Clay Chance LeBlanc
LAKE ARTHUR –Clay Chance LeBlanc, 23, of Lake Arthur was called home Sunday, July 21, 2019, at Rapides Regional Medical Center after sustaining injuries during his ride at the FFA Benefit Rodeo in Leesville.
Funeral services will be held Friday, July 26, 2019, at 11 a.m. at our Lady of the Lake Catholic Church, with Father Jay Alexius officiating.
Visitation for Clay will begin today, Thursday, July 25, 2019, at the Oustalet Center in Lake Arthur at 1 p.m. and will continue overnight until time of services on Friday. A rosary will be recited at 6 p.m. with a cowboy wake to follow.
Burial will follow in Andrus Cove Cemetery under the direction of Matthews and Son Funeral Home.
Clay was a proud graduate of Lake Arthur High School’s Class of 2014. He went on to work as a superintendent for Trahan Construction in Lake Arthur until May of 2019, leaving only to follow his dream of horse training and colt starting. Word of Clay’s gifted abilities as a trainer soon travelled throughout the Southwest, attracting over 15 bookings within a day of publicly announcing his services.
Clay had been an active member of the Cajun Rodeo Association (CRA) since 2017. He pursued the opportunity to train with Cody DeMoss, a five-time reserve champion at the National Finals Rodeo, in 2019 at the Ace High Rough Stock Academy in Greeley, Colo., which later helped carry him to second in the leaderboards among association competition. The family would like to especially thank Cody DeMoss, Rick Romero, and Mason Laviolette for their unwavering support and guidance to Clay during his saddle bronc career. His friends in rodeo cite that he will “forever be remembered for his love of the sport, big ol’ smile, and most humble spirit.”
Away from the arena, though, Pancake, as his Godchildren called him, was much more than just a cowboy. He was a son, a loving fiancé, a father, a nephew and a friend to all. He never met a stranger and always managed to light up a room with his vibrant smile and contagious laugh. “Yes ma’am, no ma’am, please and thank you,” Clay was endlessly polite with a gentle nature. He was always ready and willing to lend a hand, but never without a Dr. Pepper nearby.
Fully knowing and accepting the dangers of the rodeo lifestyle, Clay passed on to greener pastures competing in the sport he loved. At each and every ride, he was comforted by the constant presence of his fiancée, Keelie, their son, Cooper, his parents, and his padan/role model/coach/and secondary father figure, Larkie Broussard of Lake Arthur, who introduced him into the sport and stood ready to jump into the arena behind his godson at a moment’s notice.
Those left to cherish his memory are his fiancée and high school sweetheart who has stuck by his side for the last seven years, Keelie Dominique Gatte of Jennings; his son, Cooper Wayne LeBlanc; his father, Ellis Chance LeBlanc; his mother, Stephanie Broussard Turner and husband Kerry Bob of Lake Arthur; his 14 siblings of the Turner family; his maternal grandparents, Lark and Catherine Broussard of Lake Arthur; his paternal grandparents, Jane LeBlanc of Lake Charles; his three godchildren, Lane, Lillian and Amentha Broussard of Lake Arthur; his future-in-laws, Spring Clement and Keith Weekly of Lake Arthur and Kyle Gatte of Jennings; his padan, Larkie Broussard of Lake Arthur; as well as numerous other loving aunts, uncles and cousins.
Clay was preceded in death by his paternal grandparents, Danny LeBlanc of Lake Arthur and Wanda Derouen Phenice and husband Charles of Pine Island.
Carrying him to his final resting place are pallbearers Chris Zeno, Dylan Broussard, Quintin Theriot, Larkie Broussard, James Zeno and Louis Martin.
The family has selected Cooper LeBlanc, Lane Broussard, Daniel Croker, Jonny and Jeremy Kopnicky as honorary pallbearers.
In lieu of flowers, the family kindly requests donations to be made at Jeff Davis Bank under the Clay LeBlanc Memorial to ensure that his son, Cooper, may follow in his father’s footsteps someday.