Claude grew up in Glencoe, Louisiana working at his family's grocery store, Savoie Mercantile, hunting in the bayous and playing lots of baseball. He attended Hanson Memorial High School in Franklin and then LSU where he made the baseball team. Later, Claude achieved his MBA from the University of Louisiana at Lafayette. He remained a diehard LSU Tiger fan his entire life.
Following a brief stint in the oil field, he established Royal Chemical Company manufacturing chemicals to serve the oil and shipping industries around the world. Owning Royal Chemical for 25 years, Claude met and worked with some of his best friends, enjoyed business success in American and abroad and developed many chemicals still in use today. During that period, Claude, his wife Paula, and children Mignon, Neil, Layne and Paige lived on the West Bank. As devout Catholics, the family were members of St Andrew the Apostle parish. He played golf regularly at Lakewood, English Turn and later, Barton Creek in Austin, making many lifelong friends along the way. After selling his company and retiring, Claude and Paula moved to Austin Texas where he enjoyed 35 years of retirement pursuing hobbies and visiting with family and friends in Louisiana and Texas.
Claude was a devoted husband, loving father, and friend to many. His many “Claude-isms”, Cajun expressions, funny stories, patriotism, fierce love of family, EARLY morning phone calls, incredible work ethic, intense personality, loyalty to friends, enthusiasm for everything related to his grandchildren, crazy eating habits, “bull in a china shop” nature and love for storytelling will be remembered by all who knew him and sorely missed by those who loved him.
Claude is survived by his wife of 60 years, Paula; his daughter, Mignon Kohnke and her husband Shawn; his son, Neil Savoie and his wife Carolyn; his son, Layne Savoie and his wife Amy; his daughter, Paige Lay and her husband Carl; his grandchildren Bella and Emily Kohnke; Chase Savoie; Isaac and Joseph Savoie; and Tatum and Whitney Lay.
A celebration of Claude’s life will be held in New Orleans in Fall of this year.
COMPARTA UN OBITUARIOCOMPARTA
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