Lane Broussard

Lane Edward Broussard, 63, died on June 19, 2024, after some years of declining health. Lane was born in New Orleans but spent his formative years in Lafayette. He graduated from Lafayette High School in 1979 and semi-seriously attended what was then the University of Southwestern Louisiana where he followed his brother Don in pledging Phi Kappa Theta fraternity. Lane always loved airplanes (managing to crash one into a hangar while working at the Lafayette airport as a young man) and spent most of his time in the Navy and US Naval Reserves blissfully happy in the back of a P-3. Lane lived in St. Marys, GA for most of his adult life where he worked for Lockheed Martin for 30 years.

Lane was the progeny of Don Broussard of Gueydan, LA and Barbara Tankersley Broussard of Exeter, VA and fully embraced both his south Louisiana Cajun-ness and his Appalachian hillbilly-ness. Lane’s Louisiana side loved a good étouffée, his Nanny Rose’s gumbo, cheering and cursing the Saints, and spending a smelly, swampy day fishing, crabbing, or crawfishing. His Virginia side loved a big ol’ plate of Mamaw’s soup beans and cornbread, hunting in the mountains, and listening to his grandfather Pop’s tall tales and coal mining stories. He had a huge soft spot for dogs starting with the dog of all dogs, LD (Lane’s Dog) and, to the bafflement of everyone who knew him, also became a “crazy cat lady” in his later years.

Lane treasured his sons, Lance and André, and got all animated around young ones in the family who were randomly referred to as “chère,” “babe,” or “knucklehead.” Lane is survived by his son André, grandson Beausoleil, and granddaughter Isadore, all of Las Vegas, NV; siblings Don of Dunedin, FL, Kirk (Laura) of Lake Charles, LA, Ross (Priscilla) of Jacksonville, FL, and Dawn AKA Angel (Jeff Jenks) of Accra, Ghana; and numerous nieces, nephews, and grand-nieces and nephews. He was preceded in death by his parents Don and Barbara Broussard, and his beloved son, Lance.

A Celebration of Life will be held on Saturday, July 6 from 9 to 10:30 a.m. at Walters Funeral Home at 2424 N. University Avenue in Lafayette. A brief graveside service will follow at Greenlawn Memorial Gardens Services at 2300 N. University Avenue. The officiant will be Lane’s 1st cousin, Pastor Edward Murphy of Dryden Missionary Baptist Church of Dryden, VA.

Lane wasn’t the flowers and tears type and would be totally OK if people would prefer to remember him with a donation to M.D. Anderson Cancer Center, the Alzheimer’s Association, or a local animal shelter. He’d also be tickled if you raised a glass to remember him at your next crawfish boil or a barbeque with loved ones.