Douglas Elias Ashy, Sr. Obituary - Visitation & Funeral Information

A Mass of Christian Burial will be held on Saturday, February 19, 2022 at 11:00 AM in the Cathedral of St. John the Evangelist for Douglas Elias Ashy, Sr., 91, who passed away peacefully on Monday, February 14, 2022 at Our Lady of Lourdes Regional Medical Center surrounded by his family. Interment will be in Calvary Cemetery. The Most Reverend J. Douglas Deshotel, DD, Bishop, Diocese of Lafayette, will be the Celebrant of the Funeral Mass. Reverend F. Hampton Davis will concelebrate. The family requests that visitation be observed in Martin & Castille's DOWNTOWN location on Friday from 4:00 PM to 8:00 PM and will continue on Saturday from 8:00 AM until 10:30 AM. A Rosary will be prayed Friday evening at 6:00 PM in Martin & Castille Funeral Home. Left to cherish his memory is his loving wife of 70 years, Ena Claire Moss Ashy; his children, Douglas Jeffery Ashy, Jr. and wife, Ginger, Steven Mitchell Ashy, Sr. and wife, Debbie, and Kenneth David Ashy and wife, Dedra; his grandchildren, Douglas “D.J.” Jeffery Ashy, III (Konni), Jill Ashy Desormeaux (Adam), Lauren Ashy Laborde (Gibson), Steven Mitchell Ashy, Jr. (Whitney), Michael Roy Ashy, Jacey Ashy Simon (Jude), Kristi Ashy Broussard (Beau), and Cullan David Ashy; great-grandchildren, Anna Claire Ashy, Emily Ashy, Douglas Ashy, IV, Paige Desormeaux, Eli Desormeaux, Madison Laborde, Grayson Laborde, Elizabeth Laborde, Steven "Sam" Ashy, III, Grace Ashy, David Ashy, Anthony Simon, Jace Simon, Kylie Broussard, and Briggs Broussard; his sister, Essie Ashy Deshotels; his brother-in-law, Jefferson Moss, Jr. (Becky). He was admired and known by his grandchildren and great grandchildren as “Popper”. He was preceded in death by his parents Mitchell Alexander Ashy and Adele Ashy; his grandson, David Gabriel Ashy; his siblings, Ned Ashy and Judie Ashy; his mother-in-law, Ena Chauvin Moss and father-in-law, Jefferson J. Moss, Sr.; his sisters-in-law, Joy Schexnyder and Amiee Kolstad; his brothers-in-law, Ed Gates, Don Deshotels, Warman Schexnyder, Sr. and John Kolstad. Doug was born in Ville Platte, Louisiana in 1930 and moved to Lafayette at the age of two. He attended and graduated from Lafayette High School where he met Claire, his high school sweetheart and the love of his life. In high school, he excelled in football as a running back. After graduation, he attended Spencer’s Business College where he earned his Associate Degree. Doug then married Claire, his supportive and beautiful wife on May 6, 1951. Doug worked in the building materials industry for Krause and Manigan and Gossen Lumber for several years where he discovered his passion of building materials. With his entrepreneurial spirit at the young age of 30, he opened his first lumberyard, Doug Ashy Lumber in 1960 with four employees and one truck in a small location. After a fire in 1962, which destroyed his first lumberyard, his own competitors, customers and friends came to his aid to assist him in rebuilding the current Doug Ashy Building Materials, Inc. After retiring, he was extremely proud of his three sons who managed and grew the business and continued his legacy. To date, the company has expanded to 8 locations with over 300 employees and is operated by the 3rd generation of Ashys. In addition to Doug serving as President and Chairman of the Board of his own company, he was very active in many organizations. He was proud to be among one of the original founders of the Acadian Home Builders Association, where he served terms as President and sat on the Board of Directors for 48 years. Doug served as chairman for numerous organizations including United Givers Fund, Goodwill, Better Business Bureau, Lafayette Juvenile Young Adult Program, Lafayette Association for Retarded Citizens (LARC), and various others. Doug helped organize St. Joseph Diner and St. Joseph Shelter for Men. He was also a charter member of the St. Jude Dream Home Giveaway. Doug also served as President or Chairman of the Board of Directors of various local, state and national lumber and building material dealer associations. Several cherished awards include the recipient of the Civic Cup Award for Lafayette in 1987 and the Leadership in Philanthropy Award for Lafayette Parish in 2021. Doug supported many other charities and would seldom say no to any worthy cause. Doug was a devout Catholic and a parishioner of the Cathedral of St. John the Evangelist Church. Near and dear to his heart was The Equestrian Order of the Holy Sepulcher of Jerusalem and served as a Grand Knight Cross. He had a unique laugh that was contagious and will be remembered by all who knew him. Doug and Claire were blessed and enjoyed traveling extensively throughout the United States and to many other countries. He also enjoyed adventures with his family traveling through multiple states in the family camper, which was a converted book mobile. He also enjoyed playing tennis, golf, fishing and exercising at Red Lerille’s Health Club. Later in life, he enjoyed attending his grandchildren’s and great grandchildren’s activities and special events. To all who knew him, Doug was recognized for his outstanding character. He was a very honest and humble man of great integrity. He never met a stranger and greeted everyone with a friendly smile. He was also very humorous and loved making everyone laugh by telling a good joke. He was an inspiration to his family and a mentor to many others. Doug never had an agenda and was always cheerful, helpful and caring. He lived a storied, long exuberant life worthy of celebrating. Deeply loved by so many, he will be terribly missed. Pallbearers will be Douglas “D.J.” Ashy, III, Steven Ashy, Jr. Michael Ashy, Cullan Ashy, Jude Simon, Adam Desormeaux, Beau Broussard, and Gibson Laborde. Honorary Pallbearers will be Jefferson Moss, Jr., Jerry Habbit, Greg Bordelon, Randy Calais, Alfred “Fredo” Toma, Jr., Richard DeBoisblanc and Warman "Jay" Schexnyder, Jr. Memorial contributions can be made in Mr. Ashy's name to St. Jude Children's Research Hospital, 501 St. Jude Place Memphis, TN 38105, www.stjude.org or Hospice of Acadiana, 2600 Johnston Street, Suite 200 Lafayette, LA. 70503, www.Hospiceacadiana.com. A heartfelt appreciation is extended by the Ashy family to the caring staff of Our Lady of Lourdes Regional Medical Center, Dr. Angela Snow, and his compassionate caregivers of Devoted Hands. The family would like to thank Barbara Guidry and Betty Olivier for their life-long love and friendship. We would also like to thank the management and employees of Doug Ashy Building Materials, Inc. and customers for their loyalty and support throughout the years. View the obituary and guestbook online at www.mourning.com Martin & Castille-DOWNTOWN-330 St. Landry St., Lafayette, LA 70506, 337-234-2311

Douglas Elias Ashy, Sr.

July 2, 1930 - February 14, 2022

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