Lois Faye Durant

Lois Faye Durant, of Palestine, Texas, passed away on Wednesday, the 29th day of July 2026, at the age of 82. She was born in Lake Charles, Louisiana on the 22nd day of October 1943 to the late Emery Mitchell Broussard and Martha Lola Derouen Broussard.

Mrs. Durant possessed a true servant's heart, dedicating her life to uplifting others in Anderson County and beyond. She was a faithful member of the Sacred Heart Catholic Church. Driven by her passion for helping others, she became a leader as one of the founding organizers of Meals on Wheels in Palestine and serving as the executive director for over 37 years before retiring in 2020. Her advocacy for the vulnerable extended statewide and nationally through her active membership in the Meals on Wheels Association of Texas and the Meals on Wheels Association of America.

For decades, Mrs. Durant poured her energy into civic improvement. She was a longtime member of Altrusa International of Anderson County, Alpha Phi Kappa Sorority, and a former member of the Rotary Club of Palestine. Through these organizations, she volunteered countless hours, leading service projects that left a lasting mark on her community.

A creative spirit beyond her civic leadership, Mrs. Durant was a gifted artist and crafter who found immense joy in bringing beauty into the world. Her creative talents spanned flower arranging, jewelry making, and wood painting. She was particularly known for her vibrant ceramic painting and her unique passion for painting gourds, Santas, and Christmas trees, creating treasured keepsakes for her family and friends.

Above all her civic achievements, Mrs. Durant's greatest source of pride was her family. She was a deeply loving and supportive mother who poured her heart into raising her four children. She watched them grow into accomplished adults with immense pride, always considering her family to be her greatest achievement. Her warmth, and boundless generosity to her loved ones and our community will be deeply missed by all who knew her.

Mrs. Durant is preceded in death by her parents Emery and Martha Broussard, husband Joe Sidney Durant, sisters Janet Johnson and Mary Lorraine Duhon, and her brother, Paul Henry Chargois.

She leaves behind her daughter Dawn Marie Egan and husband Leonard; daughter, Laure Lynne Graham Bruner and husband Ken; son, Jon Dupre Graham and wife Kim; and daughter, Camille Antoinette Graham and husband Daniel Moreno. Mrs. Durant will also be missed by her sisters Pauline Morgan and Janie Gayle Pago; brother, Ronald James Chargois; grandchildren, Grady Weisinger, Mitchell Broussard, Stephenie Bruner Conklin, Michael Todd Broussard, Heather Marie Egan, Donald Joseph Egan, Jon Dupre Graham, Jr., Shawna Cramer Graham; fifteen great-grandchildren, and numerous nieces, nephews, other family members and friends.

Friends are cordially invited to a visitation with the family from five o'clock until seven o'clock in the evening on Friday, the 7th day of August 2026 in the Rhone Memorial Chapel, 3900 S. State Highway 19 in Palestine, where the recitation of the Holy Rosary is to commence at five o'clock.

Funeral services to honor Lois Durant are to be conducted at ten o'clock in the morning on Saturday, the 8th day of August 2026, in the Rhone Memorial Chapel with Dan Rose officiating the service. Interment will follow in St. Joseph's Catholic Cemetery.

Those honored to serve as pallbearers are Mitchell Broussard, Michael Broussard, Grady Weisinger, Trevor Tadlock, Jon Graham, Jr., Nick Cantu, and Matthew Conklin. Honorary pallbearer will be Donald Egan.

In lieu of flowers, donations can be directed toward Tri-County Meals on Wheels at https://tri-countymow.org.

Services for Lois Faye Durant are in care of Rhone Funeral Home, 3900 S. State Highway 19, Palestine, Texas. Please visit her online memorial tribute at www.rhonefuneralhome.com, where words of comfort and condolence may be shared electronically with her family.