ELIZABETH GAYLE FONTENOT DEVILLIER

February 22, 1938- February 11, 2016
OPELOUSAS — A funeral Mass will be held Tuesday, Feb. 16, 2016, at 1 p.m. at Our Lady Queen of Angels Catholic Church in Opelousas. Monsignor Keith DeRouen will officiate. Burial will follow at Bellevue Memorial Cemetery.
Gayle was born on February 22, 1938, in Branch. She died peacefully at home with her loving daughter by her side on Thursday, Feb. 11, 2016, 11 days short of her 78th birthday.
She is survived by her daughter, Lori Devillier Molino; her son-in-law, Mark E. Molino; her granddaughters, Christine Elizabeth Molino and Mary Marley Molino, all of Houston, Texas. She is also survived by her sister, Mary Anne Fontenot Ortis; and a brother, Wayne C. Fontenot and his wife, Hazel “Pud” Bordelon Fontenot.
Gayle is preceded in death by her parents, Roy and Lily Fontenot; her beloved husband, Roy Devillier; and great-nephew Sid Ortis.
Gayle was first and foremost an educator. Returning to college after her daughter was born, she was determined to receive her degree, working summer after summer to achieve her goal. Not only did she receive her bachelor’s degree from Nicholls State University, she continued her education to obtain a Master’s Degree in Education and additional hours nearly qualifying her for a Doctorate degree. She began her teaching career and ended it in the same school, Bayou Vista Elementary in St. Mary Parish. Although Gayle taught fifth grade for many years, she ended her career as principal. Rarely did she go anywhere that a former student would not recognize her and ask, “Are you Mrs. Devillier?” “You taught me in fifth grade!” She ALWAYS recognized them and would engage them in conversation about themselves or their families. She loved her students and had great joy in reminiscing about their time at that little school.
Gayle had only one daughter, but greatly loved so many other children as her own. Her granddaughters truly were a gift to her that she cherished until her last breath. To them she was “Nanny.” The girls, now at LSU, were able to spend a lot of time with her over the last couple of years. These precious moments of time were incredibly special to her. When she and her husband moved to Lafayette in 1993, they spent many of their days with their great-nieces and great-nephews. Although Gayle was known to her own nieces and nephews as “Nanny Gayle,” she became known to her great-nieces and great-nephews as “Abigayle,” a nickname given her by one of her great-nieces. She was so much more to them than a “great aunt,” she truly embodied a grandmother’s spirit with all the children she loved. Often, she would be on the floor playing games, reading books but always “teaching” them something. Mostly, she loved them all as her own. Her spirit of determination, strength, brilliance and great humor are the things we love most about her. She will be greatly missed by all who were privileged to know and love her.
Words of Comfort to the family may be expressed at www.sibillefuneralhomes.com. Funeral arrangements have been entrusted to Sibille Funeral Home, 2309 George Drive, Opelousas, LA.