Percy J. Henry

New Iberia-A Mass of Christian Burial for Percy J. Henry, 79, will be celebrated at 1:00PM Wednesday, March 25, 2009 at Our Lady of Perpetual Help Catholic Church. Father Mark Derise will officiate. Readers will be Mr. Henry's brother Gilbert Henry and grandson Justin Delaune. Gift bearers include grand-daughters Pepper Smith Taylor and Allie Delaune and great-granddaughter Kaylie Smith. Musical selections will be "The Wind Beneath My Wings" and "Amazing Grace" and will be sung by Mr. Henry's sister-in-law Becky Henry. Entombment will follow at Holy Family Mausoleum with "Taps" being performed by Mr. Henry's grand-nephews Brandon Broussard, Braedon Broussard and Caleb Russo. A Gathering of family and friends will be Tuesday, from 11:00 AM until 10:00 PM. at Pellerin Funeral Home, 502 Jefferson Terrace Blvd, in New Iberia, with a rosary being recited at 6:30 p.m. Visitation will continue Wednesday from 8:00 a.m. until 12:30 PM. Percy J. Henry passed away peacefully on Sunday, March 22, 2009 at home with his family at his side. Mr. Henry was born on December 24, 1929, in Rayne, Louisiana. He was the eleventh of twelve children born to the late Lenis and Alice Leger Henry. While growing up on a sugarcane farm, he attended Charenton and Glencoe Elementary Schools, Franklin Senior High School and graduated from The American School in Chicago, Illinois. After graduation, Mr. Henry worked in the sugar testing laboratory at St Mary Sugar Coop and ran the steam turbine for South Coast Corp. (sugar mill) in Franklin. In the winter of 1947, his family left the farm and moved to New Iberia when he then began working for the Louisiana Department of Transportation. In 1947, Mr. Henry enlisted in the Louisiana National Guard and was sent to Fort Benning, Georgia to attend Infantry Mechanized Leaders School. He served as Battalion Motor Sergeant of the 2nd Battalion, 156th Infantry Brigade (Mechanized) during the Korean Conflict. On March 25, 1950, he was united in Holy Matrimony to Verna Lee Hebert and they were blessed with five children. They lived in Lake Charles and Jennings while working for Standard Coffee. He purchased a small wholesale and furnished supplies to Chennault Air Force Base in Lake Charles, Louisiana. After moving his family back to New Iberia, he worked for Segura Buick Company, Rainbow Paper Company and Glazier's Wholesale Distributors. Mr. Henry was blessed with many friendships throughout his life. It was his career opportunities which afforded him this treasure. In 1961, he purchased an existing convenience store (Wag-A-Bag) and was the first local convenience store to begin operating from 7 to 11. In 1962, he purchased an existing coin-operated laundry (where the present Ford Motor Company is located), as well as all the laundry facilities at the New Iberia Naval Air Station, now called Acadiana Regional Airport, until it's closure in 1965. In 1963, he went on to build the first strip mall in New Iberia and relocated Wag-A-Bag to its present location on Center Street. In 1975, he added a ceramic studio and was awarded first place for his airbrushing exhibit at a ceramic show. Through the years, Mr. Henry brokered and hauled fields of watermelons out of the Rio Grande Valley and operated an open air produce market in the strip mall. For several years he raised cattle and hogs on Lewis Street where Super 1 Foods is currently located. He owned and operated two video poker parlors in the two strip malls until the outlaw of video poker in Iberia Parish in 1996. Mr. Henry operated Wag-A-Bag for a total of forty-four years until his retirement, which also included the largest book store in the area at that time. Mr. Henry was co-owner of Bass Oil Ltd., and Bass Oil Refining, Ltd., a manufacturer of stabilizers for the oilfield industry. At this time, they wildcatted in shallow oil wells in North Louisiana, but did not prove profitable, due to the decrease in oil prices and increase in production costs. He was also silent partner of a used car dealership in New Iberia. In December of 1956, Mr. Henry was initiated into the Independent Order of Odd Fellows (I.O.O.F), a fraternal organization derived from 17th century England and founded on the North American Continent in 1819 for the purpose of giving aid to those in need and of pursuing projects for the benefit of all mankind. Odd Fellows are also known as "The Three Link Fraternity" which stands for Friendship, Love and Truth. He was an active member of Iberia Odd Fellows Lodge No. 66 and New Hope Rebekah Lodge No. 70. He served as Grand Master of Louisiana in 1972, Sovereign Grand Representative in 1973-1974, Assistant Sovereign Grand Guardian in 1975, Sovereign Grand Marshal in 1977, Sovereign Grand Warden in 1985 and Deputy Sovereign Grand Master in 1986. He was especially honored to serve as I.O.O.F's international leader as their Sovereign Grand Master of the World in 1987?1988. He was honored at a testimonial banquet and dance on November 11, 1987 at the Lafayette Hilton with over five hundred people in attendance. As Sovereign Grand Master, Mr. Henry conducted the memorial service at the Tomb of the Unknown Soldier, gave the address and placed the ceremonial wreath at the tomb. It is an honor to be a part of this solemn ceremony, a privilege that was afforded to the I.O.O.F. in 1934 by our thirty-second President of the United States, Franklin D. Roosevelt. No other organization has been granted this honor. He was also one of many volunteers of the float committee selected to decorate the Odd Fellows and Rebekahs float in the 99th annual Tournament of Roses Parade. During his tenure as Sovereign Grand Master, he had the privilege of meeting people from many countries around the world and spent one week in Cuba. He served on the Expansion and Development Committee and Finance Committee of the Sovereign Grand Lodge. He was also instrumental in the development of the Odd Fellow Retirement Home in Crowley, LA while serving as Chairman of the Board. Mr. Henry is a member of the local chapter of the Woodmen of the World, Our Lady of Perpetual Help Catholic Church and worked with several civic organizations, including the Boy Scouts of America. As hobbies, he enjoyed cooking, woodworking, and gardening. Most of all, one of his greatest pleasures after retirement was to begin his day by joining the Coffee Club at Handyman's Hardware store in New Iberia. Affectionately known as "Paw" to many, Mr. Henry was a loving husband, father, grandfather and great-grandfather. Mr. Henry is survived by his loving wife of 59 years, Verna Hebert Henry, of New Iberia; two sons, Bryan Henry of New Iberia, Keith Henry and companion Sherry Ferrel of New Iberia; three daughters, Jennifer Smith and husband Paul of New Iberia, Tina Suhr and husband Randy of New Iberia, and Tessie Delaune and husband Kirk of Cypress, Texas; one sister Orita Duhon of Abbeville; two brothers, Gilbert Henry and wife Semay of LaPlace and Rufus Henry and wife Becky of Irving, Texas; nine grandchildren Steven Henry and wife Brandi of New Iberia, Pepper Smith Taylor and husband Josh of Lafayette, Joshua Norman, Brent Henry, Tiffany Henry, Heather Henry Derouen and husband Trent, all of New Iberia, Keira Henry of Lafayette, Alyssa and Justin Delaune of Cypress, Texas; ten great-grandchildren Kaylie Smith, Bryce Segura, Alexis Norman, Brianne Derouen, Tristin Derouen, Daymion Henry, Brent Henry Jr., Hunter Taylor, Elyssa Kelly and Mercedes Madina, and one due to arrive in July; and numerous nieces and nephews. He leaves his family and friends with a lifetime of love and many memories to cherish. He was preceded in death by his parents, Lenis and Alice Leger Henry; brothers John Henry, Julius Henry, and Raoul Henry; sisters Gladys Henry Louviere, Sister Claudette (Eula) Henry, Aggles Henry Guidry, Addie Henry and infant sister; and daughter-in-law Cyrillia Ann Henry. Pallbearers include Keith Henry, Steven Henry, Joshua Norman, Randy Suhr, Paul Smith and Kirk Delaune. Honorary pallbearers are Bryan Henry, Brent Henry and the Coffee Club and staff at Handyman Hardware store. The family wishes to thank the staff of Iberia Medical Center, Southwest Medical Center, Acadian Homecare of New Iberia, doctors and staff at Cardiovascular Institute of the South, Dr. Robert Hankenhof III, Dr. Joseph Brierre, Dr. J. Darvin Hales, Dr. Bahman Daneshfar and staff at Delaune's Pharmacy for their devotion and patience assisting Mr. Henry in his daily needs and also to Father Mark Derise and Deacon Davis for their frequent visits. Special thanks and appreciation is extended to Hospice of Acadiana for their dedication and compassionate care given to him in his final days. Pellerin Funeral Home, 502 Jefferson Terrace Blvd, New Iberia, LA 70560, 337.365.3331, is in charge of the arrangements.