Clevis Eugene “Gene” Broussard, 78, originally of New Iberia, Louisiana, passed away on November 7, 2022, at his home in Bangkok, Thailand, surrounded by his loved ones. Gene was carried to his final resting place and laid to rest in a traditional Thai funeral. His friends and family in Louisiana will hold a memorial gathering in Lafayette at The Hideaway Hall, 422 Refinery Street, Lafayette, Louisiana, on Dec 21, 2022, from 5-8 pm.

Gene was born on June 28, 1944, in New Iberia, Louisiana, to Clevis Joseph “Smilin’ Bruce” Broussard of New Iberia and Marie Lucille Gautreaux Broussard, originally of Henry, Louisiana. Gene’s grandparents were Ovey and Ella Broussard of New Iberia and Eugene and Laurence Butaud Gauthreaux of Henry. Gene grew up in New Iberia on Weeks Street and attended New Iberia Senior High School where he was photographer and then editor of the school newspaper, The Grit; he graduated from NISH in 1962. He moved to Lafayette and attended the University of Southwestern Louisiana (now the University of Louisiana) where he joined Sigma Nu fraternity and became active in the Student Government Association (SGA). He was elected President of the SGA by the student body in 1967, succeeding his long time friend and fraternity brother Ted Haik, and preceding fraternity brothers Danny Abel and Ashton Mouton in successive years. At that time Gene became increasingly interested in politics, especially Louisiana politics and politicians. He was fascinated by the methods and speeches of Huey Long, Earl Long, Jimmy Davis, and Warren J. “Puggy” Moity. Emboldened by his election as SGA President, Gene considered a career in politics. He calculated that by 1988 he would be ready to run for governor of the State of Louisiana, and his motto would be “sweep the state in ‘88.” Gene was a great orator and impassioned speaker; at social events he loved to take the stage and launch into political rhetoric while his friends would sing softly, in the background, Jimmy Davis’ famous anthem, “You Are My Sunshine.”

Gene graduated from USL with a Bachelor of Arts degree in 1970. He attended law school at Loyola University in New Orleans and finished with a Juris Doctor degree in 1973; that same year he passed the bar exam and was admitted into the bar of Louisiana. He joined the law firm of Ted Haik in New Iberia and there he practiced Corporate Law, Social Security Disability Law, Property Law, and related legal activities. Later he worked for the Louisiana Department of Insurance where he served as legal counsel for receivership under Insurance Commissioner Jim Brown. Gene also worked for the Boy Scouts of America, first as a counselor at Camp Thistlethwaite, then as a regional representative for the Evangeline Area Council out of Franklin, Louisiana.

Gene was a passionate and animated friend to all who knew him. He was also known as a prankster and practical joker; many stories are told about Gene’s antics. Gene raised birds and other animals and loved to travel. He traveled often to Germany and later to Thailand, where he fell in love with the country and decided to relocate there. In Thailand he met the man who was to become his spouse, Nipon Juntharawatthanawanich; Gene and Nipon were married by a Buddhist Priest in a Temple at Doi Suthep, northern Thailand, in the winter of 2008. Their home was in Bangkok where Gene lived with Nipon, and their constant companion Pinyo Phophanmuan, until his death on November 7, 2022. Gene returned to Louisiana several times in those years, most recently during what turned out to be the COVID pandemic years; he returned to Thailand in mid-2022, and died unexpectedly there in November of the same year. Gene will be greatly missed by his many friends and relatives. All are invited to come to the gathering on December 21 to honor his memory and celebrate his life. 

Send to someone

Share this obituary with others

https://everloved.com/life-of/clevis-broussard/obituary/

Copy