Louis Ray Lefebvre

Lt. Colonel Louis Ray Lefebvre, United States Army, Retired, age 85, of Flowery Branch, GA, passed away Sunday, February 24, 2019. He was preceded in death by his parents, Louis (Buck) and Maude Lefebvre, and sister, Anne. Mr. Lefebvre is survived by his wife of sixty years, Lela Ann Lefebvre, Flowery Branch; children, Teresa Marie Lefebvre-Almelid, Beth Lefebvre Messer (Randy), Lawrence Paul Lefebvre (Donna), Patricia Louise Sanders (Ricky); grandchildren, Elizabeth (Joshua), Joshua (Katheryn), Zachary (Melissa), Knut Eirik (Sigrid), Thor, Kristine, Nick, Genevieve, Leighton; great-grandchildren, Jordan, David, Amerae, Caleb, Austin; brothers, Roy Lefebvre, Collins Lefebvre; sisters, Louise Lefebvre, Eva Kenny; and many nieces, nephews and cousins. Mr. Lefebvre was born December 11, 1933, in Bonners Ferry, Idaho and graduated from Gonzaga University in Spokane, Washington. He served in the Army from 1957-1977, was wounded in November 1965 in the Battle of the Ia Drang Valley which was depicted in the movie We Were Soldiers, and was awarded a Purple Heart and Silver Star. After retirement from the Army, he became a manager for Roadway Express, later a substitute teacher with the Gwinnett County school system and was very active in the Catholic Church. He had a love for all children - from his own children, grandchildren and great-grandchildren, to those he taught in school and church. He gave much of himself and was a constant and active presence in his family's lives with a kind and loving heart that gave them strength through the years. He was truly a special man, and a mentor for many. He will be missed. A funeral service with Liturgy of the Word will be held on Thursday, March 7, 2019, at 10:00 a.m. in the Chapel of Flanigan Funeral Home, Buford, GA, with Mr. Robbie Cotta officiating. Interment with full military honors will be at the Georgia National Cemetery in Canton, GA, at 3:00 p.m. In lieu of flowers, donations may be made to Disabled American Veterans www.dav.org or Wounded Warrior Project www.woundedwarriorproject.org. The family will receive friends on Wednesday, March 6, 2019, from 5:00 p.m. to 7:00 p.m. at the funeral home.