Burchman Fruge’ Sr., 96, passed away on Saturday, Dec. 9, 2023. He was born on April 4, 1927 in Basile, La., to Ora and Adia Johnson Fruge’.

From humble beginnings in rural Evangeline Parish, Burchman would go to serve his country as a Navy shipman in World War II and serve his state as Louisiana State Trooper with Troop D for 20 years. Upon retiring from the State Police, he founded Louisiana Escort & Permit Service in 1969, a transcontinental trucking, transportation, and logistical services company headquartered in Lake Charles. From the family’s home office, the company has gone on to coordinate the transportation of multi-ton machinery and equipment across the United States, Mexico, and Canada.

Born in the Basile countryside in 1927, early life was much simpler yet difficult. With no electricity, Burchman and his siblings did their homework by a coal oil lamp and got water from the family’s well. Most of young life outside of school was spent tending to crops and livestock to keep the family fed. Burchman attended school in both Mamou and Basile before being pulled out ahead of graduation senior year to assist with the ongoing war effort. Upon being drafted by the Navy, he spent his war years in San Diego servicing and restocking ships of the Pacific Fleet returning from battle. After the war, Burchman returned to receive this diploma from Basile High School and briefly worked at Savoy Movie Theater and in the oil fields before eventually joining the State Police. 

Burchman married Jeanette Latiolais on March 8, 1948 in Eunice, La. After joining the State Police, Burchman was assigned to Cameron Parish, where he and Jeanette would live from 1952 to 1954. In their time in Cameron, Burchman and Jeanette met many people that would become lifelong friends. In 1957, Burchman returned to Cameron with his partner, Trooper Elvin Pierrottie, to serve as first responders in the immediate aftermath of Hurricane Audrey. From atop U.S. Army “Ducks” (amphibious vehicles), they were able to assist the National Guard in the rescue and retrieval of many people stranded by the storm and subsequent flooding. The damage and devastation he witnessed would stay with him for the rest of his life. 

After retiring from the State Police, Burchman and Jeanette would shift their professional focus to operating their newly founded family business, Louisiana Escort & Permit Service. Thankfully, their hard work paid off and business grew, surviving many economic ups and downs. Burchman made many friends in the trucking industry over the years, from owners, operators, dispatchers, and drivers who appreciated his diligent work ethic and good nature. After 54 years, the company is still operated by the couple’s three children today. In their later years, Burchman and Jeanette would enjoy taking their camper on cross-country road trips to visit friends and family or go hunting. Burchman was an avid outdoorsman, who shared his love of hunting and fishing with his sons. He spent many seasons deer hunting outside of San Angelo, Texas and would later join the Cajun Pines Hunting Club in Kinder, La. with his cousin, Darrell Chaumont. Both Burchman and Jeanette cherished their time at Cajun Pines with fellow members and their families. He would continue hunting until he was 93 years young. Burchman was also an avid gardener, who would share the fruits of his harvest with anyone that he met. Burchman will be remembered as fun-loving man always ready for a good time – whether it be a night of Cajun music at the CFMA VFW Hall or front row at a Mardi Gras parade on Magazine St. in New Orleans, he lived life to the fullest. 

Burchman was a member of Our Lady Queen of Heaven Catholic Church and frequently attended mass into his 90s. He was also a member of the Louisiana State Troopers Association, Knights of Columbus, and the Cajun French Music Association. 

He was preceded in death by his parents, Ora and Adia Fruge’; wife, Jeanette; siblings, John Cline Fruge’, Verna Mae Fruge’ Holt; brothers-in-law, Alvin ‘Tim’ Holt, and Jimmie Latiolais; and niece, Elizabeth K. Latiolais; companions Nelva Courville and Enola Chaumont.  

Those left to cherish his memory are his daughter, Marie Fruge’ Thames and husband, Jerry; son, Burchman ‘Bubba’ Fruge’ Jr. and wife, Julie; son Gerard ‘Bo’ Fruge and wife, Susan, all from Lake Charles area; grandson Burchman ‘Trey’ Fruge III and partner, Rebecca Neshkes, of D.C.; nieces, Sharon Fruge’ and Connie Latiolais Leger; grand-nephew, Darren Hennigan and grand-niece Lisa Duhon and family. 

His funeral service will be held at 11 a.m. on Friday, Dec. 15, 2023 in the Johnson Funeral Home of Lake Charles Chapel, located at 4321 Lake St., Lake Charles, La. Reverend Joshua Page will officiate. Burial will follow in Consolata Cemetery under the direction of Johnson Funeral Home. Visitation will be at the funeral home on Thursday evening at 4 p.m. and will continue until 7 p.m., with a Rosary being recited at 6:30 p.m. Visitation will resume on Friday morning at 9 a.m. and continue until the start of the service at 11 a.m.

The family would like to give special thanks to Dr. Mark LaFuria and staff (who always made time to see him), Evangeline/Vidal Home Health, Bernadette Billings C.N.A., and Dr. Robert and Dr. Pam Neshkes of Los Angeles, Calif. 

Memorial donations may be made to Cajun French Music Association – Lake Charles Chapter, Council for the Development of French in Louisiana (CODOFIL).

Words of comfort to the family may be expressed at www.johnsonfuneralhome.net.