Paul Leland Prestridge

Paul Leland Prestridge, 47, of Austin, TX, and St. Bernard Parish, LA, passed quickly and peacefully on Tuesday, June 10, 2014, after a short but hard-fought battle with colon cancer.

Paul was born on Sunday, July 24, 1966, in St. Bernard General Hospital, Chalmette, LA, to Carolyn Marie Cantrell and George Earl Prestridge, Sr. He was always happy and carefree as a child, and that happiness allowed him to get through all the curve balls life threw his way. He loved life with a fierceness rarely seen in others. In fact, he did everything that way, with purpose, allowing him to excel at anything he chose to do.

After attending St. Bernard High School in the eighties and LSU in the early nineties, Paul apprenticed as a pipefitter later graduating to journeyman. Along the way, he watched his Saints win and lose, grew herbs and vegetables in his garden, and read anything that would sit still, but the proudest moment in his life was the birth of his son. Paul burst through the doors of the delivery room and through laughter and tears of joy said "Momma, it's a boy! The baby just shot out, and he looks just like me!"

Paul shared the last 10 years of his life with his fiancée, Charlotte. They loved taking long walks, eating out, and watching movies at home. It really didn't matter what it was, they did it together. That's what made life special for them.

Paul is survived by his fiancée, Charlotte Melton James of Austin, Texas; his son, Lenny Paul "Paulie" Evans of Meraux, Louisiana; his mother, Carolyn Cantrell Perez of Slidell, Louisiana; his step-mother, Earlyne Joy Beach Prestridge of Ogden, Utah; his brother, George Earl Prestridge, Jr., of Slidell, Louisiana; his brother, Leland Joseph Perez, Jr., of Slidell, Louisiana; his sister, Patrice Arianne Prestridge Jones (Chris) of Austin, Texas; his sister, Susan Renée Prestridge Davey (Paul) of Ogden, Utah, and his brother, Chad Raphael Prestridge (Melanie) of Picayune. He also leaves behind twelve nieces and nephews, one great-niece, numerous aunts, uncles, cousins and his "precious baby" Belladonna "Bella" Boulet, the two-year-old Kentucky Black Mouth Cur canine he shares with Charlotte.

Paul is predeceased by his father, George Earl Prestridge, Sr.; his step-dad, Leland Joseph Perez, Sr.; his maternal grandparents, Lloyd Joseph Cantrell, Sr., and Rena Ebanks Cantrell; his paternal grandparents, James Herbert Prestridge, Sr., and Mae Belle Chenault Prestridge and his nephew Timothy Cameron Favre.

The viewing is on Sunday, June 22, 2014, from 5 PM to 8 PM (4 PM-5 PM family only) at Picayune Funeral Home, 815 S. Haugh Ave., Picayune, MS, 39466. The funeral will be on Monday morning at 11 AM at the Picayune Funeral Home immediately followed by interment in the New Palestine Cemetery.