarah Norman, Hannah Norman, Andrew Miller, Griffin Miller, Sophie Miller, and Fielden Baker; his beloved brother and sister-in-law Elroy and Sarah Ledet; his brother-in-law Pat Jordan; and Ann and Addie Perryman. Jerry is preceded in death by his parents Clarence and Bertha Ledet; and his sister Debbie Ledet Kottman; Lola's parents French and Lola Jordan; and her brother Rudy Billy Jordan; and Lola and Jerry's sister-in-law Clare Jordan. After graduating from Gretna High School in Gretna, Louisiana, in 1952, Jerry married his high school sweetheart Lola on August 24, 1957. Lola and Jerry moved to Houma in 1960. Jerry, along with his business partners French Jordan and Pat Jordan, established and owned Shield Coat, Incorporated, and French Jordan, Incorporated, and Jerry served as General Manager of the companies for over forty years. A member of Grace Lutheran Church of Houma since 1960, Jerry loved his church and served God there in many ways over the years, including as President of the congregation and as an Elder. He also served as President of the Terrebonne Parish Waterworks District One from 1974 to 1988, and as President, he directed the construction of two standpipe water towers and the extension of water lines to bayou communities. Until his death, he served on the Coastal Zone Management and Restoration Advisory Committee, working to preserve Louisiana's coastline. Jerry was a member of the Mardi Gras Krewe of Terreanians for decades, and he was honored to serve as the King of Terreanians in 1979. He also belonged to the Krewe of Alla in New Orleans and the Krewe of Houmas. Jerry was a member of many professional organizations, including the National Association of Chemical Engineers (NACE), the American Institute of Mining, Metallurgical, and Petroleum Engineers (AIME), and the Society of Petroleum Engineers (SPE). Jerry loved God, delighted in his family, and was a wise and caring friend to many. As well, one of the great joys in Jerry's life was providing college scholarships to students from South Louisiana and beyond through the foundation he and Lola established in 1980. For over thirty years, Jerry loved being part of students' educations, and was always so pleased to hear of the outstanding life accomplishments of scholarship recipients. Jerry and Lola also endowed a chair at Nicholls State University and endowed scholarships both at Nicholls and at Baylor University. Friends and family are invited to visitation and a service celebrating Jerry's life on Saturday, August 18, 2018, at Grace Lutheran Church, 422 Valhi Boulevard, Houma. Visitation will be at Grace Lutheran from 9:00 a.m. until 11:00 a.m., and the funeral service will take place at 11:00 a.m. immediately following visitation. A brief reception will follow the service. Interment will be at 3:00 p.m. at Westlawn Cemetery, 1225 Whitney Avenue, Gretna, Louisiana 70056. Samart Funeral Home of Houma, West Park is in charge of arrangements. Online condolences may be given at www.samartfuneralhome.com.