Ralph Paul Moras, Sr., 64, of Bunkie passed away on Thursday, Jan. 1, 2009 at Bunkie General Hospital.

Funeral services for Ralph Paul Moras, Sr. of Bunkie will be at 10:30 am, Monday, January 5, 2009 at St. Alphonsus Catholic Church in Hessmer with Father Edwin Rodriguez-Hernandez officiating. Burial will be in the St. Alphonsus Mausoleum under the direction of Melancon Funeral Home, Bunkie.

Mr. Moras, age 64, passed away unexpectedly on Thursday, January 1, 2009 at Bunkie General Hospital. Mr. Moras was a member of the Teamsters Union and was a freight delivery driver for forty years, served in the LA Army National Guard, was an avid hunter and fisherman, and a member of the Bayhills Men's Supper Club. Most days since his retirement in 2001, he could be found working in his yard on some sort of project.Most notable were his wood duck and purple martin boxes which can be found in numerous Avoyelles Parish yards and ponds.

He was preceded in death by his parents, Bradford Moras and Mildred Laborde Moras Descant and one sister, Sandra St. Romain.

He is survived by his wife of 42 years, Patsy Roy Moras of Bunkie; two sons, Ralph Moras, Jr. and his wife, Vicki, of Lafayette and Rodney Moras and his wife, Vicky, of Pine Prairie; two sisters, Judy Charrier of Hessmer, Carol LaBorde of Vinton; six grandchildren; many nieces and nephews.

SErving as pallbearers will be Craig Charrier, Brad Charrier,James Villemarette, Scott Ducote, Harold St. Romain Randall Deshotel.

Visitation will be at Melancon Funeral Home, Bunkie today, Sunday, Jan. 4, 2009 from 2 pm - 8 pm with a Christian Wake Service at 5 pm and from 8 am - 10 am Monday, Jan. 5, 2009.

Online condolences to the Moras family may be emailed to melanconfuneral@aol.com.

Town Talk  January 4, 2009

Pelican Footnote: Ralph's wife, Patsy Jane Roy, was a 1961 graduate of Evergreen Elementary School and a 1965 graduate of Bunkie High School.