Daniel “Danny” James Melancon, 76, Bunkie
A Mass of Christian Burial will be offered for Daniel “Danny” James Melancon on Saturday, June 22, 2024 at 10:30 a.m. at the Church of the Little Flower in Evergreen, LA with Msgr. Stephen Scott Chemino officiating. Burial in Bayou Rouge Baptist Cemetery will be at a later date. Arrangements are under the direction of Melancon Funeral Home.
The family requests that visitation be observed at Melancon Funeral Home of Bunkie on Friday, June 21, 2024 2:00 p.m. until 8:00 p.m., with a Rosary at 4:00 pm. Visitation will resume Saturday morning at 9:00 am at the Church of the Little Flower until the funeral mass.
Daniel “Danny” James Melancon, age 76, of Bunkie, passed away peacefully at his home on Wednesday, June 12th, 2024. Danny was born October 18, 1947 in Kinder, Louisiana to Dr. James and Mary Virginia Buck Melancon.
It is difficult to put into words all that he meant to his family, friends and community. Danny’s loyalty and kindness were seen at an early age so it was no surprise when he became an Eagle Scout, an achievement reached by only four percent of Boy Scouts. Along with his brother, Tucker, he attended the Boy Scout World Jamboree in Greece in 1963. The Boy Scouts would play another important role in his life by introducing him to the mortuary profession at a career day at the age of fourteen. After returning to settle in Bunkie with his family, he served as Scoutmaster, helping numerous boys gain the rank of Eagle Scout. The characteristics of an Eagle Scout would live in Danny throughout his life.
In the summer of 1965 Danny’s life forever changed when Margie Bordelon had a flat tire in front of his father’s veterinarian office. That flat tire resulted in Danny marrying the love of his life six years later on a hot August afternoon. And as they say….the rest is history!
Danny graduated from Bunkie High School in 1966. After excelling in high school football he continued playing on the collegiate level for the University of Louisiana in Lafayette where he was also a member of Lambda Chi Alpha Fraternity. Danny moved from Lafayette to Houston, TX, where he continued his studies at the Commonwealth College of Science. He graduated in 1971 with a degree in mortuary science. This would become his life’s vocation and he would be quoted throughout the years saying, “It’s an honor to help someone in their greatest time of need.”
Danny and Margie relocated to Bunkie in 1973 where they raised their two sons and became integral members of the community. After moving back to Bunkie, Danny’s entrepreneurial spirit would lead him to build his business from the ground up. In 1977 Melancon Funeral Home opened its doors and would go on to serve the community of Bunkie for almost 47 years and counting.
Danny’s passion for community and service will be remembered through his involvement with the Bunkie Rotary Club as a Paul Harris Fellow and past president, Bunkie Chamber of Commerce member and past president, Bunkie City Council, Bunkie Housing Authority, Knights of Columbus, St. Anthony of Padua Catholic Church, Louisiana Funeral Director Association and the Southwest Louisiana Funeral Directors Association.
Danny knew the power of a good embrace. He always welcomed others with a tight hug that included a kiss on the cheek! From the Avoyelles Entourage to foreign exchange students and everyone in between, Danny never met a stranger and once you were acquainted you were family. His friendships were lifelong and his adventures were legendary. As his closest friends say, “The really good stories are those that can’t be repeated!” To say he lived a full life would be an understatement. He was the ultimate host that believed good times included a cold cocktail, old stories and excellent music!
Despite Danny’s many accomplishments, his greatest pleasure was spending time with his family. Watching his family grow would be his greatest joy. Danny will be remembered as an outstanding husband, father, grandfather, brother, friend and businessman. His generosity and kindness were his trademarks. Danny’s great sense of humor, love for life and desire to help others will be long remembered and sorely missed by all.
He is preceded in death by his parents, Dr. James Lee Melancon and Mary Virginia Buck Melancon; stepmother, Mary Virginia Marchive Rabalais Melancon "MaeMae"; sister, Claire Rabalais Tubre; and Ethel Ambers, who was a part of the Melancon family for two generations.
Those left to cherish his memory include his loving wife of fifty-two years, Marjorie Bordelon Melancon of Bunkie; his two sons, Daniel Melancon, Jr (Elizabeth) of Lake Charles, LA and David Melancon (Meredith) of Alexandria, LA; and his three beloved grandchildren, Caroline Melancon of Lake Charles and Larsen and Eleanor Melancon of Alexandria. Also surviving are Danny’s siblings Judge Tucker Melancon (Diana) of Santa Fe, NM; Suzanne Melancon Dicharry (Thomas) of Bunkie, LA; Earl Rabalais (Christine) of Bunkie, LA; Yvonne Rabalais Tubre (Thomas) of Natchitoches, LA; and Rodney Rabalais of Marksville, LA: as well as numerous nieces, nephews, great nieces and great nephews.
Honored to serve as Pallbearers are Paul Bordelon, Andre Dicharry, Tucker Dicharry, Andrew Gilly, Leigh Gilly, Martin Gilly, Stuart Gilly, Aaron Lemoine, Peter Normand and Philip Reynolds.
Danny expressed a sincere desire in helping others; and in that spirit, the family asks that in lieu of flowers, memorials be made in his memory to St Jude - 501 St. Jude Place - Memphis, TN 38105 or www.stjude.org or a charity of your choice.