Birth date: Sep 6, 1959 Death date: Apr 11, 2016
Howard Lee “Hokie” Gajan, Jr. passed away on Monday, April 11, 2016 in Jefferson, LA. He was born on September 6, 1959 in Baton Rouge, LA to Emma Hanegan Gajan and the late Howard Lee Gajan, Sr. Hokie was married to his beloved w Read Obituary
I met Hokie in Grand Isle at the Bridge Side Marina when I was about 10 years old. He my dad and I were talking and joking around and one thing led to another and Hokie challenge me to who could catch the biggest hard head cat fish. “Which is a trash fish” but it was all in good fun. From then on When he came with the saints every year to Grand Isle me and Hokie were sure to cut up at the Bridge Side.
I've known Hokie and family for many years. The one thing that stood out about Hokie was his willingness to help people at our church, especially our youth group at St. Isidore Catholic Church near Baker, La. One year at our October Fest Church Fair my wife and I were youth leaders trying to come up with ideas on how to raise some funds for the group. We learned that we had access to a Dunking Booth for the Fair.
Well, after Hokie became a Saints football player, he somehow found out about the Dunking Booth that year and called me . He said he had talked to Fr. Mike our Pastor and would be there that Sunday afternoon. As he promised he drove down to our Fair with that beautiful Saints jersey on just to get wet. Bet you can guess who were the first people in line,yes you guessed it, it was his brothers and sisters with $5's, $10's, $20's at a $1.00 a throw or until they put Hokie in the water. Needless to say we did quite well that day. Thanks Hokie, you never forgot us, and we're going to miss you. Our prayers are with the families.
Love,
Rudy & Linda Rizzo
Judy, Jennifer, Kristin Megan and Alexis, so sorry to read of the loss of your husband and father. Please know that death is temporary. We have God's promise to be reunited and live on a paradise earth. There will be no more sickness and death. What a joyous time to live and enjoy our loved ones.
The death of Hokie Gajan brings to mind the years during the mid 1950's when the Gajan family lived in Watson. Mrs. Thelma Gajan (Hokie's grandmother) started the first organized choir at Live Oak Methodist Church. She and Mr. Gajan (Pappy) had three sons: Alton who was in the 101st Airborne at the time, Bobby Lee (later Hokie's dad) who was in the Marines, and Preston (Bumpy) who was in the 7th grade with my class at school. The two older boys joined us in the choir whenever they were on leave. Bobby Lee served in the Korean war, and was involved in several bitter battles, spending one Christmas behind enemy lines. Alton became a warrant officer, a helicopter pilot, and was killed in Vietnam. On a brighter note, they were all very popular with the local teenagers during the 1950's. Bobby Lee had an especially good bass voice and was also known for his ability to blow "Jambalaya" on a duck call! His rendition of "Old Man River" was, in my opinion, as good or better than Paul Robson's, who sang it in the movie, Show Boat.
The Gajans also had two foster sons, Don and David (Ray) Gunter. Don was in the Navy, and also joined us in the choir when he was on leave. Ray was grown and already away from home, but visited often. Don married my Aunt Faye, and they became the parents of Mark, Jim and David. After the Gajans moved to Baton Rouge, we stayed in touch, but as the years went by, we saw them less. The senior Gajans moved to Florida after Alton's death, and lived out their lives there. I talked to Bobby Lee, whose family remained in Baton Rouge, when Jimmy Rushing died. Bobby was not in good health then, but he was so very proud of Hokie!! Hokie had played football at Baker HighSchool, then LSU, and was playing for the Saints at the time. An amazing family, sadly missed!
Shelly Strobel
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I didn't have the pleasure of knowing Hokie personally but felt like I did from listening to him on the radio for a long time. The main thing I could tell about him was his love for his family. You could just feel him light up whenever he talked about his daughters and Grandchildren on the air. Thoughts and prayers go out to his family and may God bless and keep all of you. Saints games on Sunday will never be the same without you Hokie!!!
I have known Hokie all my life. Starting in first grade i will never forget Hokie and i had Mrs. Jones for our teacher and one day a boy stole one of my colors and Hokie found out and went and got it back for me. 😀😀. That was just the kind of person he was from even a young age like that, always caring and giving of himself to someone and that never changed. He will GREATLY be missed here but Judy just know he is at peace and no more suffering. He fought ti the end because of his family. God's peace and grace to you. 🙏🙏🙏😇
Loved the memorial! I saw a lot of familiar faces. Hokie was funny and compassionate; I still think about some of his stories and laugh. I also remember when my grandfather passed away during our sophomore year, he sat with me in the locker room at Baker High for a long time and we talked, letting me know that he was there for me.
Richard Armstrong
Judy and family....May you find strength in God's loving arms. Hokie was a role model for all who knew him. He will never be forgotten.
Pamela Lea Savini
Great memorial of Hokie, I remember a time back in the day when we were growing up in Brownsfield Hokie, Andy, Rudy Gautreaux and I went frogg'in all night in every ditch and canal in Brownsfield . From the Morgan Family to the Gajan Family our thoughts and Prayers are with you. Okie was a friend and role model for all to follow he will be greatly missed.
Love y'all, and may God Bless you all
Donnie and Tracey Morgan
