Huey Patrick Decoto

Huey Patrick DeCoto of Ponchatoula, Louisiana, died Saturday, July 19, 2025, at age 89.  He is survived by his wife of 57 years Hazel “Jean” Franklin DeCoto and his two daughters: Alisa Welch (Barry) and Nicole Dunn (Jon).  There are three grandchildren: Shayna Blackwell Meyers (Cole); Barry Rawlins Welch, Jr. (Alyssa); and Lauren Ashley Welch.

Although born in New Orleans, Huey spent his formative years in Walker, La.  Always athletic, he played baseball and basketball at Walker High School, earning an athletic scholarship to Southeastern Louisiana University as well as being inducted into Walker High’s Athletic Hall of Fame in 2018. Never still, he played a mean game of golf, could make you eat a volleyball, loved tennis when younger, and excelled at swimming. Alas, age prevented him from participating in the latest craze of pickleball, but he could be seen leaning over the railing at the PARD gym with longing as games went on below him.

Huey’s first job was as an X-ray technician, working at Baton Rouge General Hospital and other area hospitals.  From there he became a teacher and athletic coach at Norco Elementary and, ultimately, became a banker. After meeting and marrying Jean, he settled in Ponchatoula, working in banks there and in Hammond.

Ever involved in civic and social matters, Huey was active in Kiwanis International. He served as President of the Ponchatoula Club in 1978 and, in 1985, as Lieutenant Governor of District 13 of the LaMissTenn District. He served on the Ponchatoula Strawberry Board and gave many years to Louisiana Special Olympics.  In the meantime, he found time to coach city league baseball and basketball for young boys, and a season of girls’ basketball at Holy Ghost School.  He played over-fifty baseball and officiated games of football and basketball for Louisiana High School Athletic Association, which acknowledged 35 years of his service. He finally gave up being a chain man at SLU but was seen working at the scorers’ table in SLU’s 2024-25 basketball season. Of course, he maintained bragging rights for his “starring” roles in three films:  Everybody’s All-American, The Pistol: The Birth of a Legend, and When the Game Stands Tall.  He was the one in the striped shirt with a whistle in his mouth.

In 1998 Huey retired from banking but never from life.  With Jean he traveled the world, maintained his honeybee hives and attended every birthday party, sporting event and ceremony of his beloved “great grans”: Addison, Kaelyn, Leanne, Payton, Brogan, Rawlins, Collins, and Price.  Grandad was quick to call bad behavior and even quicker to tell you he loved you. All will forever miss his call on birthdays when he sang his goofy rendition of “The Happy Birthday Song.”

Huey’s interment will be private, but all are invited to his funeral at All Saints Episcopal Church, 250 West Hickory Street, Ponchatoula, LA, August 23, at 10 a.m.  Although a life-long Southern Baptist, it was here that Huey found his spiritual home.

Huey delivered All Saints’ monthly food donation to the Tangi Food Bank.

In lieu of flowers, you may, in his honor, bring a food donation to be placed in the narthex of the church in his memory.

Share your thoughts and memories of Huey in his guestbook by visiting Lnhughes.com.

Arrangements have been entrusted to LN Hughes Funeral Services of Ponchatoula, Louisiana.