Robert Escude'

Robert Landry Escude, age 68, entered eternal life on Good Friday, March 21, 2008, at Christus St. Francis Cabrini Hospital in Alexandria, La after a lengthy illness. He was the beloved husband of Ursula Miller Escude for 47 years. He is also survived by three sons, David Robert Escude and his wife, Caroline, of Baton Rouge, Stephen Charles Escude and his wife, Lisa, of Schertz, Texas, Wayne Christopher Escude and his wife, Tina, of Eunice, and his daughter Stephanie Lynn Escude Brochard and her husband, Chad Brochard of Mansura; five grandchildren, Christina Escude Thornton, and husband Travis, Theresa Carol Escude, Haley Marie Escude, Julien Michael Brochard and Zachary Robert Brochard; and one great grandchild, William Alexander Thornton. Preceded in death by his parents, Landry Leon Escude and Dorothy Duff Escude, and one son, Michael Jude Escude of Mansura. Born and reared in Mansura, Robert graduated from Mansura High School, attended Louisiana State University in Baton Rouge where he was a member of the marching band during the 1958 national championship season, graduated with a B.S. degree in mathematics and PE from Northwestern State University, and a masters degree in mathematics from Randolph Macon College in Lynchburg, VA. Robert was a teacher and coach in Houma, Walker and Fifth Ward. He was a teacher, coach and counselor in Mansura. He won numerous district championships as well as coach of the year. He initiated the Functional Math Club and instituted the Youth Tutoring Youth YTY Program, now used in most Avoyelles Parish schools. He started the first tennis program in the parish at Mansura High School. While at Mansura High School, after a 50-year hiatus, he spearheaded a charge to restart football at his old high school and watched it grow into a district championship team. He also served as the athletic director. Robert also taught at Louisiana Business College and Plaucheville Elementary. He later served as principal at St. John Berchmans Cathedral School in Shreveport, LA where he instituted a Spanish, art and music program. He helped organize and start the Stars of Coteau Basketball Camp and served as counselor and head of personnel in Grand Coteau, LA. His teaching career spanned over 30 years. He served as Conchon-de-Lait Festival chairman, a member of the Town of Mansura Planning Commission, Mansura Chamber of Commerce, serving as president, Mansura Lions Club, serving as president, Louisiana Coaches Association, Louisiana Teachers Association and the Avoyelles Retired Teachers Association. He was a member of LAENEA and was past chairman of the Avoyelles Teacher Budget Committee. He was a member of the Mansura Volunteer Fire Department as treasurer. He initiated and served as first president of the parents chapter of The National Federation of the Blind of Louisiana. He also taught beginner and adult swimming lessons and coached summer Little League baseball. Robert was a member of St. Pauls Catholic Church in Mansura where he served as a member of the Parish Council, a trustee, KC Grand Knight, St. Pauls Church fair chairman, and served on the Parish Finance Council. While in Shreveport, he was a member of St. Johns Cathedral and a member of the KCs. He touched many lives in the classroom, on the court, and on the field. His greatest joy was when students returned home and visited to give him thanks for the time he spent teaching, coaching and mentoring them into contributing adults. Relatives and friends are invited to attend a mass of Christian burial at St. Pauls Catholic Church in Mansura, LA on Tuesday, March 25, 2008 at 1:00 p.m, Father August Thompson officiating, followed by internment at St. Pauls Cemetery under the direction of Escude Funeral Home, Mansura, LA. Visitation will begin at 12:00 p.m. at St. Pauls Catholic Church. In lieu of flowers, the family requests that memorial donations be made to the KC Auxiliary of St. Pauls Catholic Church, P.O. Box 504, Mansura, LA 71350 or the Lupus Foundation, 12090 S. Harrells Ferry Road, Q, Baton Rouge, LA 70816.