Kevin Reid LaRousse, 54, of Beaumont, died in his home on Wednesday, March 10, 2010.
Growing up on Wyatt St. in South Park, in a neighborhood straight out of The Little Rascals, Kevin played baseball on a team that his father coached in Little League. He was a half back on the neighborhood football team, the Wyatt Street Wild Cats, with all the gang. Kevin had many adventures in life and was an avid history buff, particularly the Civil War, and enjoyed touring battlefields and playing the WWII game Axis and Allies, spending hours on end with the guys. Kevin was an avid deer hunter for many years and loved the outdoors, which he got from his beloved grandparents who preceded him in death. He spent years as a welder/pipefitter out of Local 195 working at Bethlehem Steele, building offshore oil drilling rigs and was known there as “Fuzzy” for his beard.
Kevin and his friend David (Bear) hitchhiked across the U.S. from Oregon to Texas when he was only 16 years old, and he had quite a story to tell of the trip. He had travelled to Oregon with his brother and friends and had stayed in the mountains for two weeks.
Kevin graduated from South Park High School in 1974 and was a very talented drummer in the band. He had a love of music from early childhood and throughout his life enjoyed several styles of music. Having many musician friends in Southeast Texas, he helped his brother Larry put on three bluegrass festivals in the 1970s in Arkansas on the farm for three days of music, food, and fellowship for all of their friends – their “Mini-Woodstock”.
When his brother moved back to Beaumont, Kevin and his friends formed the Texas chapter of Bullmoose, which was a group of six best friends who met every weekend to put on music parties, poker games, and the like. This was in conjunction with the Arkansas Bullmoose chapter, and the two groups had many great times camping and fellowshipping. Kevin was always a showman on stage and was known for his laughter and jokes. There was never a dull moment or sad face when he was around.
Later in life, Kevin turned to God and became an ordained minister, leading many people to the Lord. He had a calling for helping the down and out, and spent the last part of his life dedicated to that. He was loved and will be missed by many people from all walks of life.
Kevin was a loving and dedicated father of four girls, and he loved loading them up in the van and traveling with them. He always made them feel loved and special. He was a wonderful example for them of God’s grace, love, and forgiveness.
He is survived by his daughters, Jessie Thomas and her husband Brandon of Baton Rouge, Jade LaRousse and her fiancé Lyle Rayburn, Ashley Drewett, and Codi Drewett; his parents, Gene and Gloria LaRousse; brother, Larry LaRousse and his wife Mercy; sister, Suzanne Carver and her husband Freddy, all of Beaumont; sisters, Vicky Upchurch and her husband Andy, and Terri Stock, both from the Houston area; his many loving nieces and nephews, cousins, aunts and uncles; and his faithful dog, Gizmo.
Funeral service will be 1:00 p.m., Tuesday, March 16, 2010, at Central City Baptist Church with interment to follow in Forest Lawn Memorial Park under the direction of Broussard’s, 2000 McFaddin, Beaumont. A gathering of his family and friends will be 5:00 p.m. until 8:00 p.m., Monday, March 15, 2010, at Broussard’s.
All of his family wish to thank everyone who knew or met Kevin and touched his life in so many ways. We know Kevin is in heaven leading the singing, dancing, and playing of music, and we’re sure everyone there is laughing immensely with his storytelling. God Bless.
