William J. Ashy

Funeral Services will be held at a Mass of Christian Burial at 10:00 am on Friday, August 14, 2009 at Cathedral of St. John the Evangelist for William J. Ashy, 86. He passed away peacefully at his home on August 11, 2009 at 6:13 am. Reverend Thomas P. Voorhies, Pastor of Sts. Peter and Paul Catholic Church, will be Celebrant of the Mass and will conduct the funeral services. Burial will take place in Calvary Cemetery. Mr. Ashy, a resident of Lafayette, LA, was the son of the late Richard J Ashy, Sr. of Beirut, Lebanon and the former Cocab Mafouz of Beirut, Lebanon. He was a member of St. Patrick Catholic Church. He moved here from Brinkley, AR in 1940. He attended Lafayette High School where he ran track and played football. There he was offered a football scholarship to SLI, but instead was drafted into the United States Army during World War II. While he was in the Army, he was a meat inspector and purchaser for the the Army bases in Texas. After completing his tour of duty in the armed services, he returned here and managed the family business, Ashy's Liquor and Meat Imports. He eventually joined C.F. Bean Dredging as Vice President and part-owner, where he worked with his son Glen until his recent retirement. Mr. Ashy joined Mr. Bennett Voorhies, Sr. and Jr. with the development of River Plaza Enterprises on Pinhook Rd. in Lafayette, LA. They were responsible for bringing to Lafayette, such major oil companies as Chevron, Texaco, Exxon and Union Texas Petroleum. As an entrepeneur, he was one of the original founders of Evangeline Downs Racetrack, as well as many other business ventures including real estate developments. Mr. Ashy recently retired from the oilfield industry after 50 years. He was a member of the Petroleum Club, Oakbourne Country Club and Lafayette Townhouse. He is survived by his wife of 62 years, Margaret Ashy of Lafayette; his son, Glen Ashy and his wife Sandra, of Lafayette; his daughter, Lana Holden and her husband Dr. Matthew Holden, of Lafayette; four granddaughters, Bridget Wendell and her husband Sean, Charmaine Martin and her husband Erick, Amanda Ashy-Boyd and her husband Darren, Kristina Hammett and her husband Tripp; two grandsons, Nicholas Holden and Joshua Holden; five great-grandchildren; one brother, Charles Ashy Sr. of Lafayette; and four sisters, Helen Ashy, Juliette Colvin, Rose Broussard and Barbara Lauer. He was preceded in death by his parents; one brother, Richard J. Ashy Jr. The family requests that visiting hours be observed on Thursday, August 13, 2009 from 5:00 pm until 9:00 pm and continue on Friday, August 14th, from 8:00 am until time of services. A Rosary will be recited Thursday evening at 7:30 pm in the funeral home. Pallbearers will be Dr. Mathew Holden, Nicholas Holden, Joshua Holden, Bennett Voorhies Jr., Richard Broussard, Charles Ashy Jr., Patrick Colvin, Brett Ashy, Ned Ashy and Allen Broussard. Honorary Pallbearers will be, Allen Scrantz, Tommy Ashy, Raymond Mahfouz Jr., Van Auld, Mike Colvin, John Lauer, Lionel Ashy, Keith Mire and Jim Stockstill. In Lieu of Flowers, the family would like donations to made to the Carmelite Monestary at 1250 Carmel Drive, Lafayette, LA, 70501, (337) 232-4651. Personal condolences may be sent to the Ashy family at www.delhommefuneralhome.com. Delhomme Funeral Home, 1011 Bertrand Drive, Lafayette, LA, is in charge of funeral arrangements.

William J. Ashy

July 18, 1923 - August 11, 2009