Birth date: Jan 4, 1940 Death date: Jun 2, 2026
Dr. James Elmer Hendry, lovingly known as “Pete,” entered into the presence of his Lord and Savior Jesus Christ on June 2, 2026, at the age of 86. Pete was born on January 4, 1940, in New Orleans, Louisiana, to Elmer and Velma H Read Obituary
DaddyPete. Having you across the street growing up was a joy and blessing that will last my whole life. As a child I did not realize how precious our many moments together were. There was never enough time even when you showed up 15 minutes before the time to showing up early to pick us up for piano lessons. Or never enough times I got to look out the window and see if you were going to “feed up” your beagles so I could run down there and help you hose off their kennels. Never enough times you came over with those gigantic donuts from Mandeville bakery in the middle of a school day just for fun! Never enough two swipes of jelly pb&js. Never enough sleepovers with Uncle Remus’ stories in your best Cajun accent and a few flips on your bed before we tucked in. Never enough inside jokes or sneaked silver bells, folding tarps or holding your baby beagles.
Through the stories that have been shared in the past few weeks, I have learned so much more about you and heard put into words all of the things I felt growing up. You were kind, slow, caring, thoughtful, and peaceful. There are very few men in the world quite like you. I hope that the times you got to hold Auden and Ellis, maybe you rubbed a little of that patience and kindness off. I want them to grow up to be just like you. I am thankful for your strong faith as it has given us so much peace and opened many moments of gospel conversations with Auden. We will see you soon. Well done good and faithful servant.
This is Pete at his house giving advice about our dog Sophie. He was always willing to help us out with our dog.
But, much more than that he was a great friend as is his wife Martha.
What a great man of God and now in the presence of God! I along with many others will miss him dearly…
Till I see you again Pete, well done good a faithful servant!
Much love, Faye and Greg McMorris
There were a couple of men in my life who I can say had an impact when I was growing up. Pete Hendry was definitely one of the few. He was always intentional and asked how I was doing, even though I clearly was the black sheep around church and school. That just didn't seem to matter to him.
I have many funny stories I can tell about him, from him refereeing basketball and not knowing the proper call signs, so he acted them out. I can still see him moving his hips like he was dancing to show a blocking foul.
The other thing that probably wasn't so funny was me racing my car in and out of the parking lot of school, and him yelling at me with his fist waving in the air. The crazy part is the very next day, he wouldn't say a word and acted like I was one of his kids that he loved. He would yell at me in the moment, because sometimes I had a "little" bit of a heavy foot, but then he loved me after and never condemned or said a word about my crazy driving. Most people may not think that's much out of the norm, except that my crazy driving was just about every time I left the parking lot. Again and again, he would run as if he were chasing me with his fist waving in the air.
The next day, everything was back to normal, like we were buddy-buddy. He never said a word about anything. He was definitely a man who had an impact on the younger generation, and we all looked up to him because of how he loved well, regardless of how you acted. Your behavior had no impact on him and how he loved others. He definitely had a very special place in my heart, and apparently, I had one in his. Not sure why, but I guess that's what loving unconditionally looks like. He modeled it well.
These pictures were part of a Business for Transformation project in the country of Georgia. In 2015 Dr. Pete met with the young missionaries and gave advice on in a dairy cattle/seminary that was being built to share the gospel in unreached places. That seminary and dairy are thriving today. Just a tiny example of how he loved his neighbors.
I am deeply grateful to have known and worked with Dr. Hendry for over ten years at Ponchatoula Animal Hospital. During that time, he became like a grandfather to me and held a very special place in my heart. I will always cherish the memories and laughter we shared.
Watching him with clients and patients, it was clear that veterinary medicine was his true calling. Everyone who knew him loved and respected him. He was a man of faith, loyalty, dedication, selflessness, and gentleness. someone all men could aspire to be like.
I will miss warming up his cold hands at the clinic, seeing him read the comics in the newspaper, listening to his life stories, and helping him figure out how to use his iPhone.
I am especially thankful to his family for allowing me to visit with him at the hospital, to share stories and laughter with him one more time. Those moments are something I will cherish forever.
Dr Hendry took care of many Dogs for me. I remember him making house calls for horses and cows in the early years. Every time I saw Dr Greg I would ask how Pete was doing. He will be missed by many.
Kevin Nicolle
Having moved our family to Louisiana more than 1000 miles away from our family, Dr. Pete was like a 2nd dad to me. He often sat in my office chair at Trinity while eating his lunch, "just checking on you, young lady" and leaving me with a "silver bell". A wonderful man, full of understanding and compassion for his fellow man and their pets. He cared for my pets even after leaving General Animal Hospital and was so understanding when having to put our family's beloved, Sadie, to rest. I can only imagine the joy and smile on his face when he met his Savior, Jesus Christ, as he stepped into glory. I'll surely miss his hugs and smiles. Trinity Church won't be the same without him.
