Gregory Rabalais

"No man is a failure who has friends,” Clarence the Angel from It’s a Wonderful Life

Gregory Paul Rabalais passed away on Thursday, February 2, 2023, due to complications of lymphoma.  Also known by a very loyal and loving group of friends and family as Greg, Rab, and Uncle Bub, he was born on February 10, 1953.  He would have been 70 years old on Friday.

Greg retired from the Baton Rouge Zoo and lived what appeared to many to be a modest, humble, and quiet life.  Yet in the quietness, he touched more lives than most could dream of.  “He always told me that the one thing nobody could take from me is the knowledge in my brain,” wrote Mark Covington, one of “Rab’s” many mentees. Mark went on to say “Mr. Rab had a way of inspiring me to want to know things I didn’t, like the stars, animals, plants…”

Although Mark penned these words, they could have been written by any of Greg’s nieces, nephews, or friends’ children that he camped, hunted, and fished with.  He had an extraordinary knowledge of nature and the heavens and loved sharing his knowledge with children of all ages.  Most of those he did inspire are adults now and share Mark’s sentiment.

Greg is survived by sisters and brothers:  Jean Rabalais Bernard & husband Percy of Broussard, LA; Bruce & Nancy Rabalais of Central, LA; Sharlyne Rabalais Reno & husband Anthony of Ethel, LA; and Kerry Rabalais of Madison, MS. Nephews are Bret Bernard, Casey Rabalais, Brock Reno (Amber), and Jake Rabalais (Caroline) and daughter Camille.  Nieces include Kim Bernard Anderson, Kristy Rabalais Pickering (Scott), Margie Reno Hill (Charles), Lori Reno Burris (Jason), Ashley Reno Rayborn (Kyle), their daughter Brennen, and Audrey Anna Rabalais.  Also surviving Rab are his brothers by choice, Greg “Mack” McKowen & wife Georgie, Eddie Lemoine & wife Lisa, Jimbo & Meg Perry, Henderson Griffin Tyrone III “Henry” and all of their children and grandchildren.

He is preceded in death by his parents, Lemie & Edna Scallan Rabalais; and sister-in-law, Laura Bragg Rabalais.

Being a lover of nature, Greg was a very spiritual man, and his life will be celebrated as such on his 70th birthday, Friday, February 10, 2023, at his home in Plaucheville, LA.  All are welcome to the casual celebration of life scheduled to begin at 1:00 p.m.  Please come comfortable, bring a chair and stories that include Greg, and plan to stay a while.  May he rest in peace.