Mayner Fontenot

VILLE PLATTE - A Mass of Christian Burial will be held for A. Mayner Fontenot at 11:00 AM on Saturday, February 12, 2022, at Sacred Heart of Jesus Catholic Church in Ville Platte, La.  Father Andrew Killeen will celebrate the Mass.  Entombment will take place at Evangeline Memorial Mausoleum.

Arthur Mayner Fontenot, age 95, a long-time resident of Ville Platte and a faithful parishioner of Sacred Heart of Jesus Catholic Church, passed away on February 9, 2022, at Heritage Manor Nursing Home in Ville Platte, surrounded by his loving family. Mayner was born on June 6, 1926, in Ville Platte to Melvin and Eula Buller Fontenot. He went to live with his aunt Carrie Buller Bacon and her husband, Aronce in Mamou at the age of two when his mother became very ill. Mayner and Carrie moved back to Ville Platte when he was 10 and he eventually attended Ville Platte High, graduating in 1943.

Like many at the time, Mayner served his country during World War II. He spent two years in the Navy, then returned to Ville Platte to marry the love of his life, Margie Ardoin.  They celebrated 71 years together before her death in 2018.

Mayner was a hard-working man, often holding down multiple jobs to provide for his family.  After attending trade school and working at the Ville Platte Train Depot he then went to work at Cabot in 1954.  As a second job, Mayner maintained the financial books for Demourelle Oil Products and Rixby Manuel Motors. Mayner was instrumental in the establishment of the Evangeline Academy School serving as Treasurer and a school board member. After retiring from Cabot in 1984, he continued as a bookkeeper at Rixby Manuel’s for many years.

Mayner was a talented woodworker and loved sharing his historical knowledge of Ville Platte. He expertly built models of several Cajun homes, a Cajun homestead, a blacksmith shop, and the Ville Platte Train Depot. Mayner also authored numerous articles for the Bonne Nouvelles capturing life in Ville Platte during the Great Depression and during World War II.

He is survived by his sons, Michael Fontenot and wife, Cathy of Ville Platte, Brent Fontenot and wife, Louise of Houston, TX, Tim Fontenot of Vidrine, and Patrick Fontenot and wife, Pam of Ville Platte; daughter, Annette Pellerin and husband, Ted of New Iberia; 10 grandchildren; 7 Great-Grandchildren; sister-in-law, Marie Ardoin of Prairie Ronde; and many nieces and nephews.

He is preceded in death by his wife, Margie Fontenot; parents, Melvin and Eula Buller Fontenot; adopted mother, Carrie Buller Bacon; brothers, Sheran M. Fontenot and Kermit Fontenot; and sisters, Willie Mae F. Benson, Ruby Verna Rougeau, and Robbie F. Deacon.

Visitation will be held at Ardoin’s Funeral Home of Ville Platte on Friday, February 11, 2022, from 4:00 PM until 8:00 PM.  A rosary will be prayed by Deacon Ben Soileau at 6:30 PM.  Visitation will resume on Saturday, February 12, 2022, from 9:00 AM until time of service.

The family would like to thank the staff at Heritage Manor in Ville Platte for their loving care throughout the past three years. There are too many nurses and aides to name them all, but the family would particularly like to thank Mona Thomas, Cynthia Franks, Daesha Arvie, and Jasmine Fontenot for everything they did for Mayner and the family, especially during the COVID shutdown. The family would also like to thank Guardian Hospice Care of Alexandria for their compassionate care provided to Mayner.

In lieu of flowers, donations can be made to Sacred Heart School Foundation or Sacred Heart of Jesus Catholic Church in Ville Platte.

Family and friends may send condolences to the family at www.ardoinfuneralhomes.com.

Ardoin’s Funeral Home in Ville Platte is in charge of arrangements.