James Daniel Mcguirt

Funeral services will be held at 2:00 p.m., Friday, March 28, 2008 in the Delhomme Chapel of the Flowers, 1011 Bertrand Drive, Lafayette, for James Daniel McGuirt of Lafayette. Mr. McGuirt died Saturday, March 22, 2008 at an MD Anderson facility in Houston, Texas. Father Gary Schexnayder, Pastor of St. Michael the Archangel Church in Crowley, will conduct the funeral services. Interment will take place in Lafayette Memorial Park Cemetery. Jim, as he was known by friends, graduated from Lafayette High School in 1979 and attended U.S.L. where he pledged Kappa Alpha Fraternity. He was best known for having been the top ranking racquetball player in the State of Louisiana in the early 1980's and as a long standing member of Red Lerille's Health & Racquet Club. Mr. McGuirt was a veteran of the Persian Gulf War, having served as a Chief Warrant Officer and Pilot of the Apache Attack Helicopter and was in the first wave of Apache's to fly into Bagdad on the night of initial invasion in 1990. He was stationed at Fort hood, Texas for most of his military career. Mr. McGuirt reached the rank of Chief Warrant Officer II before resigning from the armed forces to pursue a professional career in Lafayette. He was the sole proprietor of Prime Mortgage, Inc. and was employed as a pilot by Petroleum Helicopters, Inc. Mr. McGuirt was also a member of the Krewe of Bonaparte Mardi Gras Association. He had a great affection for his two Miniature Dachshunds, Marco and Kaiser. Mr. McGuirt is survived by two sons, Christopher Daniel McGuirt, of Lafayette and Brian Daniel Calkins of Savannah, Georgia; and his companion, Shannon Turki of Lafayette. Mr. McGuirt was preceded in death by his parents, JD and Marie Toups McGuirt, natives of Houma, Louisiana and residents of Lafayette for 40 years. Visitation will be held on Thursday from 4:00 p.m. to 9:00 p.m., with a Rosary at 7:00 p.m. and on Friday from 10:00 a.m. until the time of service at Delhomme Funeral Home. Pallbearers are Andre Montagnet, Gene Glass, Bill Hoffpauir, Tim Foucheau, Jay Foucheau and Jim Murray. Honorary pallbearers will be Kevin Beumer, Brian Bare, Clay Domingue, Wade Brignac, Rick Foucheau, Mike Mitchell, Ford LeBlanc, Keith Abshire and Al Cain. Personal condolences may be sent to the McGuirt family at www.delhommefuneralhome.com. Donations may be made to Southeast Cancer Research Fund in the name of James Daniel McGuirt. Delhomme Funeral Home, 1011 Bertrand Drive, Lafayette is in charge of funeral arrangements.

James Daniel Mcguirt

December 26, 1959 - March 22, 2008