Ed Colligan

A Mass of Christian Burial will be held Saturday, November 2, 2013 at 11:30 a.m. at Our Lady Queen of Peace Church for Ed Colligan, 87, who passed away peacefully October 24, 2013 at his residence. Father Gary Schexnayder, pastor of St. Elizabeth Seton Church, will be the Celebrant of the mass and conduct the funeral services. Interment will be in Our Lady of the Assumption Cemetery in Carencro, LA.

Survivors include his wife Edmae B. Colligan of Lafayette; three daughters, Dianne Colomb (Carol), Debra Lopez (Joseph), and Gail Maxine Navarre (Louis), all of Lafayette; one son, Donald Colligan of Lafayette; three brothers, Sylvester Peter Colligan (Orelia) of Beaumont, TX, John Colligan Jr. (Gloria) of Beaumont, TX, and Charles Colligan (Dorothy) of Sunset, LA; eight grandchildren - Dena Bly, Karen Colomb, Keidra Silverman, Treia Colomb, Maya Navarre, Joseph Lopez II, Chance Lopez, and Oliver Navarre; one brother-in-law, Paul Jean of Beaumont, TX; one sister-in-law, Mary Ann Pierre Colligan of Beaumont, TX,  and seven great-grandchildren.

He was preceded in death by his parents, the former Emma Miller and John Colligan, one brother, Paul Colligan; and two sisters, Maxine C. Jean and Yvonne Marie Colligan.

Ed was a native of Cankton and resident of Lafayette for the past 60 years. He served his country honorably in World War II in the United States Army, Pacific Theater of Operations. While in the Army, he drove for the renowned Red Ball Express, which was a trucking convoy system to supply troops during World War II. He earned the Victory Medal, Occupation Medal, Asiatic-Pacific Theater Ribbon, and the Good Conduct Medal. He served as a police officer and detective for the late Sheriff Dick Harson, and was the first Black Ambulance driver for the Charity Hospital in Lafayette. Ed retired as Head of Security for the University Medical Center. He was also a member of Knights of Peter Claver.

Pallbearers will be Chance Lopez, Oliver Navarre, Ronald Colligan, Joseph Aubry, Samuel Senegal, Paul Miller, Jr., Sharay Miller, and Edward Broussard. Honorary pallbearers include Donald Colligan, Carol Colomb, Joseph S. Lopez, Louis Navarre, Joseph Lopez, II, Sylvester Peter Colligan, John Colligan, and Charles Colligan.

The family requests that visitation be held at Walters Funeral Home from 8:00 a.m. until time of service Saturday morning. A rosary will be prayed at 9:30 a.m. at the funeral home.

View the obituary and sign the guestbook online at www.waltersfh.com.

Walters Funeral Home, 2424 N. University Ave., Lafayette, LA 70507;  337.706.8941 is in charge of arrangements.