Adley Joseph Melancon

Breaux Bridge - Funeral services will be held at 1:00 p.m., Tuesday, February 6, 2007, at St. Bernard Catholic Church in Breaux Bridge for Adley Joseph "Lad" Melancon, 85, who died at 2:00 a.m. on Friday, February 2, 2007 at his home. Interment will follow at St. Bernard Cemetery No. 1 in Breaux Bridge. Adley (Lad) was born February 19, 1921. Lad was a retired Sugarcane farmer of 45 years. He served as President and as a director of Breaux Bridge Sugar Co-op for several years. Lad was a proud veteran of World War II and served as a Military Policeman for the National Guard for five years. He often talked about his experiences in the war but told that his most memorable was when he first saw the Statue of Liberty when returning from the war. He said that for the first time in a long time he began to cry. He was the catcher for the famous Nina Redbirds, a fast pitch softball team of the 1950's. He was the founder/owner of the Atomic Bar, which he opened when he returned from the war. He greatly enjoyed gardening every year and tending to the outside work. Lad and his wife, Alice, loved to travel with many of their friends across the U.S. Lad was a member of Our Lady of Mercy Church in Henderson, where he served as an usher and member of the Holy Name Society. He served for many years as Vice President of St. Martin Parish Farm Bureau. He was past chairman of the Saint Martin Parish Sugar Advisory Committee and the Saint Martin FSA Parish Committee. He was also a member of the American Legion Post 133 and VFW Post in Breaux Bridge. Lad was a terrific grandfather and was very proud of his grandchildren. He was a very proud father of his only son, Mike, which he turned the farm over to that is still in operation today. He also had a great daughter-in-law, Pam, who helped him through rough times the last few years. Survivors include his son, Michael G. Melancon and his wife, Pamela H. Melancon of Nina; his brothers, Addy Melancon and John Melancon, Jr., both of Lafayette; and two grandchildren, Allison Michele Melancon and Kristyn Agnes Melancon. He was preceded in death by his wife, Alice Joyce Blanchard Melancon; his parents, John Jean Melancon, Sr. and Agnes Marie Dupuis Melancon; and three brothers, George Angelle, Antoine Angelle and Bennet Tally, all of Nina. The family requests that visiting hours be observed from 8:30 a.m. ~ 10:00 p.m. on Monday and continue at 8:00 a.m. on Tuesday until time of service. A rosary will be recited at 7:00 p.m. Monday evening. Pallbearers will be Robert Glenn Melancon, Stafford Calais, Rusty Goulas, Patrick "P.J." Johnson, Lloyd "L.J." Huval, Jr., and Jack Tally. The family would like to express their sincere appreciation to Concepts of Care Home Health, Dr. Patlola and his staff at CIS in Lafayette, and Father Chanh, Deacon Rabalais, Mr. and Mrs. William Courville and Mrs. Nell Rabeaux of Our Lady of Mercy Church. The family would especially like to thank Gerri Penn, Hope Gonzales, and Sherry Comb for their friendship, compassion, love and devotion to Mr. Lad. Pellerin Funeral Home of Breaux Bridge is in charge of arrangements.