Thomas Wilbert Dugas, Sr.

JENNINGS

Mr. Thomas “Wilbert” Dugas, Sr., 84, (also known as Pop to his family) passed away at 3:27 a.m. on Wednesday, February 26, 2020 in the Gueydan Memorial Guest House where he lived his final days. 

Mr. Dugas’ wishes were to be cremated.  A memorial service will be held Sunday, March 8, 2020 at 4:00 p.m. at Miguez Funeral Home in Jennings with Rev. Brian Fitkin and Bro. Darrell Hieronymus officiating.  Burial will be held at a later date at the Andrus Cove Cemetery under the direction of Miguez Funeral Home.

Mr. Dugas was a lifelong resident of Jennings and was a retired welder in the shipyards. 

Wilbert could fix or build anything and was very talented working with his hands. He taught his children how to work hard, respect others and made sure they could make a good life for themselves.  He enjoyed duck hunting every chance he got.   He also enjoyed watching NASCAR and westerns on television. In his late 70’s, he accomplished his lifelong dream to attend the Daytona 500.  He was overwhelmed with tears when his favorite driver, Dale Earnhardt, Jr. won the race.

Wilbert loved to sing and play the guitar for his friends and family.  He passed on his love of music to his children Tommy and Shantay.  Mr. Wilbert spent many loving hours singing songs made popular by Hank Williams, Sr. with his son Tommy and teaching him to play the guitar.  

He was blessed to enjoy two loves; his first wife and the mother of his children, Beverly, who passed away and his second wife Evelyn who spoiled him terribly with her cakes.  He spent many hours every year picking pecans in his family orchard just as his beloved mother Ida had year after year.  He and Evelyn would sit for hours shelling pecans and share them with his family.

He is preceded in death by his parents, Hazard and Ida Baker Dugas; two brothers, Sanford Dugas (who passed away as an infant) and Floyd Dugas; a sister Clara Belle Dugas, a son Oris Dugas and his first wife Beverly.

Those left to cherish his memory are his wife Evelyn; children, Tommy, Jr., Shantay and Cletis; a sister, Genevieve Harrison of Alabama; numerous grandchildren and great grandchildren and two special sons, Doug Dugas and Carl Dufek of Wisconsin.

The family would like to thank the staff at the Gueydan Memorial Guesthouse, for the love and compassion that they showed.  He looked at them more like family then staff members.