Kirth Michael “Jeep” Thibodeaux, 70, a native and resident of Bayou Blue, passed away peacefully on Thursday, January 18, 2019 after a hard fought battle with cancer. Relatives and friends are invited to attend the visitation at Samart Funeral Home, 4511 West Park Avenue, Gray, LA on Monday, January 21, 2019 from 5:00 p.m. until 9:00 p.m. and on Tuesday, January 22, 2019 from 9:00 a.m. until service time at St. Louis Catholic Church in Bayou Blue. A military service conducted by the United Veterans League will begin at 10:00 a.m. at the church and the Mass of Christian Burial will begin at 11:00 a.m. with burial to follow in St. Louis Cemetery.
Jeep is survived by his loving wife, Patricia “Pat” LeBoeuf Thibodeaux, mother Audrey D. Thibodeaux, sons Todd Thibodeaux and wife Kimberly, and Chad Thibodeaux and wife Crystal, grandchildren Parrish, Gabrielle, and Emma Grace Thibodeaux, Brittany Pierre and Jamie Carrere, five great grandchildren, brother-in-law Godfrey LeBoeuf, Jr. and wife Anna, brothers Willis Cunningham, Richard Cunningham, Cleveland “C.J.” Coulon, sisters Sylvia Talbot, Dolores Coulon, Jane Coulon Brieden. He was preceded in by his father, Aaron P. Thibodeaux, mother-in-law Bernice Blanchard LeBoeuf, father-in-law Godfrey LeBoeuf, Sr., half-brothers Emile Cunningham and Johnny Cunningham, half-sisters Jennie Lee Cunningham Theriot and Theresa Coulon Ledet. Jeep proudly served his country as a medic in the Army from 1969 to 1971 and four years inactive duty in the Army reserves.
He lived his life as a devoted husband, loving father, grandfather, and friend. With his wife Pat, he ran Jeep’s Seafood for thirty years. Though he was a successful business owner he will be remembered for his ever present smile and generosity.
He was a devoted member of St. Louis Catholic Church for sixty years where he served as an usher as well as a third degree knight in the Knights of Columbus Council 7657. Jeep loved his GOD, family and friends, the Saints, and LSU in that order and beyond measure. A simple man, Jeep realized that happiness was contagious.
That lasting satisfaction comes from doing, not from having. He believed that if he could put a smile on one person’s face each day it was a day not spent in vain. He understood that feeling good about oneself comes from helping someone in need.
It doesn’t have to be someone less fortunate nor does it have to be done with great fanfare. Knowing you’ve made a difference in another person’s life is a “Wow! ” you can repeat endlessly.
When the cancer returned last year and proved to be terminal, Jeep resolved to be joyful about having had a full life, rather than sad about the prospect of death. He returned home with hospice and spent his last days in the company of family and the many friends that filled their home each day. He said that no one knows for certain how long we have here, nor can we foresee the trials or misfortunes that will test us along the way.
We cannot know what God’s plan is for us. What we can do is to live out our lives as best we can with purpose. We can use each day to show those who are closest to us how much we care about them, and treat others with the kindness and respect that we wish for ourselves.
We can learn from our mistakes and grow from our failures. And we can strive at all costs to make a better world, so that someday, if we are blessed with the chance to look back on our time here, we know that we spent it well; that we made a difference; that our fleeting presence had a lasting impact on the lives of others. That our life was pleasing to God.
This is how Jeep lived. This is his legacy. The family wishes to extend heartfelt thanks and appreciation to the Veterans Administration, the doctors and nurses of Ochsner Clinic and Hospital, St. Joseph Hospice, the Eucharistic Ministers of St. Louis Catholic Church, the Southeast Louisiana Radiation Oncology Group of Mary Bird Perkins Cancer Center, and to the multitude of friends, family, and extended family whose love, support, prayers, and encouragement sustained us during this difficult time.
Samart Funeral Home of Houma, West Park is in charge of arrangements. To send flowers or a memorial gift to the family of Kirth Thibodeaux please visit our Sympathy Store.
If you found any mistakes, or you would like to add/remove to this obituary, please contact us by email: info@obituary.memorial. We never ask money for this.
