Roger Surratt

Roger Quince Surratt, 72, died at 12:15 a.m. on February 6, 2022.

Mr. Surratt was born in Little Rock, Arkansas. He graduated from East Jefferson High School in Metairie, LA, in 1967 where he played baseball, was a member of the Key Club, a class favorite, and was a sponsor for one of the women’s sororities at Riverdale High School. He enrolled at University of Southwestern Louisiana and pledged Kappa Sigma fraternity before he was drafted into the United States Army in Vietnam in 1969. Roger served a tour of duty from 1970-1971. Upon his return from Vietnam, he completed his degree in advertising design in 1975. Throughout the next 20 years, Roger was involved in numerous civic, media, and Lafayette Mardi Gras organizations.

Mr. Surratt is survived by his three daughters: Katherine Jean Movassaghi (Eric), Elizabeth Anne Boyd (Adam), and Rebecca Lynne Hetherwick, and the mother of his daughters, Josette Cook Surratt, all of Lafayette, LA. He is also survived by his sister, Sindy Surratt-Clarkson (Dave), of Metairie, LA, and his brother, Dennis Surratt (Ann) of Morrilton, AR. He has eight grandchildren: Josie and Camille Movassaghi, Jack and Drew Snyder, Madison and Mason Boyd, and Jonah and Sam Hetherwick. He also leaves behind five nieces and nephews: Stephanie Bilbe Burkett, Harry Bilbe, and Carter Bilbe, all of New Orleans, LA, and Ashley Surratt Hoelezeman and Justin Surratt, both of Morrilton, AR.

Mr. Surratt is preceded in death by his parents, Mr. Arvil Quincy Surratt and Billie Jean Surratt, both of Morrilton, AR.

Roger was the life of the party. He was clever, charismatic, smart, and fun. He had a good sense of humor and was a talented artist, telling his daughters bedtime stories and sketching them out or hand-drawing advertising logos before digital graphic design came about. Roger loved baseball and took his daughters to many games at the Astrodome to see the Astros in the 1980s. The love of music was a part of his joie de vivre; the turntable on the record player was always moving with Roger, frequently combined with a delicious meal that he cooked. Roger loyally supported the University of Louisiana at Lafayette, its programs, and his fraternity throughout his life.

Most notably, Roger loved history, taking great pride in his family’s participation in various American wars. He was a voracious reader of history and traced his family tree through the American Revolution, the Civil War, and through his father’s participation in WWII. Ultimately, his greatest patriotic and familial tribute came from serving in the Army in the Vietnam War.

The family is very grateful for the palliative and end-of-life support of Heart of Hospice, Mrs. Maria Menard, Ms. Valerie at Right at Home, and Brandy and Taylor Oglesby, private caregivers. The family would also like to thank the Veterans Home in Jennings, LA, and the Veterans Administration, who made true on their promise to support their veterans and took care of Roger’s mental and physical issues for the rest of his life in return for his service.

Visitation will be from 2:30-4:00 p.m. at Walters Funeral Home on Wednesday, February 9 with a memorial service at 4:00 p.m. Deacon Ken Soignier will officiate the service.

Donations may be made to Disabled American Veterans by clicking here or through the gift of your time to a veteran’s organization.