Nov. 12, 1926 – May 13, 2019

VIDALIA— A Mass of the Resurrection for Irby Anthony Gascon Jr., 92, a resident of Vidalia for more than 56 years, who died at Monday, May 13, 2019, at Sunrise on Siegen in Baton Rouge, will be 10 a.m. Saturday at Our Lady of Lourdes Catholic Church in Vidalia.  
Burial will follow at the Natchez City Cemetery under the direction of Laird Funeral Home.
Visitation will be from 6:30 to 8 p.m. Friday at the church.
Mr. Gascon was born Nov. 12, 1926, in Plaquemine, La., the oldest child of Irby Gascon Sr. and May Cazes Gascon.
He was affectionately known as “Coonie.”
He attended Addis Levert Elementary School and graduated from Plaquemine High, where he was a member of the boxing team and band. He attended Louisiana State University before enlisting in the U.S. Coast Guard in 1944. In his early 20s, he wrote a sports column “Coonie’s Corner” for The Iberville South and was a member of jazz band, The Music Makers.
Coonie had a passion for guiding the youth in Iberville Parish. He coached for the Plaquemine American Legion baseball team, which won the Class B State Title in 1948, and whose players and coaches formed decades-long friendships. He was a volunteer fireman, member of the Louisiana State Firemen’s Association, and Jaycees. When transferred to Vidalia in 1961 with the Estate of William G. Helis, where he worked in the petroleum industry for 37 years, he continued nurturing young people by coaching Dixie Youth baseball.
A supporter of Cathedral School, he held offices in the Cathedral Athletic Association, Home School Association and was a member of the Cathedral School Board. He was also a supporter of the Natchez Swim Association in the 1980s. Cheering on his children, grandchildren and their friends in athletic pursuits brought him incomparable joy.
A faithful member of Our Lady of Lourdes Catholic Church, he served a number of years on the Parish Council and was a member and officer in the Men’s Club. Coonie was also a member of the Knights of Columbus Council 1034.
He was a lifelong fan and season ticket holder of LSU Tiger football. His love for anything LSU began as a teenager hawking CocaCola on Saturdays in Tiger Stadium.
Coonie will be remembered for his outgoing, jovial nature (for he never met a stranger) and his deep love and loyalty for his Catholic faith, his cherished wife Teedy, his family, and his many friends.
Gascon was preceded in death by his beloved wife of 72 years, Theresa “Teedy” Bradford Gascon; his parents; one sister, Beverly Allain; one brother, Barry Gascon; and special cousin, Annabell Pitre.
Survivors include three children, Karen Foley and husband, Edward, of Natchez, Kim Mascagni and husband, Charles, of Baton Rouge, and Irby Gascon III and wife, Bella, of Van Nuys, Calif; eight grandchildren, Logan Foley, Cullen Foley and wife, Sage, and Charles Mascagni III and wife, Fran, all of Baton Rouge, Kate Feltus and husband, Lane, of Natchez, Malorie Sitar and husband, Adam, of Prairieville, La., Liza Pigott and husband, Jake, of McComb, John Edward Mascagni of Ruston, La., and Sofia Gascon of Van Nuys, Calif.; four great-grandchildren, Callan, Jane, and Will Sitar, and Ellis Mascagni; and a number of nieces and nephews.
The family would like to extend special thanks to his caregivers at Sunrise and to Hospice angel Debra Braud and deacon Mike Chiappetta at Hospice in his care. Special thanks also to Dr. Kenneth Stubbs and caregivers in the early days of his declining health, Rose Williams, Deirdra Arrington, Shelia Marshall and Addie Bass.
In lieu of flowers, the family requests that memorials be made to Our Lady of Lourdes Catholic Church or Cathedral School Athletic Association.
Online condolences may be sent to the family at lairdfh.com.