Hatton William Franciol

St. Martinville Hatton "Happy" Franciol, a special soul, passed on to eternal hunting and fishing grounds on April 30, 2017, at home in the hands of his children following a short battle with cancer. Hatton will be remembered for his charisma, laughter, joking, and being a prankster to all who knew him. He began his life adventure on August 21, 1955 in Lafayette Louisiana, the heart of Acadiana Cajun country. He was born to Charles and Patsy Franciol and shared the early years with siblings, Wesley, Wendell, Virginia, and Jack. He wasn't much for school, so you could find him tinkering with motors via motorcycles, lawn mowers, or boats. He started work in his younger years at the A&W and tinkering with motorcycles at Southside Honda shop. It was here he was dubbed with his lifelong name of "Happy". Everyone who met him never forgot him and has a story to tell from their meeting. Happy was a "master" of all trades. There was never a job or project that he could not finish using ingenuity beyond most of us. In the early years, he began to work as a swamper and rig-up driver, moving oil rigs and also trained to be a crane operator. He worked for many companies to include Salter Trucking, Duke Transportation, Big Chief, Hickenbottom, and Tiger Drilling. He developed many lifelong friendships at this time and kept him tied to his Cajun roots. During this time, he met and married Patsy Gerard. Together they had two children, Nicole Lynn and Timothy Daniel, living in the Lafayette and Lake Charles areas. In 1985 when the oil industry took a downturn, Happy jumped on his dream to go to Alaska and ended up in Fairbanks. He continued his mastery of trades and worked as a welder, fabricator, operator and dragline operator. He would bale material at night for a gold mine and build roads and work on the gold plant during the day working for ACE General Contractors. He was part of many projects in outlying areas to include the airport in Central Alaska. Here he began his Alaska family with many great friends from Central, Fox, and Fairbanks. He then began working for M&M Constructors as an operator, foreman, welder, fixer and mechanic. His footprints and workmanship can be seen around much of Fairbanks and surrounding areas. He spent many an hour grading roads or plowing snow from Ester to Haystack. One of the biggest examples of his skills is in building the pad and road to the Grand Denali Hotel in Denali Park. He was able to mentor many younger operators on the tricks of the trade. Several have developed lifelong memories and friendships from their time spent with Happy. In 1990, he married his friend, fishing buddy, and soulmate Cathy "Muffin" Holmes. Together they completed the fun side of life in his adventures of hunting, fishing, snow-machining, four-wheeling, and of course airboating. Adventures included trips to Tolovana Hot Springs, Central, trapping at 70 below at Happy Valley, hunting for moose and bear on the Tanana Flats, and most recently at the cabin on the Salcha River. Many a great time was spent with too many friends to list, but you all know who you are and have a story to remember him by. His adventures came full-circle with the need to return to his Cajun roots following being diagnosed with a rare cancer. He continued to live life to the fullest while enjoying his children, grandchildren, extended family and new friends, while fishing and trips to Rockefeller Refuge and the Atchafalaya. Happy has asked that his ashes be spread in the bayou so that he will flow to all waterways. He said if you wanted to talk to him, you could go to the river, lake or seas and he would be there. He often would secretly provide a little something to random people, so in his honor "pay it forward". His wishes were to not mourn him, but to Celebrate his life (AKA Party) and remember your times of knowing him. A Celebration of Life and Pig Roast will be held on Saturday, June 3, 2017, beginning at 2:00 pm at the Franciol home (4723 B Main Hwy., St. Martinville, LA 70582). For our Alaska friends, have a drink in his honor or a blow out on the river. He is survived by his loving wife, Catherine Holmes Franciol of St. Martinville; son, Timothy Daniel Franciol of Youngsville; daughter, Nicole Lynn Franciol and husband Steven Wade Romero of St. Martinville; three brothers, Charles Wesley Franciol and wife Christine of Lafayette, Wendell Hugh Franciol and wife Mary Jo of Henderson, and Jack Edward Franciol of Church Point; sister, Virginia Harrison and husband Jack of Lafayette; two grandchildren, Alexis Franciol and Ashlynn Franciol; adopted children and grandchild, Josh and Gabrielle Dickson and son, Kemper; nephews, John and Jared Harrison, and Wesley Franciol; niece, Kate Franciol; and a great niece, Sophie Harrison. He was preceded in death by his parents, Charles and Patsy Ruth Kelley Franciol; and a nephew, Joshua Kelley Franciol. Pellerin Funeral Home, (337-332-2111), is in charge of arrangements. To view on-line obituary, sign guestbook, and view video tribute, go to www.pellerinfuneralhome.com.