THOMAS S. DERVELOY

Services will be held on Saturday, October 26, 2013 at 10:30 a.m., in La Chapelle de Martin & Castille, honoring the life of Thomas S. Derveloy, 95, who died on Wednesday, October 23, 2013 at Cornerstone Village South in Lafayette.
He will be laid to rest at Calvary Cemetery Mausoleum of the Resurrection in Lafayette alongside his first wife, Sue Gauthier Derveloy, who preceded him in death by many years.
The Rev. Gary Schexnayder, Pastor of St. Elizabeth Seton Catholic Church, will officiate the services.
Tom was a retired public school educator and administrator. He began his teaching career as a flight instructor in the British Royal Air Force before the U.S. entered WWII, and then continued the Army Air Corps and U.S. Air Force through that war. He completed college on the GI Bill SLI (now ULL) and later earned advanced degrees in education-administration at LSU. After college, Tom taught Vocational Agriculture first at Rayne High School, and later for many years Judice High School.
He became a public school administrator in the 1960s, supervised vocational education programs statewide, and retired in the early 1970s as the Assistant Superintendent of Education Vocational Education for the State of Louisiana. He was a member of numerous education organizations and advocacy groups, and served in many leadership positions in the National Vocational Education Association, the Louisiana Association of Educators, the Lafayette Parish Teachers Association, and several honorary education societies.
He was first preceded in death by his wife of 41 years, Sue Gauthier Derveloy; secondly by his wife of 26 years, Betty Couvillon Peltier of Centerville, Louisiana; by his mother, Marie Broussard Derveloy Mouchet and stepfather, Albert Antoine Mouchet of Youngsville; by his father, Shafter L. Derveloy Sr. of Abbeville; one brother, Leon S. Derveloy, Sr. of Abbeville; and a son, Thomas Derveloy Jr.
Tom is survived by his daughters, Julie D. Dauzat (Jimmy) of Sunset, Jean D. Cobb (Bobby) of Lafayette, Linda D. Carroll (Laj) of Lafayette; and his step-children, Guy R. Peltier (Connie) of Garland, Texas; and Jan Peltier Shuflin (Jimmy) of Centerville. He is also survived by his devoted sister, Catherine Mouchet Matt (Howard) of New Iberia; and a brother, Gene E. Derveloy of Shreveport.
He leaves a legacy of 14 grandchildren, Kelly Cobb, Paige Cobb Mitchell, Denise Dauzat Simon, Suzanne Dauzat Speyrer, David J. Dauzat, Nicholas Carroll, Aimee Carroll Lamar, Evan Thomas Derveloy, Jenny Derveloy Johnson, Kate M. Derveloy, Kelly Derveloy Hammett, Brandi Smith, Fallon Peltier Watkins and Brett Peltier; and to date, 16 great grandchildren.
Tom devoted much of his energy in retirement to producing the bounty of a year round large vegetable garden in Centerville, and to service with the patriotic 4th Degree Knights of Columbus of which he was an active member for over 60 years, the last 26 years in the Msgr. J. Rousseau Assembly #335, Franklin, Louisiana.
Tom’s family is very grateful to the loving family that is the staff of the Special Care Unit at Cornerstone Village South, and a special thank you to Barbara Castille at Cornerstone for her care and concern that went way beyond the call of duty.
Memorial gathering will be held at Martin & Castille’s DOWNTOWN location at 330 St. Landry Street, Lafayette, La. 70506 on Friday, October 25, 2013 from 4 p.m. to 8 p.m., with a Rosary to be recited at 6:30 p.m. Visitation will continue on Saturday, October 26, 2013 from 8 a.m., with services at 10:30 a.m., followed directly by entombment at Calvary Cemetery Mausoleum of the Resurrection.
Pallbearers will be Bobby Cobb, Laj Carroll, Nick Carroll, David Dauzat, Jimmy Dauzat, Brett Peltier and Guy Peltier.
Eulogy will be delivered by Nick Carroll.
In lieu of floral tributes, please consider Memorial Masses at your Church of choice; or a donation in Tom’s memory to the charity of your choice.
View the obituary and guestbook online at www.mourning.com
Martin & Castille - DOWNTOWN, 330 St. Landry Street Lafayette, La. 70506. 337-234-2311.