Ernest Lester Badgett, Jr., of Port Arthur, TX, passed away on Friday, August 27, 2004 at age 78 at the Serenity House, after a lengthy battle with Alzheimer’s disease. He was born on March 29, 1926 in Port Arthur to E.L. Badgett, Sr. and Ida Perry Watts and raised by his mother and stepfather Roy Dawson. He and his wife, Shirley, owned Roy’s Western Wear, a Port Arthur landmark, which they and their children operated for 55 years. Lester was a loving, caring husband, father, and grandfather, and found great happiness and joy in the success of his entire family.
He attended Port Arthur Schools and was given an early graduation from Thomas Jefferson High school because of WWII, when he entered the U.S. Navy in March, 1944. He served for a continuous 19 months aboard the heavy cruiser U.S.S. Appalachian as a Coxswain. The Appalachian saw action in the Pacific Theatre and the Philippines, and for a time was Admiral Hasley’s Flag Ship. Lester’s campaign awards included the American Area Campaign, Asiatic Pacific Area, World War II Victory medal, and the Philippine Liberation medal. He was honorably discharged in May 1946.
Lester was a member of the VFW and was a former officer of the BPO Elks Lodge of Port Arthur. He was also a founding father of the Jefferson County Sheriff’s Posse and was a member of their Drill team for a number of years.
He is survived by his wife of 56 years, Shirley Badgett of Port Arthur; a son David Badgett and his wife Rochelle; four daughters and their husbands; Cheryll and Mike Moreau, of Bridge City, TX; Linda and Hugh Ledbetter of Houston, TX; Leslie and Rick Lawson of Houston, TX; and Tracie and Lance Billeaud of Groves, TX. He is also survived by 13 grandchildren, 15 great grandchildren, and a sister Betty Noack of Groves, TX.
A Mass of Christian Burial will be 10:00 a.m. Monday, August 30, 2004 at St. Charles Borromeo Catholic Church in Nederland with Msgr. Kenneth Greig, and Rev. Shane Baxter officiating. Interment will follow at Greenlawn Memorial Park in Groves, under the direction of Broussard’s Mortuary in Nederland. A gathering of family and friends will be from 5 to 8 p.m. Sunday with a scriptural rosary to be held at 6:00 pm. at the mortuary. Pallbearers will be grandson’s Travis Lawson, Kasey Deitz, Matt Badgett, Bryan Carruth, Troy Carruth, Chad Thibodeaux, Rodney Lewis and Kenny Franklin.
The family request that, in lieu of flower’s, donation’s can be made to the Alzheimer’s Association, 2909 W. Holcombe Blvd, Houston, TX 77025-9992, or to Family to Family Network, 13150 FM 529 ST. 106, Houston, TX 77041, or Cure Autism Now, 5455 Wilshire Blvd #715, Los Angles, Ca 90036.
The family would like to express sincere appreciation to the staff at Serenity House and Southeast Texas Hospice for the compassionate care given to Lester during his illness.
Broussard’s Nederland
505 12th Street
Nederland, Texas 77657
(409) 722-3456
broussardsmortuary.com
