Donald Dean Akers Sr.
St. Martinville – A Memorial Mass will be held Friday, March 8, 2024, at 11 a.m. at St. Martin de Tours Catholic Church in St. Martinville honoring the life of Donald Dean Akers, Sr. where he was a lifelong parishioner and Eucharistic Minister. He died at his residence in St. Martinville on Friday February 16, 2024.
Msgr. Keith Derouen will officiate with scriptures read by Donald Akers, Jr. and Jackie Patterson. Gift bearers will be his grandsons, Miles and Ty Daigle and music will be provided by Patrick Melancon, director of music.
He was born on March 1, 1931, at Pointe Claire to Clyde Francis Akers, Sr. and Estelle Oubre Akers. He was a lifelong resident of St. Martinville and graduated from St. Martinville High School where he was a proud member of its 1948 State High School Football Championship Team, the final year of six man football in the state.
He was a proud veteran of the United States Air Force having served at bases in Vermont, Colorado, Japan and Korea during the Korean War. He was a long-term member of the local VFW and the American Legion posts. It was in the Air Force that he trained for his future occupation in aviation, working for Petroleum Helicopters, Inc. in Lafayette and retiring from Air Logistics, Inc. in New Iberia.
He was very civic minded and served as president of the Woodmen of the World, the St. Martinville Jaycees and the St. Martinville Rotary Club where he was actively involved in its Mardi Gras Balls. He loved his community and was always promoting his hometown. He often greeted tourists and gave them tours of St. Martin de Tours Church, the Evangeline Oak and Acadian Memorial complex. In his retirement he was an active member of the St. Martin Parish AARP and a regular participant at St. Martin Parish Council on Aging events where he enjoyed playing bingo, having lunch and visiting with other members.
He is survived by his wife of 68 years, Shirley D’Albor Akers with whom he traveled the world. He was the proud father of Donald Dean Akers, Jr., Janet Akers Daigle and Kathryn Akers Easterly (Glenn) and doting grandfather of Miles Michael Daigle and Ty John Daigle who survived him. He is survived by his sister, Audrey Akers Viator and numerous nieces and nephews.
He was preceded in death by his parents, his brothers, Clyde Francis Akers, Jr. and James Brian Akers, his son-in-law, Mike Daigle and his mother-in-law, Olympe Beslin D’Albor.
The Akers family is grateful to Jackie Landry Patterson, his devoted caregiver, Dr. Michael Alexander, his long-time physician and St Joseph’s Hospice.
Military honors will be conducted. In lieu of flowers, the family requests donations to charitable organizations of your choice in his memory.
(Pd.Adv.)