Marksville, LA - Visitation for Glenn Anthony Goudeau will be held from 2:30 to 5:30 p.m., Friday, June 27, 2025 by Melancon Funeral Home at Kilpatrick's Rose-Neath Funeral Home, 334 Acton Road in Marksville. A funeral service will immediately follow at the funeral home beginning at 5:30 p.m. A "Glenn Goudeau-style Celebration of Life", including live music, dinner, and "drinky-poos" will follow at the home of Jacques and Melissa Goudeau. Inurnment will take place at a later date in St. Joseph Cemetery #2 in Marksville. Arrangements are under the direction of Melancon Funeral Home, Bunkie. Mr. Glenn, 86, of Marksville, Louisiana, died peacefully on June 21, 2025 in Baton Rouge. Glenn was born in Cottonport in 1939. He married Priscilla "Jo" Morgan, of Alexandria, Louisiana, on May 11, 1974 at St. Francis Xavier Cathedral, and settled in Marksville for the remainder of his life. Glenn was raised on (and in) the bayous of Cottonport. He graduated from St. Mary's Assumption grade school and then Cottonport High School in 1957. He graduated from LSU Baton Rouge in Industrial Technology in 1961, and served in the National Guard as a Private First Class from 1961 to 1967. Glenn returned from college to Cottonport to work at his family's amusement company for 50 years, when he retired in 2011. During that time, he skillfully managed the company through many hurdles, especially in weathering the recession of the 1980's by restructuring the business. When the 50-employee tobacco and amusement company was down to only 13, he risked everything in 1990 to save it by investing in a different direction, video poker. His early and aggressive entry into the new and unproven industry proved successful, as the company still operates 35 years later and will forever be the first company in Louisiana to turn on video poker machines. His career was never solely about work, though, as service to community was paramount to Glenn. He was a founding member of: Grand Lake Rod and Gun Club, Avoyelles Country Club, Les Theatre Des Bon Temps, Avoyelles Entourage (Wagon Master), Avoyelles Education Foundation, Avoyelles Public Charter School, Avoyelles Early Childhood Development Center and First Tee Avoyelles. In all of these, he wasn't simply a board member attending meetings. He put in the work, blood, sweat, tears, (and often his personal money) to get the organizations off the ground and operational. He also served as President of the Cottonport Service Club, Cottonport Jaycee Chapter, and the Marksville High Quarterback Club. Always a visionary, and often too far ahead of his time, Glenn had a vision for quality education in Avoyelles Parish going back to the 1970s and 1980s when he unsuccessfully ran for representative and school board. It wasn't until 1998 that he began to gain traction with his vision for quality education from birth through 12th grade, by building great teams that helped him follow through with founding Avoyelles Public Charter School and the Avoyelles Early Childhood Development Center. He didn't relax in retirement. Around 2015, Glenn began working to modernize Avoyelles Parish government by restructuring it from only two branches of government into three, which is more typical of federal, state, and local governments across the United States. He set up tables at various locations throughout the parish and spoke to anyone who would listen to build support for the effort. It took years of starts, stops, persistence and determination, but in 2024 enough signatures were collected on a petition. He eventually even had to go to court to see the initiative through. Finally, after 10 years of time and energy expended, it will be on the ballot for voters later this year. Early in life, Glenn learned the art of conversation growing up in his dad's general store in the rural Dora Bend area, between Cottonport and Evergreen. As a boy, he spoke with the local farmers and people who would come into the store, and later, the men who came for a drink in the bar. That skill served him well throughout life, as he looked at every stranger as an opportunity to converse, and perhaps learn something new, make a business connection, share a laugh, and just maybe, make a "new best friend." One of those new best friends was his beloved wife, Jo, who remained together throughout their lives and were married for 50 years. They met at the Briar Patch while on a double date, and danced the night away together because their dates didn't want to dance. Together, they embraced life to an extent we all dream of, but few ever do. They loved great restaurants, great bars, great music, and great times. He didn't mind breaking social norms, and would often wander into the kitchen to start a conversation with the chef while dining out. When they weren't out celebrating, they often threw legendary dinner parties at home. Glenn was also known to be an outstanding cook. More of a "camp man" than a hunter, he loved cooking big meals during hunting season or for Sunday lunch with the family. He could bake too, and often made wonderful homemade bread and beignets for his grandkids, whom he cherished dearly. So dearly, in fact, that they asked for a blueberry bush and instead he planted an entire fruit orchard when he was 82 years old. He was a beloved family man to his wife, sons, and siblings, and was always passing along life lessons and words of wisdom. Anyone who knew Glenn knew he expected quality work and effort from everyone; he was driven, demanding, but also fair, and often went out of his way to quietly help friends, family, employees, or whomever when they needed help the most. He also expected those around him to treat everyone equally and fairly. He cherished his employees, who were more like family to him. Remarkably, Glenn was diagnosed with dyslexia while in his 30s. Due to general lack of awareness and remaining undiagnosed, he struggled with reading and test-taking his entire childhood and early adult life. His doctor was surprised to learn he finished college. Ever the businessman, he spent most of his community efforts where society would see the greatest benefit for his investment of time and money: namely into the betterment of children and their education. He vehemently believed that every child could learn, and if they weren't there was a reason. Glenn was predeceased by his parents, Leonard Joseph Goudeau and Mamie Chatelain Goudeau; his brother Stuart Leonard Goudeau, Sr.; and his beloved wife Priscilla "Jo" Morgan Goudeau. Those left to cherish his memory include his sister, Cheryl Goudeau of Metairie; his two sons, Beau Goudeau of Lafayette and Jacques Goudeau and wife, Melissa Smith Goudeau of Marksville and his four grandchildren, Andre and Henri Goudeau of Lafayette and Remy and Jolie Goudeau of Marksville. All children can learn to read, and dyslexia is most treatable when discovered early in life. It is estimated that 15% of all schoolchildren have dyslexia, and it represents the vast majority of all learning disabilities. Early diagnosis is always important. Because of inurnment at a later date, instead of flowers, Glenn would have preferred donations to offer free diagnosis and treatment of dyslexia in Avoyelles Parish. Donations to this effort can be made in memory of Glenn Goudeau to the "Avoyelles Education Foundation," and sent to the foundation account held at the Central Louisiana Community Foundation, P.O. Box 7432, Alexandria, LA, 71306. All funds will go to treat dyslexia in Avoyelles Parish. http://www.melanconfunerals.com