Former Crowley businessman dies

CROWLEY – Funeral services will be held at 3 p.m. Sunday, July 20, 2008 at the First Presbyterian Church for Donnaud B. Williams, Sr., 86, who died Friday, July 18, 2008 at his residence in Crowley.

Rev. Jimmy Broussard will conduct the funeral services and the committal service at the Old Crowley Cemetery. The family requests visitation to be observed on Saturday from 4 p.m. until 8 p.m. and Sunday from 1 p.m. until service time.

Donnaud was born in Crowley and lived here until leaving to attend LSU. He always loved Crowley and was glad to return home in 1967 to work in the family business, Williams Insurance, where he eventually became President. Prior to this he was a petroleum engineer for 21 years with Texaco.

Donnaud loved music! He played in the LSU band, sang in the choir at the First Presbyterian Church and also sang in several Barbershop groups and quartets. He had a beautiful voice and frequently sang solos.

He also loved the outdoors and enjoyed seeing and experiencing God’s creation. Typically, you’d find him at the camp in Lake Arthur on Saturdays and Sunday afternoons. He enjoyed boating, pulling his kids around on water skis and occasionally drowning a few shiners. He loved the mountains, especially Colorado where his father had been a guide many years before.

He was also a private pilot, which harkened back to his days serving the country in the Army Air Corp in WWII.

Always eager to serve, he was a Rotarian, where he served as President in 1974-75. He also served Acadia Parish as a School Board member for a number of years, running unopposed in his first bid for reelection. Just recently, he received a plaque from the Masonic Lodge for 50 years of service.

All of this pales in comparison, though, to who Donnaud really was. He was a loving and devoted husband and father first and foremost. Fifty-two years of marriage proves that. He was kind, loving, always level-headed and understanding. He was a stellar example of a true gentleman. Donnaud was also a devoted Christian serving the Lord and His church as an elder, deacon and in any other way that he could.

Mr. Williams is survived by his wife, ClaraBelle Williams of Crowley; two sons, Donnaud B. Williams, Jr. of Lafayette and Sprague Williams and his wife, Shawn of Ethel; and three grandchildren, Erin, Matthew and Mollie Williams.

He was preceded in death by his parents, Lewellyn A. Williams and Anne Sims Williams; two brothers, Lewellyn A. Williams, Jr. and Sims Williams and a sister, Anne Williams.

Funeral arrangements have been entrusted to Geesey-Ferguson Funeral Home, Inc. of Crowley.

Friends may express their condolences at www.geesey-ferguson.com.