2 Timothy 4: 7-8 “I have fought the good fight, I have finished the race, I have kept the faith. Henceforth there is laid up for me the crown of righteousness, which the Lord, the righteous judge, will award to me on that day, and not only to me but also to all who have loved his appearing.”
At home, surrounded by his four children and daughter-in-law, Murphy R. Naquin took his last breath at 4:06 a.m. on Tuesday, January 23, 2024. Born nearly 100 years ago in Labadieville, LA on September 18, 1924 during Calvin Coolidge’s first term as President and lived through the Great Depression. He served during WWII as PFC in First Army, Troop E of the 38th Cav. Recon. Squadron during the Campaign of Western Europe. He was a light tank crewman and loader/assistant tank driver of “El Toro”. He served from July 26, 1943 (age 18) to November 1, 1945. He and the 38th Cav. Recon. Squadron crossed Omaha Beach, Normandy on June 12, 1944 (D-Day +6). Their campaigns included Normandy, Northern France, Ardennes, Rhineland, and Central Europe. They were the first American unit to have entered Paris and, in our father’s own words, the liberation of Paris was an event to be remembered. He compared the jubilation of the Parisians to the likes of parade-goers in New Orleans during Mardi Gras. He fought in the Battle of the Bulge where more than 19,000 Americans were killed. He married the love of his life, Elsie, on August 4, 1951 and had four children Barbara Parta, Brian Naquin (Cindy), Tammy Jordan (Randy), and Trudy Ernst (Peter). He is survived by his children, grandchildren (Celeste, Eric, Blake (Michelle), Philip, Brent (Destiny), Laura, and Bryce), great-grandchildren (Cameron, Mallory, Casen, Murphy, and Hunter), and brother, Irvin. He was preceded in death by his wife, Elsie, his parents, Joseph and Ora Naquin, his grandson, Brian Naquin, Jr., and siblings Joseph, Jr., Louis, Cedric, Shirley, and Elsie. While he grew up in Assumption Parish, he was a long-time resident of Metairie but lived in Chackbay with his son and his family since August, 2021. He was a machinist by trade and retired from Prager, Inc. He was a man of many talents—wood carving, writing, drawing and painting and his favorite pastime was reading historical non-fiction. He knew something about almost everything. He was a gentleman who was loved dearly and will be forever missed by his family.
Relatives and friends are invited to attend the services at Leitz-Eagan Funeral Home 4747 Veterans Blvd. in Metairie on Monday, January 29th. Visitation will begin at 11 a.m. and continue until funeral mass at 1 p.m. Interment will take place in Garden of Memories Cemetery. Family asks that you please share your memories and condolences.
