Shelby Drew Avant, Jr.

New Iberia - A Mass of Christian Burial will be held at 10:00 AM on Saturday, March 11, 2017, at St. Peter's Catholic Church in New Iberia for Shelby Drew Avant, 73, who passed away on Monday, March 6, 2017, in Lake Charles. A gathering of family and friends will be at Pellerin Funeral Home in New Iberia from 5:00 PM until 8:00 PM on Friday, with Recitation of the Rosary at 7:00PM. Visitation will continue on Saturday from 8:00 AM until 9:30 AM. Rev. William Blanda will be the Celebrant. Entombment will follow in Sacred Heart Cemetery in Broussard, LA. A resident of New Iberia, Shelby Drew Avant, Jr. was born in Lake Charles, LA on November 19, 1943 to the late Shelby Drew Avant, Sr. and Ruth Ann Benoit Mooney. He was a self-employed Oilfield Consultant, and a member of St. Peter's Catholic Church. He was a 1961 graduate of New Iberia Senior High School, and enjoyed hosting class reunion gatherings. Shelby is survived by five daughters, Christine Gaspard and husband Kelvin of New Iberia, Debora K. Vaught and husband Douglas of Cookville, TX, Angela Marie Perry of Holly Springs, NC, Elizabeth Faye Bryan and husband Gene of Hughes Springs, TX, and Lory Theriot of New Iberia; a son, Robert Paul Avant and wife Betty of Rosebud, TX; three sisters, Barbara Desselle of Lafayette, Roberta Sellers, and Marlene Theriot and husband Ron, all of Houston, TX; and numerous grandchildren and great-grandchildren. Pellerin Funeral Home, 502 Jefferson Terrace Blvd., New Iberia, LA 70560, (337-365-3331) is in charge of arrangements.