Oliver C. Houston Jr.

Ollie was born in New Orleans, Louisiana on December 16, 1926, the first child of Oliver C. Houston, Sr. and Lucille Parent Houston who resided on Esplanade Avenue at the time. A child of the Great Depression, Ollie often regaled his family and friends with tales of his antics growing up in New Orleans and the economic strain his family suffered as his father worked two to three jobs to keep food on the table.

In March of 1941 when Ollie was 14, his family moved to Leesville where his father, an electrician, helped in the building of Camp Polk (not yet Fort Polk). Always industrious, Ollie and his younger brother Gerald made pocket money selling newspapers and candy to the GI’s each morning before school. Out of pure necessity the city boy soon learned to adapt to living in the smaller, rural community and made several life-long friends from that move.

Upon graduation from Pickering High School in 1943 at the age of 16, Ollie was offered a scholarship to the Naval Academy but decided instead to join the Merchant Marines until he was old enough to proudly join the United States Army Air Corp. He later served in Germany during World War II.

In 1947 he and the love of his life, Irene (Billie) Sailers eloped, and the couple known as Billie and Ollie began what was to be a life-long love story of 61 years, witnessed by their children, grandchildren, and great-grandchildren. After their marriage Ollie attended McNeese and worked at the Cities Service Oil Refinery. There he moved from a devoted union man to management before taking early retirement in 1982 when the plant closed. The couple then moved to Colorado where Ollie worked for Union Oil before coming home to train employees and manage the start-up of the innovative Agrilectric plant for the Powell Group until his final retirement in 1996.

Ollie never met a stranger, and his and Billie’s house was always open to friends and family alike, where hosting parties and dinners became a favorite activity of theirs, along with camping with their children and friends.

Music was a huge part of Ollie’s entire life. People who knew him well knew he had an unrivaled music collection, starting with vinyls, moving to 8-track tapes, cassette tapes, and finally CD’s. It was unusual to walk into their home and not hear music. In fact, his music provided a sound track to his life and that treasure will provide comfort to his family through the coming years.

Over the years Ollie was an avid bass fisherman and devoted LSU fan. His fish stories were unrivaled as was his love for Tiger football. Another favorite hobby was traveling with Billie on vacations with their children and grandchildren, usually to Colorado which was a favorite vacation spot.

He was a devoted family man, a role model to his family in all ways, but especially when he took care of Billie himself during her last years. He was a faithful member of his church, University United Methodist Church, which he and Billie joined in 1954.

Ollie was preceded in death by his wife he adored, Irene (Billie) S. Houston, his parents Oliver C. Houston, Sr. and Lucille Parent Houston, his brothers Gerald D. Houston, Fred A. Houston, and Daniel P. Houston.

He is survived by his daughters, Brenda H. Romero (Mark) of Lake Charles, Nancy H. Ellis (David) of Baton Rouge; his four grandchildren, Laura Broussard (Craig) of Sulphur, Leisha Dent (Jared) of Katy, Texas, Jeremey Lavoi (Abby) and Miranda Lavoi, all of New Orleans; great-grandchildren, Dylan Broussard (Jasmine), Abigial and Olivia Broussard, Claire, Catherine, and Sam Dent and Lily Lavoi.

The family would like to give many, many thanks to Dr. Ron Lewis for his medical care and compassionate heart towards our dad and our family. Also thanks to Chondrika Holmes and the staff at Heart of Hospice. Most of all, a very special thanks to Ola Richard for the excellent care and sweet love she gave to our dad and to all of us.

Visitation will be Monday, April 17 from 5:00 – 8:00 p.m. at Hixson’s Funeral Home. His funeral will be held Tuesday, April 18, at 11:00 a.m. at University United Methodist Church with visitation there beginning at 9:00 a.m. Words of comfort may be shared with the family at www.hixsonfuneralhomes.com.