Clifford Albert Calais

Breaux Bridge - CDR Clifford Albert Calais, USN-RET, passed away peacefully at the Ben Atchley Tennessee State Veterans Home in Knoxville, Tennessee on Monday, November 2, 2009. Funeral services will be held at 9 a.m. on Saturday, November 7, 2009 at St. Bernard Catholic Church, 204 North Main Street, Breaux Bridge, LA 70517. Entombment will follow at St. Bernard Mausoleum No. 2 in Breaux Bridge. Father Paul LaFleur will officiate at the Funeral Mass. Scriptures will be read by Jane Comeaux. The Gift Bearers will be Hannah Wolcott, Abigail Douglas and Lauren Douglas. Clifford was born on May 2, 1931 in Cecilia, Louisiana, to Wade Calais and Laura LeBlanc. He joined the United States Navy in 1951 and honorably served his country during the Korean War, as well as completing two tours of duty in Vietnam. He retired from the United States Navy as Commander, after 25 years of distinguished service in Jacksonville, Florida. After his retirement, he worked for the City of Jacksonville as Comptroller for the Parks and Recreation Department. Clifford had many interests including golf, gardening and cooking favorite family recipes. He loved to share his Cajun heritage with his family and friends. His biggest hobby was following all the sports teams of his beloved L.S.U. Tigers. He is survived by his loving and devoted wife of 57 years, Doris Broussard Calais, of Oak Ridge, TN; and their children, James (Gae) Calais, of Gainesville, FL, William Calais, of Jacksonville, FL, Donna (Mitch) Wolcott, of Gainesville, FL, and Kathy (Steve) Douglas, of Oak Ridge, TN; as well as their nine grandchildren, Bob (Kate), Scott, Jeff, Dan, Zachary, Hannah, Clint, Abigail, and Lauren. He is also survived by his brothers, Nolan (Edna) Calais, of Jeffersonville, IN, and Malcolm Calais, of Cecilia, LA; his sisters, Genevieve Cormier, of Breaux Bridge, LA, Priscilla Gonsuron, of Breaux Bridge, LA, Stella Rabalais, of Baton Rouge, LA, and Laura (Pat) Lanaux, of Breaux Bridge, LA; as well as numerous nieces and nephews. He was preceded in death by his parents, Wade and Laura LeBlanc Calais. The family requests that visiting hours be observed at the funeral home from 1:30 p.m. until 9 p.m. on Friday, November 6, 2009 and continue at 7 a.m. until 8:30 a.m. on Saturday, November 7, 2009. A rosary will be recited at 7 p.m. on Friday evening. Honored to serve as his pallbearers are; Scott Calais, Bob Calais, Jeff Calais, Dan Calais, Steve Douglas, Mitch Wolcott, Clint Wolcott, and Zachary Wolcott. Pellerin Funeral Home, 211 Berard St., Breaux Bridge, LA 70517 (337.332.2199) is in charge of arrangements.