Henry Gabriel Vautrot

Funeral services will be held at 11:00 am on Tuesday, May 6, 2008 in the Delhomme Chapel of the Flowers for Henry Gabriel Vautrot, Jr., 67, who passed away on Friday, May 2, 2008 after a courageous four-year battle with cancer, at his son's residence in Youngsville. Reverend Mike Walker, Pastor of East Bayou Baptist Church, will conduct the funeral services. Interment will take place in Lafayette Protestant Cemetery. Mr. Vautrot, a native of Church Point, was the son of the late Henry Gabriel Vautrot, Sr. of Acadia Parish and the former Dorothy Matthews of Lafayette. Henry was an honor graduate of Church Point High School and earned a Master's Degree from the University of Louisiana at Lafayette. He taught history in the Lafayette Parish Public School System for thirty-eight years and nineteen summer schools. He was the recipient of several teaching awards, including twice a finalist for Lafayette Education Foundation Award. He was a life member of the National Rifle Association, an avid antique gun collector, and organized Lafayette's first Gun Show in 1968. He was also a member of Hope Lodge Free and Accepted Masons since 1961. He had been a commercial fisherman since 1956; being one of the shrinking numbers of fishermen who had the skill to hand knit his nets. With the help of his three sons and one daughter, he landed many tons of commercial fish in the last fifty-two years. Survivors include his wife, Barbara Johnson Vautrot; his two sons, Philippe Vautrot of Lafayette and Victor Vautrot, M.D. of Boston, Massachusetts; his daughter, Tara Vautrot Gondron; his granddaughter, River Gondron; and his devoted cousin, R. Matthews Bourque, all of Lafayette. He was preceded in death by his parents; his son, H. G. Vautrot, III; and his beloved uncle, Robert Matthews. Pallbearers are David Guidry, Jude Vautrot, Scott Arceneaux, Louis Turner, Jamie McBride, Mike Leger, and Greg Harmon. Honorary pallbearers are Robert McBride, Sr. and James 'Spoky' Montgomery. The family requests that visiting hours be observed on Monday from 11:00 am until 9:00 pm and continue on Tuesday from 8:00 am until the time of service. The family would like to extend a special thank you to Drs. Gene Brierre, Stanley Hoover, and Lawrence Russell. They would also like to thank James 'Spoky' Montgomery for all of his care and concern, and special gratitude to the staff of Hospice of Acadiana. In lieu of flowers memorial contributions can be made in the name of Henry Vautrot, Jr. to the American Cancer Society, 1604 West Pinhook Road, Lafayette, Louisiana 70508 or Hospice of Acadiana, 2600 Johnston Street, Suite 200, Lafayette, Louisiana 70503. Personal condolences may be sent to the Vautrot family at www.delhommefuneralhome.com Delhomme Funeral Home, 1011 Bertrand Drive, is in charge of all funeral arrangements.

Henry Gabriel Vautrot

August 13, 1940 - May 2, 2008