KINDER — Deacon Roy T. Nash, 68, of Kinder, LA, surrounded by his family, passed away peacefully on Saturday, January 13, 2024. A Mass of Christian Burial for Deacon Nash was celebrated on Saturday, January 20, 2024, at St. Philip Neri Catholic Church. Rev. Fr. Alan Trouille was the celebrant. His Excellency, The Most Reverend Glen John Provost, Bishop of Lake Charles, attended “in choir” and gave the final commendation. The Rite of Committal followed at Green Oak Cemetery.
All of Deacon Nash's arrangements were entrusted to the care of Ardoin/Allen Parish Funeral Home of Kinder.
Deacon Nash was born December 15, 1955, in Warwick, VA. He was raised in Burr Ferry, LA and was educated at Evans High School, where he had fond childhood memories and enjoyed playing his first loved sport, basketball. He graduated from Anacoco High School in 1973. Deacon Nash moved for work to Cameron, in 1974, where he would find the love of his life, Brenda LaLande. They were married June 14, 1975, the same year he began working at Conoco Phillips.
He lovingly raised his family working diligently for that company for 37 years. In Cameron he discovered his second loved sport, football. He enjoyed watching his nephew, Gabe, play for South Cameron High School where he began following the team, coaching his son, Ryan in elementary school not only in football, but also basketball and boys’ softball. He started filming for the South Cameron High School Tarpons in 1985 and continued on until Hurricane Rita hit in 2005. In November of 2005, he relocated his family to Kinder, and began filming for the Kinder High School Yellow Jackets in 2007.
He proudly watched the games of his sons and his grandboys through the lenses of those cameras. Deacon Nash loved working in his yard, gardening, and spending time with his family, but his true passion was his faith and sharing it with the people around him. Deacon Nash came into the faith on July 18, 1982, under the well-formed mentoring of Monsignor Curtis Vidrine at Our Lady Star of the Sea Catholic Church in Cameron. He served as an Extraordinary Minister of Communion, and he was also a member of the Knights of Columbus where he served as a Grand Knight for several years, as well as being a member of Monsignor Cramers Fourth Degree Assembly.
His deep conversion came while making a Cursillo on Pentecost weekend in May of 1998. From that conversion he felt a call and began studying to become a permanent deacon being ordained on December 1, 2001. He was appointed to Our Lady Star of the Sea and served faithfully until Hurricane Rita in September of 2005. He was generously welcomed into St. Philip Neri Catholic Church in Kinder and was appointed there at the end of 2005. He taught religious education, led the RCIA program, served in various food banks and distributions, started a men’s prayer group, served with the Knights of Columbus as Recording Secretary, organized home bound Communion, ministered in the local nursing homes, served on many A.C.T.S. retreats, served as a spiritual director on Teen A.C.T.S and gave countless charitable works.
He boldly shared the Faith with his brothers and sisters at the Cursillo Center for many years. He loved serving God’s people. He was overjoyed when St. Philip Neri invited him to work full time for the church after retiring from Conoco Phillips Refinery in 2012. His tireless work will be truly missed by so many, and his family prays that the fruits of it will continue on in the lives of others.
Those who are left to cherish his memory are his precious wife of 49 years, Brenda LaLande Nash of Kinder, daughter, Hope Nash January and husband Ronald of Kinder, son, Ryan Nash and wife Angie of Kinder, grandchildren, Taylor (Chad) Carnahan of Lake Charles, Holden January of Kinder, Alec January of Metairie, LA, Dillon (Haley) Nash of Kinder, Grace (Geno) Richmond of Scott, LA, Blaze January of Lake Charles, Kylie Nash, Remy January, Elly Nash, Sam Nash, and one like a granddaughter, Jaylen Brock all of Kinder; great-grandchildren, Christopher, Colton, Adilynn Nash, and baby Richmond soon to come; his father, Therman Nash of Burr Ferry; his brother, Harvey and wife Brenda Nash of Burr Ferry, his sister, Darlene and husband Mike Moses of DeRidder,; his sister, Dianne and husband Randall Gibson of Leesville, LA; his sister, Tawanaka Nash of Rosepine; his brother, Jesse and wife Rose Nash of Burr Ferry, LA; brother-in-law, Bobby and wife, Bernice LaLande of Lake Charles, and a host of aunts, nieces, nephews and great nieces and great nephews he loved.
Deacon Nash was preceded in death by his mother, Margie Dowden Nash; mother-in-law, Olive V. Castaine; father-in-law, Richard “Doc” Castaine; and brother-in-law, Deil LaLande.
Eternal rest grant unto him, O Lord, and let perpetual light shine upon him. May the souls of all the faithful departed, through the mercy of God, rest in peace. ~Amen~
