Donald Louis Layrisson

Donald Louis Layrisson of Ponchatoula, Louisiana, passed away on January 25, 2026, in Pineville, Louisiana. He was born on September 29, 1936, in New Orleans at age 89. He was married to Rosalind Chambers in 1961 at Fort Sill, Oklahoma, while serving in the United States Army after attending the Universities of Notre Dame and Louisiana State University, where he played baseball for each.

He is the son of Inez (Parker) and Louis (Larry) Layrisson of Ponchatoula and was closely raised by his Aunt Myra (Parker) and Uncle Jack Vaughan.

He is survived by his daughter Robin and her husband Paul Schexnaydre and their son Paul Joshua Schexnaydre with three grandchildren Trenton, Maddox, and Carter Schexnaydre, and preceded in death by their son Cory; his son Michael Layrisson and his wife Rhonda and their three children Elizabeth, Rachel and Joseph; his son Stanley Layrisson and his wife, Susanne M. (Von Robke) Layrisson preceded in death, and their three children Kyle, Stan II, and Bryan; Preceded in death by his son Thomas (Tommy) Layrisson, adding his Daughter-in- Law Dedra Layrisson (widow of Tommy) to his family.

He has always thought of Paul Schexnaydre as a son, and the family does too. Paul has given the family so much support over the years, and we wanted to acknowledge how close we are. His Daughter-in-Law Dedra provided so much care for him over the years, and her love for him is remembered.

He is cherished and missed by his Brother James Edward (Eddie) Layrisson, and his wife Celeste Layrisson and their four children, Jean Paul, Parker, Louie, and Bry Layrisson, who have added many grandchildren to the family. Additionally, the family would like to acknowledge David Scott Vaughan, who has been a dear brother to the family.

After his service to the nation in the United States Army (active and reserve) from 1959 until 1965, he returned after active service to his beloved hometown of Ponchatoula, Louisiana, and attended to two businesses of Nehi Bottling Company of three family generations and founded Dad’s Old Fashion Root Beer with his loving wife; both companies proudly bottled in Ponchatoula.

He was a man who was passionate in the service to his community, and a trait that he passed to his family. He was a member of The Ponchatoula Rotary Club and served as its President during the early formative years of the Strawberry Festival. In the early years of the Strawberry Festival, he served on several committees in various capacities, including Strawberry Festival Chairman. He served with the Ponchatoula JC’s and served as President; he served as President of the Dixie Baseball program, which allowed him to spend as much time as he could between Ponchatoula’s Athletic Park and JC Park. He had fond memories with members of the Kiwanis Club and Kiwanis Park. He served as Pack Master for the Ponchatoula Cub Scouts’ Pack 100 and enjoyed running the Piney Wood Derby. One of his memorable passions was the development of junior baseball umpires. He served on the Ponchatoula City Council from 1972 to 1974 which he was part of the effort to restore the Ponchatoula Depot (Illinois Central Railroad) into a tourist attraction. He was a firm supporter of the Ponchatoula St. Joseph Catholic Church, coaching basketball and leading the charge to raise funds for the building of the new gymnasium. He served in the Ponchatoula JC’s and served as President; he coached baseball and served as President of the Dixie Baseball Program, which allowed him time for one of his memorable passions of baseball. He loved baseball, which he acquired from his father, Larry and was always willing to teach the finer points of the game to anyone interested.

Don will be buried in the Ponchatoula Cemetery in a family closed gathering on March 5, 2026, at 2 pm, but our hearts are open to the community, and we want to say thanks to the many who have sent their condolences.

The Layrisson family has had a deep devotion and appreciation for many local families in Ponchatoula, some of which are the Kraft, the Richardson, the Sellers families, but the list could go on forever, as so many good people of Ponchatoula have impacted our lives. Special appreciation to St. Joseph’s Catholic Church and Ponchatoula High School, and should anyone feel compelled to donate anything, please consider these two schools or the other organizations mentioned for a donation in his name.

In his final days, he remained a steadfast LSU Tigers fan, to which we want to end with, “Geaux Tigers!”