Obituary for Leslie C. "Les" DeVall, Jr.

A Celebration of Life service for Leslie C. DeVall, Jr. will be held on Fri. August 29, 2008 at Hixson Funeral Home of Lake Charles at 5:00 p.m. with internment following in Ellisville, MS. Visitation with the family will be on Thursday August 28 from 5-8 p.m. and again on Friday from 4-5 p.m. Officiates for the service will be Dr. "Step" Martin and Dr. Charles Kimball. At age, 89, Les passed through those Heavenly gates to with his Lord on August 27, 2008. He was surrounded by his family who will miss his sweet, Christian spirit more than any words can express.

A native of Ellisville, MS, he moved to Lake Charles in 1956. He served as Head Football Coach, Assistant Professor, and Administrator at McNeese State University until he retired in 1980. Prior to his tenure at McNeese, he served in the same positions at Hinds Jr. College in Raymond, MS, William Carrey College in Hattiesburg, MS and Louisiana College in Pineville, LA.

Les received his B.S. degree from the University of Southern Mississippi in Hattiesburg and his MEd plus 30 graduate hours from Ole Miss in Oxford, MS. During World War II, he served as a naval officer in the Pacific Theater and an instructor at Northwestern Midshipmen School in Chicago, IL.

In Lake Charles, he helped to organize the McNeese 100 Club, now the Quarterback Club, and Adult Chapter for Fellowship of Christian Athletics. Before his retirement in 1980, he had been a member of Phi Delta Kappa and other professional organizations, Rotary International and the Lions club. He was a member of Sale Street Baptist church where he had been a Deacon. Among his professional honors were his inductions to four Sports Hall of Fame; They were at Hinds Jr. College, University of Southern Mississippi, McNeese State University and the National Jr. College in CA. In 1991, Les received special recognition from Wm. Carey College for organizing and initiating the college's first Men's Athletic Program. He was voted the outstanding Alumnus of the Year in 1974 at Jones Jr. College at Ellisville, MS. While coaching at McNeese, his team won four Gulf States Conference Championships.

Not only was Les DeVall outstanding in his profession but he was a "winner" with his wife, children, and grandchildren as a devoted husband, father, and grandfather. But even more important was his relationship with his Lord. When he was physically able, Les served Him in many capacities, both in the church and in the community. In all areas of his life, he exemplified a genuine winning spirit. His grandchildren thought PawPaw "hung the moon" and especially appreciated all the special times they had with him fishing, hunting, or just "hanging out". Survivors are his wife of nearly 65 years, June Schlung DeVall, son Robert L. DeVall and his wife, Charlotte of Pearl River, LA; daughter, Cynthia L. DeVall of Lafayette, LA; grandchildren, Matt Ottenweller, Jen Ottenweller, Leslie O. Karamitas, Robert S. DeVall, Stacie McCoy; and 3 great grandchildren. Preceding him in death were his parents, Leslie and Ethel Freeman DeVall, infant son L. C. DeVall, and daughter Diane D. Ottenweller.