Willis Poirier

St. Martinville - Funeral services will be held at 2:30 p.m., on Thursday, October 8, 2009, at St. Martin de Tours Catholic Church in St. Martinville, for Willis Poirier, 89, who passed away on Wednesday, October 7, 2009 at LTAC of Acadiana in Lafayette. Interment will follow at St. Michael Cemetery in St. Martinville. Msgr. J. Douglas Courville will officiate at the funeral Mass. Readers will be Patsy Poirier and Sheena Long. Willis loved being a farmer, growing peppers, cotton, and vegetables, he also raised cattle. He was one of the last farmers to use mules for farming. His hobbies were hunting with his "camp buddies", and playing cards. The most memorable times for Willis, were those spent with his family and friends, while he shared his homemade ice cream with them. Survivors include his four sons, Bran "Pete" Poirier and his wife, Bertina, of Cypress Island, LeRoy Poirier and his wife, Judy, of Cypress Island, Giland Poirier and his companion, Gayle Trahan, of St. Martinville, and Ronald "Ron" Poirier and his wife, Margaret, of Cypress Island; one daughter, Brenda Poirier and her companion, Carrol Bergeron, of Breaux Bridge; a brother, John Poirier, of St. Martinville; 17 grandchildren; 23 great grandchildren; and 2 great-great grandchildren. He was preceded in death by his wife, Elta Thibodeaux Poirier; his parents, Anatole Poirier, Sr. and Marcelite Picard Poirier; 16 brothers and 4 sisters. The family requests that visiting hours be observed at the funeral home from 3:30 p.m. until 10 p.m. on Wednesday and continue at 8 a.m. until 2 p.m. on Thursday. A rosary will be recited at 7 p.m. on Wednesday. Pallbearers will be Jonathan Poirier, Bryan Poirier, Barry Poirier, T-Roy Poirier, Keith Poirier, and Darren Poirier. Honorary pallbearers will be Shawn Poirier, Corey Poirier, Josh Poirier, Shane Poirier, Kyle Poirier, and Branon Poirier. Pellerin Funeral Home of St. Martinville is in charge of arrangements.