Tom graduated from Istrouma High School in 1955 and served in the Marine Corps and the Army. After military service, he returned to Baton Rouge and graduated from LSU in 1965. Tom was blessed in having many different careers starting in his family’s shoe store, Bob’s Juvenile Shoes. He founded Feminine Footwear in 1968 and dabbled in real estate on the side. He later became a real estate broker and developer. He was a notary public, a licensed auctioneer and developed several commercial properties and subdivisions in the Prairieville area.
He was preceded in death by his wife Melinda Varner Baudry and his parents Bob Baudry, Sr.and Thelma Breaux Baudry, her mother-in-law Peggy Varner.
He is survived by his son Kelton Crowley of Prairieville; brother and sister-in-law Bob and Prisella Baudry; nieces Ashley Varner Dunn and Stacy White; nephews Billy Varner and Cleve and Scott Bordelon; along with numerous uncles, aunts and cousins in New Orleans. He is survived by his lifelong friend and business assistant Rawndy and (Randy) Pitalo and longtime friend Buddy Gibson.
Tom was an avid boater and kept his boat in Long Beach, MS. He became a licensed U. S. Coast Guard captain in 2002 and fulfilled a lifelong dream of cruising up and down the Gulf of Mexico and going to Key West on a fabulous eighteen day trip. He loved going to Perdido Key and Destin, FL and stayed at the marinas along the way with his wife and son. He also loved Ship and Cat Islands in Mississippi and went often with fishing buddies T. J. Davis, Larry Porter and Steve Ladner. Because of his love for the water, he will be cremated and his ashes spread on the beach and Gulf of Mexico in Long Beach, MS.
There will not be a formal service but a celebration of a good life to be announced at a later date. His favorite charity is St. Jude Children’s Hospital, P. O. Box 3704, Memphis, TX 38173-9984.
Tom had a long and hard fight since 2006 with head and neck cancer and owes thanks to Dr. Andrew McWhorter and Dr. Christopher McCanless and many dedicated nurses at OLOL that helped him through countless surgeries.
He was very much loved and will be missed beyond words.
A memorial service honoring his life will be Saturday October 22, 2016, 2:00pm to 4:00pm in Ourso Funeral Home of Gonzales.
Please offer condolences to the family at www.oursofh.com. Ourso Funeral Home of Gonzales is in charge of arrangements.
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