Ray Paul Lopez

Lydia – A Mass of Christian Burial will be celebrated for Ray Paul Lopez, 86, at 2:00 pm Monday, February 9, 2015 at St. Nicholas Catholic Church. Fr. Gregory Chauvin will be the celebrant. Interment will follow in Holy Family Mausoleum with The United States Army rendering full Military Honors.

A gathering of family and friends will be held at Evangeline Funeral Home on Sunday from 4:00 pm until 8:00 pm, with the Men’s Rosary Group reciting the Rosary at 6:30 pm. Visiting hours will resume on Monday from 8:00 am until 1:30 pm.

A native of Port Arthur, Texas and resident of New Iberia, Mr. Lopez died at 6:40 p.m. on February 5, 2015 at his residence, with his family at his side.

Mr. Lopez was employed by Jack Brooks Inc. before enlisting in the United States Army at age 17. His military career included service in Japan and the Louisiana National Guard before a re-enlistment into the Army for a two tours of duty in Germany. He also served the Army in the Korean conflict. He returned to the United States in 1967 and retired from the Army in May 1968. He retired from Commonwealth Life Insurance in 1986.

He is survived by his wife of 62 years, Dot Hoffpauir Lopez of New Iberia, his son, Derral Lopez and companion Diana Sandifer and his daughter, Cheryl Barras and her husband, Taylor Barras all of New Iberia, three grandchildren, Shannon Lopez of New Iberia, Susan Lopez Mire (Brodie) of Youngsville, Alex Barras (Emily) of Baton Rouge; two great grandchildren, Parker Lopez and Christopher Mire.

He was preceded in death by his parents, Simonette and Irma David Lopez; his niece, Joy Rita Heywood; his four brothers, Pierre “TeBeb” David, Jimmy Lopez, Johnny Lopez and Lawrence “Baba” Lopez.

Members of the Fr. Polk Honor Guard will serve as pallbearers. Honorary pallbearers will be Alex Barras, Parker Lopez, Tim Hoffpauir, Jonathon Lopez, Ben Lopez, Marshall Lopez and Gilbert Frederick, Idest Leblanc, Jr., Alden Verret, and J.B. Heywood.

The family would like to express its gratitude to Dr. Janice Nugent, Dr. Burt Bujard, Staff of Hospice Compassus, his caregivers, Dianna Sandifer and Marian Boudreaux, and Gail and Gilbert Fredrick, Bobby Mooney, Vickie Rowan for their assistance during his illness.

To view the online obituary, video tribute, and to sign the guestbook please visit www.evangelinefuneralhome.com

Evangeline Funeral Home Inc. of New Iberia is in charge of arrangements.