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A Celebration of Life will be held on August 6, 2022, from 10 a.m. to Noon at the Vermilionville performance center for David Clark Hayden who died peacefully at home on July 19, 2022, at the age of 69. The family asks, in lieu of flowers, to please consider donating to Friends of the Lafayette Animal Shelter (FLASh) at www.flashlafayette.org.
David was born on April 27, 1953, in Lexington, Kentucky. He was the youngest to two older sisters and never missed an opportunity to be the quintessential annoying baby brother. This led to a lifetime of practical jokes and shenanigans that are now the stuff of legend at family gatherings. When he wasn’t up to no good, David’s parents helped him foster an interest in aviation and space. After high school, he attended A & P school in Somerset, Kentucky, where he graduated as a helicopter mechanic. With his newly acquired skills, he soon realized there were very few helicopters in Kentucky and decided to head toward the Gulf of Mexico. He built a home in Abbeville, LA where he resided for more than forty years. His tinkering was not limited to helicopters. He also held a lifelong interest in British cars. As a longtime member of the New Orleans British Motoring Club, he often traveled to various car shows and rallies frequently bringing home multiple awards. He even went so far as to hold a funkana of his own for several years. The highlight was the seesaw. Cars rolled up one side and tried to perfectly balance to win points. Almost no one succeeded which pleased him to no end.
He was rarely fulfilled unless he had a project going. After a day at work, he would come home to a car restoration or a construction build. Never one to let go of something once acquired, he found himself in constant need of more space. After outgrowing a shop with a two-car garage, he built an aircraft hangar. After outgrowing the hangar, he built a ten-car garage. At the height of his collection, he owned ten British sports cars, two tractors, a forklift, a trailer, a beat-up Suburban, and a Mazda Miata. His children were both thankful he always had a spare car to borrow, and terrified of all the things they would have to get rid of when he passed away.
When he finally settled in for the evening after his time in the shop, he was most happy with a dog in his lap. Having grown up as a staunch cat person, his love of dogs came on swiftly and abruptly. He loved time with his “snacking partner” and had a hard time sleeping without a set of paws in his back. Never one to tolerate disobedience in his children, he inexplicably adored an incessant barker who never heard a command she obeyed and thoroughly lived up to her name, Ms. Bee Havin. He was also the dogfather of Addy Belle, who asked us to note that she is nothing like her sister, and will deeply miss the shared peanut butter and jelly sandwiches every morning.
While an avid collector of car parts, aircraft parts, and various types of machinery, one of his most vast collections was that of Dad jokes. He loved a good Dad joke. He loved a bad Dad joke. He opened most conversations with the latter much to the chagrin of his wife and children. But they groaned their way through each and every one with love. He was always up for a laugh or a good time. Never one to simply hand out a Christmas gift, he often spent weeks planning elaborate scavenger hunts only to have them end in an even more elaborate wrapping job. He once wrapped his children’s presents in hundreds of layers of industrial shrink wrap and gave them each a pair of round-tip kindergarten scissors to aid in opening the gift. That was a long Christmas. His children tried to retaliate and failed miserably as he was the self-proclaimed “Smartest Man in the Whole Wide World” and thwarted their attempts to trip him up at every turn. He was a man of eclectic musical taste, incredible intelligence, a work ethic that would topple most men half his age, a constant support, a father figure to his own and many others, and a sheer force of nature. He would not look kindly on all this nonsense and fluff and would definitely say “Just tell them I died and be done with it!” To that end we conclude with:
He is survived by his wife, Menda Ballard Hayden, his daughter Cara Hayden Bacque (Stew), his daughter Rachel Patton Hayden (Brit), and his son Ian Lucus Ballard. He is also survived by his sisters JoEllen Hayden (George) and Catherine Bishop (Charles), two grandchildren, three great-grandchildren, and several nieces and nephews. He is preceded in death by his son, Shaun Grimes Hayden, and his parents Joseph and Eleanor Hayden.
A Celebration of Life will be held on August 6th from 10 am to Noon at the performance center at Vermilionville at 300 Fisher Road in Lafayette, LA 70508. Guests are free to share their favorite Dad joke, memory, story, or reading.

When Abbeville High School head football coach Roderick Moy needed someone to volunteer to move from the linebacker spot to defensive line this year as the Wildcats shift from a 3-4 defense to new defensive coordinator Tank Lotief’s 4-3/4-2-5 alignment, he had the perfect candidate in senior Tayla Wright.
Wright not only played defensive line in middle school but is also experienced and adept enough to play either position.
“Having the experience of a three-year starter helps greatly, just from being on the field,” Moy said. “Even if it’s at a different position. Having him on the defense is like having another coach on the field.”
“I played (defensive line) sometimes during practice, so I figured I was still good at it, so I moved there permanently this year,” Wright said.
He enjoys the physical aspect of the game, he said, and the move from an upright position to the line isn’t that big of a change.
“I like playing football with my brothers,” Wright said. “I enjoy the sport, coming out every morning and practicing. The hype before the games.”
Wright, 5-foot-9 and 230 pounds, helped the Wildcats make a run to the quarterfinals and finish 11-2 in 2021, the team’s best playoff finish in years. AHS also qualified for the playoffs in 2020, Moy’s first year in charge of the program.
“Also, having the experience of playing linebacker, he knows what it takes and what made it easier on him, so now he’s able to drop down and do that job for us,” Moy said. “I think it’s a very unselfish move to improve the team.”
Wright said he’d like to get in better shape and improve on his stats.
“I played the same position in the eighth grade. I played defensive end,” he said. “I had a lot of tackles during a game.”
Wright is part of the most influential senior group the Wildcats have had under Moy. He’s eager to not only duplicate last year’s success but to surpass it. Abbeville went 9-1 in the regular season, and he hopes for an even better year this season.
“I hope to go undefeated this year, make it past the quarterfinals,” Wright said. “We went far in the playoffs last year. I hope to make it to the Dome (the Caesars Superdome for the state finals at the LHSAA Prep Classic). I also hope to win all of our district games.”
That ambition is something Moy has seen in the entire senior class.
“Realistically, last year we were in the quarterfinals, so those seniors want more,” Moy said. “We have 18 seniors, and this will be their fourth year to be on the field and play for probably over half of them. Those kids want more and want to go to the next step. So if we do that, semifinals and ultimately the Dome, these seniors don’t want to lose their last game. There are only two ways to do that — win the whole thing, or not even make the playoffs, and I don’t think the latter is something we even want to think about.”
With such a big group of senior leaders, this is the time to do it, Moy said.
“If we’re going to do it, this is going to be the group to do it,” he said. “It’s now. Our time is now. We’re out of excuses. Our expiration date’s up, so if we’re going to be the best we can be, this year’s going to have to be the year for us to do it.”
The Wildcats are changing their defensive alignment this season with Lotief, former head coach at Kaplan and North Vermilion.
“Transitioning from a 3-4 to a 4-3, 4-2-5, we had to have more defensive linemen to help make that transition possible,” Moy said. “Basically, to stop people from running the ball. He’s a big, strong kid. He knows what it takes to play linebacker, and the best thing is for those defensive linemen to keep those linebackers clean. He’s willing to do what’s best for the team. That’s why we think we’ll be pretty good because we’ve got a good group of leaders in those 18 seniors.”
Wright was the right guy to make a move.
“It’s nothing foreign to him. He’s still going to have the opportunity to make plays,” Moy said. “That’s what we need. That defense is going to fly around. Another big, strong, quick kid in the front. He’s going to play the same caliber of ball that he’s always played. He’s just in a different position.”
“I like to be in the box, fighting with our opponents,” Wright said, adding that it was that same type of action he loved about being a linebacker. “Same thing, fighting with the opponents and being physical. I like both positions equally. It doesn’t matter where you put me. Wherever the team needs me, I’ll play there.”
“I just thought that was a very unselfish move in what we’re trying to build here, what’s best for the team, and that was the best example I could give,” Moy said.

ERATH — Funeral Services for Mr. Wilbert J. “Smiley” Menard, 77, will be held at 2:00PM on Thursday, July 28, 2022, at David Funeral Home Chapel of Erath with Deacon Tim Marcantel officiating. Interment and Military Honors will follow at Our Lady of the Lake Mausoleum in Delcambre.
A lifelong resident of Erath, Mr. Menard passed away peacefully on Monday, July 25, 2022, at Our Lady of Lourdes Hospital in Lafayette, LA surrounded by his family.
Everyone who knew him called him by his nickname, “Smiley,” which he received when he was a young boy. His smile and laugh would light up a room; he will be remembered by the joy and laughter he brought to everyone he met.
Smiley was a 1964 graduate of Erath High School. He enlisted in the United States Army in 1967 and was stationed in Fort Polk. He was honorably discharged from the Army and decided to finish the remaining contract with the United States Army Reserves. He managed a grocery store for years and sat on the board of councilman in Delcambre before deciding to open a night club in 1978. “Smiley’s Bayou Club” is one of the last night clubs in the area that was known for Cajun and Swamp Pop Bands providing entertainment for all. People have traveled from as far as France to visit this one-of-a-kind dancehall and it is listed in the Hall of Fame in the Acadian Museum in Erath. He had a great love for dancing and entertaining, and he enjoyed waltzing or two-stepping with anyone who would let him. He found great joy in spending time with his family that also included his “entertainment family” and friends. He also had a love for classic cars and even purchased a Chevrolet Corvette for weekend joy rides. Smiley was a dear and kind person who never met a stranger; he will be missed dearly by all who knew and loved him. Words that will forever be heard by those who loved him was, “see you later, bee. Love you big big.”
He is survived by two daughters; Celeste Gary and her husband Eddie of Delcambre, and Jessica Desormeaux Sherman and her husband Ryan of Kaplan; one son, Gage Desormeaux of Erath; one sister, Cecile Touchet and her husband Clifford of Kaplan, who he saw as a brother; five grandchildren, Keisha Stelly (Gary) and her husband Kyle, Lacey Broussard (Gary) and her husband Jake, Kyle Gary, Emma and Gracie Sherman; five great-grandchildren, Kelsie and Hunter Simmons, Eli and Kennedy Broussard, and AnnaMarie Gary; his companion and her son, Judy and Nicholas Chiasson; numerous nieces and nephews; his godchildren, Jason Babin, Jeannie Grossie, Christine Duhon, Nicole Washington, Krislyn LeBlanc, Eric Frederick; and Karl Babin, a nephew who he held dear to his heart and looked at like a son.
He was preceded in death by his parents, Eraste Menard Sr. and Olive St. Amant Menard; three brothers, Louis St. Amant, James Clifford Menard, and Eraste Menard Jr.; one sister, Mary Louise Migues; the daughter of his companion, Chelsie Miguez (his little angel); and his former wife and lifelong friend, Brenda Mendoza.
Serving as pallbearers will be Kyle Gary, Brad Bouzigard, Gage Desormeaux, Eric Frederick, Tommy Touchet, and Ryan Sherman.
Serving as honorary pallbearers will be Cy Babin, Karl Babin, Jason Babin, Jake Broussard, Eddie Gary, Louis Eddie Gary, Shane Miguez, Kyle Stelly, Clifford Touchet, and Terry Washington.
The family would like to send special thanks to the nurses, doctors, and staff in the ICU at Our Lady of Lourdes hospital. They would also like to thank Dr. Puri and Dr. Pasad for the wonderful care that was given during his final days.
The family request that visiting hours be observed at David Funeral Home - Erath, 209 Putnam St., on Wednesday, July 27, 2022, from 5:00PM until 10:00PM. Visitation will resume on Thursday, July 28, 2022, from 8:00AM until the time of services.

(The Center Square) — The Louisiana Department of Transportation and Development announced a new Strategic Highway Safety Plan this week following a record increase in fatal crashes in 2021.
Preliminary data shows a total of 971 people died in motor vehicle crashes in Louisiana last year, a 17% increase from the 828 fatalities in 2020. The jump marked the highest year-to-year percentage increase in fatal crashes since Louisiana started tracking the statistic, Gov. John Bel Edwards said.
"The statistics are alarming," said Gov. Edwards on Wednesday. "The loss of nearly 1,000 motorists on our roadways is devastating and a number that desperately needs to decrease and be nonexistent one day. With the safety strategies implemented by our agencies and safety partners, we aim to make all Louisiana public roads safer — where no one is killed or seriously injured in traffic-related crashes."
Edwards and Department of Transportation and Development Secretary Shawn Wilson highlighted the increase in traffic deaths as an important influence on an updated Strategic Highway Safety Plan unveiled last week.
The plan, updated every five years, identifies emphasis areas, strategies and tactics for reducing fatalities and serious injuries on all public roads, using input from driver behavior safety experts, engineers, law enforcement, emergency service providers and advocacy groups.
Data on contributing factors associated with fatalities and injuries led officials to focus on specific areas when updating the plan, including distracted driving, impaired driving, occupant protection, and infrastructure and operations, which involves things like lane departures, intersections and non-motorized users, according to an Edwards statement.
The plan implements strategies, focused on older and younger drivers, aimed at addressing those issues through policies, programs and projects designed to reduce crashes. The strategies are also tailored to target solutions to specific geographic areas and demographics.
"The safety of our roadways and our motorists is of the utmost importance of this Department and this Safety Plan provides quantitative data for strategies on improving the safety conditions throughout the state," Wilson said. "With the support of the Governor and our partners on the federal, state, and local levels, we continue to work towards eliminating traffic-related deaths and injuries. One death is one too many and it is our goal to reduce the number of crashes and severe injuries by 50% by 2030."
Strategies in the updated plan call for increasing education efforts and community outreach programs, strengthening laws and public policies on risky behaviors like distracted driving, increasing accountability, developing and deploying engineering solutions for crash-prone corridors, and more CarFit technicians to improve child passenger safety.
Louisiana Highway Safety Commission Executive Director Lisa Freeman described risky driving behavior as a preventable public health epidemic, and the solution centers on encouraging drivers to make the right choices.
"Unsafe driving behavior doesn’t just happen. It’s a choice — a choice between driving sober or driving impaired; a choice between driving focused or driving distracted; a choice of buckling up and driving the speed limit or being unrestrained and speeding," Freeman said. "We urge everyone to make the right choice — the only choice that gives us a chance at safely arriving at our destinations."