Eugene Paul Sabatier

EUNICE ~ We honor our father Eugene Paul Sabatier, at his passing, he was one of the last of his generation, a true gentlemen, a wonderful son, husband, father, and friend. He was born on June 1, 1912 in Patterson, LA, the first son of Joseph A. Sabatier and Eunice Kleinpeter Sabatier.
He was preceded in death by his parents, and his siblings, George, Ada, Joseph A. Jr. and Henry S. Sabatier; his wife of 67 years, Frances Fournet and their daughter Frances Sabatier Brown.
He will be deeply missed by his children: Virginia S. Lowery, Eugene P. Sabatier, Jr., and his wife Charlotte, Ceil Fuselier and her husband Roderick, Claire S. White, his son-in-law, Terry (Cooney) Brown, 16 grandchildren, 41 great-grandchildren and 1 great-great-grandchild.
He attended Elementary school at St. Michael’s in Crowley, secondary school at Spring Hill, and Spring Hill college.
He moved to Eunice with his father to start the Superior Rice Mill and spent his entire career in the rice business, retiring from his last position as Manager of the Beaumont Rice Mill in Beaumont, Texas.
After many years in the Beaumont area the couple returned to Eunice in 1996 and lived on Beck Miller Road, where they could watch the rice grow in an adjacent field and the many birds that visited their property.
He loved duck and dove hunting and hunted with his friends and brothers-in-law and son all over the south western part of the state. In Cameron when the mosquitoes were so bad that they would kill cattle, he tinted cheese cloth in coffee to put over his hat to keep the bugs away.
He had open heart surgery in Houston in 1973 and changed his diet and began to exercise. He walked 3 miles a day, every day, rain or shine until he was 101. By his estimates he had walked at least 35,000 miles. We feel certain that this added years to his life, this and the fact that until the last few months he took no medicines.
We are appreciative of the kind and wonderful caregivers, Diane Tate who has been with the family in some capacity since they moved back to Eunice, Faye Guidry and Barbara Manuel. They have loved him and cared for him with affection and respect.
We will all miss his wry sense of humor and his smile.
In lieu of flowers, donations may be made to Hospice Of Acadiana and St. Edmund School, Eunice, LA.
Services will be at St. Anthony Catholic Church, Friday, April 17, 2015 at 10:00 am. Father Tom Voorhies will officiate at the service. Jodi Bollich will be the vocalist. Visitation 1 hour before service at the church.