Claude E. Daviet

DAVIET, CLAUDE E. "Go and preach the Gospel wherever you can, but only use words when you must." Claude's entire life was dedicated to serving his Lord, devotion to his family and supporting the Catholic church. He was always one to commit to work, but never one to seek credit. He attended daily Mass and communion his entire adult life. He was born Sept. 21, 1915, in Larose, and died Monday, Dec. 5, 2005, at Our Lady of the Lake Regional Medical Center. He was preceded in death by his father and mother, Louis Etienne Daviet and Alice Guidroz Daviet, who were of Larose; three siblings, Sister Mary Beatrice, O.P., who was of New Orleans, Leslie Daviet, M.D., who was of Las Cruces, N.M., and Louie Daviet, who was of Larose; and a son, Albert Daviet, who was of Baton Rouge. He is survived by his wife of 65 years, Helen Kyle Daviet; two sons, Claude Daviet Jr. and wife Bonnie, and Richard Daviet and wife Vicki; and daughter, Alice Knight and husband Manny. He also is survived by eight grandchildren, Eric Knight, CPA, and wife Dina, Kelli Knight and husband Mike Kearns, Candace Trigo and husband Rob of Seattle, Patrick Knight, Amanda Holden and husband Troy, Jennifer McGarity and husband Matt of Dallas, Claire Oggs, R.N., and husband Larry, CPA, Mandeville, and Emily Vincent, M.D., and husband Brad, M.D., Charleston, S.C.; six great-grandchildren, Aiden and Lilli Kearns, both of Baton Rouge, Jackson Trigo, Seattle, Claudia and Maggie Oggs, both of Mandeville, and Zoey Montichello, Baton Rouge; and nine stepgrandchildren. He was a 1936 honor graduate of LSU in mechanical engineering and a member of Delta Sigma Phi social fraternity. He worked for Ethyl Corp. for 43 years in various engineering capacities, including superintendent of project management for domestic and foreign projects. He traveled considerably throughout the United States and Canada and to England, France, Italy, Belgium and Germany and was domiciled in Tokyo for three years during the design and construction of a chemical plant. In 1978, Pope Paul VI conferred to Claude the Pontifical Order of the Knight of St. Gregory the Great. He was later conferred the rank of Knight Commander in 1981 and later Knight Commander with Star in 1992, again reflecting his dedication to his faith even within this most elite order. Initiated into the Knights of Columbus in Thibodaux Council 1114 in 1937, he later transferred to Baton Rouge Council 969 in 1940, where he held every office, including that of Grand Knight. He became a Sir Knight in 1948 and held every office, including that of Faithful Navigator. He was a member of the Monsignor Gassler Assembly and Council 3298. He chaired the Tombs for the Unborn from 1992 to 1996 as pro life chairman for the state chapter of the Knights of Columbus. He was a member of the Louisiana State Council Family for the past 30 plus years. Some of the honorariums he received are Past State Deputy's Aware, the Charles Jaubert Provincial Award, the Order of St. Louis Award, the Order of Fleur De Lis Award and the Provincial Award of Merit from the Louisiana District Fourth Degree. He was a faithful member of Sacred Heart of Jesus Parish for more than 65 years and worked consistently to help the parish in any way. He served as a lector, commentator and Eucharistic minister bringing communion to the sick, particularly at Our Lady of the Lake Regional Medical Center and Baton Rouge General Medical centers. He was an active member of the Third Order of St. Francis for more than 65 years, the Serra Club of Baton Rouge, L'Assemblee Francaise, CODOFIL, LSU Golden Tigers, the Jeffersonians, Baton Rouge Pro Life Chapter, Citizens for Decency and the Westdale Civic Association. He also served two years on the steering committee to establish the Federation of Churches and Synagogues of Greater Baton Rouge. A wake was held at Rabenhorst Funeral Home, 825 Government St., from 4 p.m. to 8 p.m. Thursday, Dec. 8, with a rosary offered at 7 p.m. A wake also will be held at Sacred Heart of Jesus Catholic Church, 2250 Main St., from 8:30 a.m. Friday, Dec. 9, until Mass of Christian Burial at 10:30 a.m. Interment in Greenoaks Memorial Park, 9595 Florida Blvd.