DJ was born on December 26, 1988. He is survived by his father, David Looney, Sr; his mother, Sarah Smith Looney; his sisters DeAnna (Aaron) Mitchell and Ashlee Looney; his grandfather, Ralph Smith, Sr.; aunts Sarah (Jerry) Matthews, Maudell (Doug) Foster, Sylvia Smith, Alee (Julio) Lopez and Kelly Smith; uncles George (Carolyn) Bennet, Shawn (Anita) McClesky, Sherman McClesky, Ralph Smith, Jr. and Alex Smith; nieces Ava Mitchell, Mya Mitchell, and Aubree Williams; and nephew AJ Mitchell and a host of cousins. He is also survived by so many that he loved and made his family. He met so many people during his short time here with us. He was always making new friends and loved ones. So many have told me of his love for them, their wives, their parents, their children and extended families. The list seems endless of those that he touched with his smile, his sense of humor; his warm embrace; his words of wisdom, his acts of kindness, and zest for life. His life was full of accomplishments, but he was never satisfied. He always had a new goal to replace the old one. He was always striving to be better. Never settling for being adequate; always wanting to be/do more. No task was too small or too large. He was always studying and thinking and doing what he needed to do to be a better person. He lived his life on his terms and never let anyone deter him for doing what he wanted to do, when he wanted to do it, and how he wanted to do it. When he was determined, it was like an act of nature. No one could deter him from his path. He pulled us all along with him and we happily joined him on his journey. We were just glad that he wanted us along for the ride. His departure on August 1, 2020 has left us heartbroken. We will never hear his laugh, or get that call when we need it the most, or get that big hug when you would see him, or feel that outpouring of love that we could only get from him. It is our turn to make him proud and to follow the path that he has created for us. We need to live our life using him as our example. All of our lives are infinitely better because of him and it should be our goal to carry on the legacy that he started.
Athletic Network Footnote by Dr. Ed Dugas
Click here for Southern Heritage Funeral Home website and click on the tribute movie.
DJ was an assistant football coach at UL Lafayette 2018-2020.
