Tommy Melerine

Funeral services for Tommy Melerine, Sr. of Big Bend will take place at the St. Michael Catholic Church of Rexmere on Friday, March 15, 2013, beginning at 11:00am. Visitation will be held at the St. Peter Catholic Church Hall of Bordelonville on Thursday, March 14, 2013, from 5:00pm to 11:00pm and will resume Friday morning at 8:00am. Burial services will commence at the St. Michael Cemetery.
Tommy Melerine, age 62, passed away on Monday, March 11, 2013. Tommy was an avid sportsman and showed a great passion for guns, he even owned operated his own store Big Bend Arms. His desire to hunt brought him to Big Bend where he met and married his loving wife of 26 years, Dina. All of his life he worked in law enforcement, first in St. Bernard where he was a paramedic for the police department where he later transferred to become a deputy sheriff. He trained and mentored many young men who have furthered their careers because of his knowledge of law enforcement. In his last year of work, Tommy was promoted to a management position where his superiors needed him the most as Captain Assistant, which made retiring that much easier. He is preceded in death by his parents, Clay Matherne Lucina Melerine stepfather, Johnny Melerine brother, Alton Matherne. He is survived by his wife, Dina Melerine children, Roxanne Medina, Tommy Melerine, Jr., Joseph Melerine sister, Diana Laperouse brother, Junior Matherne, Ashley Matherne, Colton Matherne, Johnny Melerine. He is also survived by his seven grandchildren one greatgrandchild.
To all who knew him, we will always remember his practical jokes, teasing and his St. Bernard slang. To those who worked with him, they were grateful to have him as a mentor. Tommy had over 40 years of law enforcement experience and will be remembered as a true professional, and a great man loved by all, and most of all a loving husband and father. He was an entertainer at heart, a lawman in life and a friend to all. We were all so happy he made Big Bend his home.