Judge Bernard N Marcantel

Funeral services for former Jeff Davis Parish District Attorney and Jennings City Judge, Bernard Norman Marcantel, 94, of Jennings will be held Monday, May 14th, 2018, at Our Lady Help of Christians Catholic Church in Jennings at 1:00 p.m. with Father Charles McMillin officiating.  Visitation will be from 2:00 p.m. until 8:00 p.m. on Sunday with a Rosary at 6:00 p.m. and from 10:00 a.m. until time of service on Monday.  Burial will follow in Calvary Cemetery with Military Funeral Honors under the direction of Miguez Funeral Home.

Judge Marcantel was born July 14, 1923, in Oberlin, Louisiana, where he graduated valedictorian of his high school class.  He received his Bachelor of Science degree from the University of Louiaiana at Lafayette in 1946, and his Juris Doctorate degree from the University of Chicago Law School in 1949.  While at the University of Chicago, he served as associate editor of the Law Review from 1947-1948.  He received a second Juris Doctorate degree from Tulane University Law School in 1950.  In 1953 he was elected the youngest district attorney in Louisiana, at that time serving Jeff Davis and Allen parishes.  Judge Marcantel was a practicing attorney in Jennings for 68 years.  He has been an active member of the American Bar Association, the Bar of Louisiana, and the Jefferson Davis Bar Association since 1950.  He was honored by the Louisiana Bar Association for more than 60 years in the practice of law.  He served Jeff Davis Parish as District Attorney for the 31st Judicial District from 1953-1978 and Judge for the City of Jennings and Ward II from 1985-1993.  He has also served as judge pro tem for the 31st, 14th, 15th and 36th Judicial Districts of Louisiana and the Third Circuit Court of Appeal.  The founding member of his law firm, Judge Marcantel has been practicing law in Louisiana since 1950, making Marcantel, Marcantel, Wall and Pfeiffer the oldest law firm in Jefferson Davis Parish.  In his role as judge, he performed many weddings and the participants always enjoyed his sometimes stern, sometimes light-hearted words of advice to the newly married couple.

Judge Marcantel served in the United States Army during WWII (1942-1946) in the European Theatre of Operations.  He fought at the Battle of the Bulge in the Ardennes Forest. 

He was a 71-year member of American Legion Post #19 in Jennings.  He served as President of the Board of Directors of Jeff Davis Mortuary Benefit Association for 37 years.  Judge Marcantel received the Silver Beaver award from the Boy Scouts of America.  In 2010 Judge Marcantel was named Citizen of the Year by the Jeff Davis Parish Business Alliance.  He was also a lifetime member of the VFW.  Judge Marcantel served as president of the ULL Alumni Association and later of the Senior ULL Alumni Association.

While DA, he served as president of the Louisiana District Attorneys Association and was later also selected for Who’s Who in America.

Judge Marcantel was a member of Our Lady Help of Christians Church for 68 years and served the church on the Parish Council, the school board, and as legal counsel for many years.  He was a 4th Degree Member of the Knights of Columbus. 

Judge Marcantel’s happiest times were spent at his camp, Cardinal Cove, near Lake Arthur on the Mermentau River, surrounded by family and friends.  His passion for hunting and fishing were legendary and every avid hunter coveted an invitation down to his houseboat in the deep marsh for a shot at the legal limit.  His dogs, Buck, Miss Bee, and Rex were part of the family too.

He is survived by his daughter, Nancy Tabb (Al Rougeau) Marcantel of Sunset;  three sons, David Emile (Simone) Marcantel of Jennings; Gregory Norman (Jean) Marcantel of Jennings; and Peter C. (Dr. Tina) Marcantel of Apache Junction, AZ; ten grandchildren: Pierre, Natalie, Joel, Andrew, Anna, and Noel Marcantel; Chelsea Marcantel-Polaski, Sister Protectrice de la Foi;  Shannon Rougeau Greer, Step grandson Paul Rougeau,  one great grandchild, Tristan Greer, two step-great grandchildren, Audrey and Beau Rougeau,  and numerous much-loved nieces and nephews on both the Marcantel and deGravelles sides who considered him their Patriarch and Mentor.

He was preceded in death by his parents, Emile and Florence Reed Marcantel; his wife, Martha deGravelles Marcantel; his second wife, Nancy Ellisor Marcantel and his infant daughter Kathryn.

The family is grateful for the love and constant support of Dad’s “other daughters” Cynthia Stagg and Marcia Pfieffer, his goddaughter Phoebe, the loyalty and 46 years of unequaled cooking of Alice Mayfield, the attention and compassion of Dad’s caregivers: Faye Brown, Candace Brown, April Cormier, and Jamie Green, and Dad’s “IT helper” Jordan Miral.

The family asks that, in lieu of flowers, donations be made to the Animal Rescue Foundation, P.O. Box 53501, Lafayette, LA 70505 and to the OLI Library at 600 Roberts Avenue, Jennings, LA 70546.