J.J. “Desi” Deshotels

J.J. “Desi” Deshotels, 81, of Nederland, died Sunday, May 15, 2011, at the Medical Center of Southeast Texas.  Born December 6, 1929, in Ville Platte, Louisiana, to Inez Doucet Deshotels and Berkmans Deshotels, he was a resident of the area for seventy-five years.  J.J. was a retired pipefitter from Gulf Oil after thirty-three and a half years of service, and was a United States Air Force veteran. He was a student participating in the first graduating class of Bishop Byrne High School, in 1949, and also a member of the Knights of Columbus, William Brooks Council, and the American Legion.

J.J. was a great husband, father, grandfather and a Christian man. He was known as someone who enjoyed bowling and working on computers;  but most of all, J.J. loved to watch his grandsons play ball, and listening to good Cajun music.

He is survived by his wife, Patsy Deshotels, of Nederland; children, Russell J. Deshotels and his wife, Annette of Cleveland, Texas, Nancy Sosa and her husband, David of Nederland, Elizabeth “Liz” Clayton and her husband, Darrell of Kirbyville, and Patricia Collier and her husband, Jackie of Nederland; grandchildren, Angela Reeves, Catherine Bornette, Ashley Deshotels, Alyssa Leathers, Joseph Deshotels, Michael Deshotels, Patrick Collier, Matthew Collier, Nicholas Collier, and Zachary Collier; and great grandchildren, Sara Deshotels, and Keegan Leathers.

J.J. is preceded in death by his parents, Inez and Berkmans Deshotels.

A Mass of Christian Burial will be celebrated 2:00 p.m. Wednesday, May 18, 2011, at St. Charles Borromeo Catholic Church, 211 Hardy Avenue, Nederland followed by burial at Greenlawn Memorial Park, Groves under the direction of Broussard’s, 505 12th Street, Nederland.  A gathering of his family and friends will be from 5:00 p.m. until 9:00 p.m. with a Rosary recited at 7:00 p.m. Tuesday, May 17, 2011, at Broussard’s.