Funeral Services Set Tuesday For LQHBA Past President Rodney Verret

Funeral services will be held Tuesday, October 1, for long-time Opelousas, Louisiana resident Rodney Verret.

© Walters Funeral Home

OPELOUSAS, LA–SEPTEMBER 28, 2024–Funeral services will be held Tuesday, October 1, for former LQHBA President Rodney Verret, 87, who passed away at his Opelousas, Louisiana home on September 26.

Services will begin at 2:00 p.m. in the Sunrise Chapel at Walters Funeral Home. Beau Dore, pastor of People's Church in Oklahoma City and Rodney's nephew, will conduct the funeral services. Charlene Howard, a special friend of Rodney's, will be the soloist.

Visitation hours are Monday, September 30, from 9:00 a.m. to 7:00 p.m. and Tuesday, October 1, from 9:00 a.m. until the time of service.

A rosary will be led by Sr. Doris Roy, S.E.C., on Monday evening, 5:30 pm, at Walters Funeral Home.

Rodney graduated from St. Martinville High School, Class of 1956. His senior year, he was State Champion in the 220-yard dash (holding the Parish record for 15 years) and runner-up in the 100-yard dash, helping the team win the State Championship that year.

He went on to attend LSU, where he ran track his freshman season, culminating in the team winning the SEC Freshmen Championship. He later transferred to USL and earned his degree in Petroleum Engineering.

Out of school, Rodney worked for National Oilwell Varco. In his younger years, he formed and coached the Parks Hornets football and baseball teams, assisting in building the fields these teams played on.

Around that time, he had a chance encounter with Doug Henderson. Mr. Doug opened the door for Rodney, and he never looked back.

The mid-1970s were busy for Rodney. He opened Par Industries in the Port of Iberia and Superior Derrick Services, and he bought his first horses with Sam Rankin, who would be a business partner and lifelong friend. Thus began his passion for horses, and in the late 1970s, Rodney, Sam, and Jerry Jones bought Evangeline Downs Race Track.

After selling Par Industries, Rodney and Sam opened  Veran, then Drill Systems.

After selling Evangeline Downs, Rodney partnered with Roy Poche and formed OBI in the Port of Iberia. His passion for race horses never left him, though, and soon thereafter, he opened Cajun Downs at the now-famous Robicheaux Ranch before selling it to his good friends, Jude and Regina Robicheaux.

He also served as LQHBA President in the 1990s, playing a critical role in increasing purses via slot machine revenue. In the early 2000s, OBI became Superior Derrick Services, then Champions Resources, where Rodney worked until his retirement this past year. He often cooked lunch for the work crew and friends.

Last year, Rodney had the pleasure of winning "The Big One" when his horse, Special Wild Train B bred by good friend Riley Blanchet, won the Louisiana Million Quarter Horse Futurity at Evangeline Downs, surrounded by family and friends.

Survivors include his wife, Susan LeBlanc Verret of Opelousas; two daughters, Peggy (Gary) Simon and Paula (Tim) Berard, both of Parks; two sons, Frank Verret of Breaux Bridge and Rodney "T-Rod" Verret of Parks; two step-daughters, Raven Winters of Lafayette, and Monica (David) Watkins of Denham Springs; two brothers-in-law, Rickey (Vicky) LeBlanc of Lafayette, and Tim (Nora) LeBlanc of Carencro; two sisters-in-law, Christine Stelly of Parks, and Liz Vincent of Scott; fifteen grandchildren, Laurie Simon, Holly Lee, Michelle Gill, Matthew Berard, Joshua Verret, Jacie Verret, Timothy Berard, Pamela Verret, Carolyn Verret, Justin Watkins, Abby Watkins, Sebastian Smith, Jordan Breaux, Trey Breaux, and Troy "TG" Simoneaux; numerous great-grandchildren; one great-great-granddaughter; special friends, Shane Leon and A.J. Menard; and his fur babies, Bear, Essie, Rye and Bora.

He was preceded in death by his parents, Pamela and Frank Verret; his first wife, Delores Verret; children, Windy Verret and John Verret; and mother-in-law, Katsy LeBlanc Mouton.

Heartfelt thanks are given to Gabrielle Latiolais and Jodi Mouton with Louisiana Hospice and Palliative Care.

Words of condolence may be expressed on the guest book by CLICKING HERE.

Funeral arrangements are under the direction of Walters Funeral Home, 2424 N. University Ave., Lafayette, LA 70507.