A Mass of Christian Burial will be held at 1:00 pm on Tuesday, March 29, 2016 at the Cathedral of St. John the Evangelist for Senator Edgar G.”Sonny” Mouton, Jr., 86, who passed away peacefully at his residence after a lengthy illness surrounded by his loving family on Thursday, March 24, 2016.

Reverend Paul Broussard, Pastor of St. Leo IV Catholic Church, will be Celebrant of the Mass. Concelebrants will be The Very Reverend Monsignor Richard Greene Episcopal Vicar for the Diocese of Lafayette, Pastor of Sacred Heart of Jesus Catholic Church, Reverend Chester Arceneaux, Rector of the Cathedral of St. John the Evangelist, and Monsignor Richard Von Phul Mouton, Cathedral of St. John the Evangelist. Lectors will be his sons-in-law, Jerry Trumps, Clay Judice, Sr. and Larry Aycock. Giftbearers will be his granddaughters, Tricia Guarisco, Katie LaSala, Ann-Marie Parker, Ashley Cutrerra, Jamie Bourque, Ellie Aycock. Eulogists will be his daughters, Cheryl Trumps and Patti Judice. Music will be provided by Tom Neil, Raymond Hebert, and Will Green.

Burial will take place in Calvary Cemetery.

Edgar, a resident of Lafayette, was the son of the late Edgar G. Mouton, Sr. and the former Myrtle Grevemberg.

Senator Mouton graduated with honors as class valedictorian from Cathedral High School in 1947 and attended Tulane University where he received his Bachelor of Arts in 1951 and his Jurist Doctorate degree in 1953. He began his legal career in Lafayette, establishing the law firm of Mouton and Roy in 1953.

He was first elected to the Louisiana House of Representatives in 1964 to 66; In 1966 was elected State Senator for the Twenty-Third District; he was later elected President Pro-Tempore of the Senate from 1976-80, and was the Legislative Floor Leader for Governor Edwin Edwards for eight years. In 1979, he was a gubernatorial candidate. He continued to serve in various capacities including as Executive Counsel to Governor Dave Treen (1980-83) and as Special Counsel to Governor Edwards in 1985. He was chosen as the top Senate floor leader for six years by Governor John McKeithen and held that position for eight years under Governor Edwin Edwards. Governor Dave Treen, a republican, chose Edgar Mouton, a lifelong Democrat, to be his lawyer and Executive Counsel for 3 years. He also served in the following capacities: Chairman of the Committee on Health, Education, and Welfare; Vice-Chairman of the Senate and Governmental Affairs Committee; member of the Governor’s Committee on Reorganization of State Government; and as a member of the Joint Legislative Budget Committee. He was named Louisiana’s Best Legislator for three consecutive years in the 1970’s. Dubbed “Best Orator”, he was inducted into the “Order of Living Legends” in 2003 and into the Louisiana Political Hall of Fame in 2004. In 2008, he was honored as the Lafayette Parish Democratic Executive Committee’s first Lifetime Achievement Award winner. He served as Past President of Hub City Kiwanis, Past Chairman of the Bishop’s Service Appeal, Past Chairman of the Easter Seal Society, Past Board Member on the State Board on Mental Health; he was a Fourth Degree Knight; and was inducted as “Chevalier De L’Orde National Du Merit”. Most recently, Senator Mouton and his wife were awarded the Key to the City by then City-Parish President Joey Durel.

He served his people and his State aggressively and successfully. He was directly responsible for such worthy projects as the Lafayette Regional Technical Vocational Institute, University Medical Center, the Cajundome and Cajun Field, and he helped to secure millions of dollars of other capital construction programs at then U.S.L. and the Parish. In addition, funding for hundreds of miles of roads and bridges within the state were secured under his tenure.

Notably, Senator Mouton was instrumental in implementing the French Immersion program, and he was the principal author of the Legislation which created CODOFIL. As a humanitarian and exemplary leader, Senator Mouton has served as National Vice-President of the Muscular Dystrophy Association, President of the Hub City Kiwanis Club, and Board Member of the Chamber of Commerce. He continues to be a member of the Lafayette Bar Association.

In Edgar’s life God came first and then his family. He was a superb Chess player who also enjoyed golfing, hunting, fishing, reading, and living life to its fullest. During this Easter Season, the family takes great comfort as he is now reborn into his Heavenly Home.

He is survived by the one and only love of his life of 64 years, Patsy Dauphin Mouton; his four daughters and their spouses, Cheryl Trumps (Jerry), Patti Judice (Clay), Kathy Aycock (Larry), and Mary Whitaker; his 16 grandchildren, Clay Judice, Jr.(Wendy), Edgar Judice, Adam Judice (Maghann), Kevin Judice, Ann-Marie Parker (Jason), Patrick Judice (Sarah), Ryan Lavin (Lindsay), Patricia Guarisco (Peter), Katie LaSala (Pablo), Brett Lavin (fiancée, Meagan Moseley), Ashley Cutrera (Dylan), Jaimie Bourque (Justin), Cason Aycock, Ellie Aycock, Elliottt and Thad Whitaker; his 26 great grandchildren with 2 more on the way; his sister, Louise A. Mouton; his numerous nieces and nephews; and his loyal companion his Chinese Shar Pei named Honey Bear .

He was preceded in death by his parents, his grandson, Ethan Whitaker, his mother and father-in-law, Edgar J. Dauphin; his brothers-in-law, Ed. C. Dauphin, Allen J. Dauphin, Bruce C. Dauphin, and Charles D. Thompson.

The family requests that visiting hours be observed at Delhomme Funeral Home – Bertrand on Monday, March 28, 2016 from 2:00 PM to 9:00 PM. A Rosary will be recited by at 6:30 PM on Monday evening in the funeral home. Visiting hours will continue on Tuesday from 8:00AM until 12:30 PM.

Pallbearers will be his grandsons, Ryan Lavin, Brett Lavin, Clay Judice, Jr., Edgar Mouton Judice, Adam Judice, Kevin Judice, Patrick Judice, Cason Aycock, Elliott Whitaker, and Thad Whitaker. Honorary Pallbearers will be his twelve great-grandsons, Senator Michael O’Keefe, Senator Armand Brinkhaus, Charles “Moochie” Dugas, Dr. Jeff Budden, Harmon F. Roy, Randy Haynie, Bay Ingram, and Ralph Kraft.

A special thank you is expressed to Dr. Morris Hoffpauir and Hospice of Acadiana. We are very grateful for the exceptional care given by Iggy Landry, Jolane Doucet, Rose Lilly, Brittany Thibeaux, and Geralynn Cormier. We are forever grateful to longtime, very dear friends Dr. Jeff Budden and Brenda Dugas for their loyalty, love, and tremendous support. Thank you also to Mr. Bob Guchereau and Judy Placier for their Eucharistic Ministry from the Cathedral of St. John the Evangelist.

In lieu of flowers donations may be made in Edgar’s memory to The Carmelite Monastery 1250 Carmel Drive, Lafayette, LA 70501, Hospice of Acadiana, 2600 Johnston Street, Suite 200 Lafayette, LA 70503 or The Cathedral of St. John the Evangelist, P. O Drawer V, Lafayette, LA 70502.

Personal condolences may be sent to the Mouton family at www.delhommefuneralhome.com.

Delhomme Funeral Home, 1011 Bertrand Drive, Lafayette, LA is in charge of funeral arrangements.
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