Louis P. Saia Jr.

Louis P. Saia Jr., 79, a native and resident of Houma who lived in New Orleans for 30 years, died at home at 1:05 a.m. Friday, Feb. 8, 2008. Visitation will be from 1 to 4 p.m. Monday at St. Francis de Sales Cathedral in Houma. Mass will be at 4 p.m. Monday at the church, with burial at St. Francis de Sales Cemetery No. 2. He is survived by his wife of 53 years, Ann Maucele Saia of Houma; two sons, Louis P. Saia III and wife Cindy, of Jackson, Tenn., and Lyndon J. Saia, of Houma; two daughters, Lisa Ann Saia of New Orleans, and Leeann S. Branton and husband David of Metairie; two brothers, Vincent Saia of Harahan and John Saia of Houma; two sisters, Rita Saia Ayers and Christine Saia Jones, both of Houma. He is also survived by 15 grandchildren, Ciana S. McGinnis, Louis Saia IV, Michael Saia, Joseph Saia, John Paul Saia, Samuel Saia, Anthony Lama, Nick Lama, Kate Saia Chetta, Sam Lama, Elizabeth Branton, Abigail Branton, James Branton, Stephen Saia, and John Michael Saia; and two great-grandchildren, Luciana and Jonny McGinnis. At the age of 17, Mr. Saia opened the Saia freight terminal in Lafayette with his brothers following the end of World War II. At the time, the terminal was the largest outside of New Orleans. After Mr. Saia served in the U.S. Air Force during the Korean War, he and his brothers continued to expand Saia Motor Freight, opening terminals throughout Louisiana and in adjacent states. The company grew into a major freight line in the southeast during the 1980s. Mr. Saia was a member of the American Trucking Association for many years. When Mr. Saia moved back to Houma in 1985, he convinced his brothers to move the company’s general office to the city, which was then in the midst of an economic downturn. The move increased the size of the local terminal from 40 to 350 employees in a short time span. Mr. Saia was passionate about his family, his church and Saia Motor Freight. He was devoted to his family, gave generously to St. Francis de Sales Cathedral in Houma as well as to other charitable causes. He also showed great concern for his employees and established a foundation to help needy children. Pall bearers are: James Branton, Anthony Lama, Nick Lama, Sam Lama, Stephen Saia, John Michael Saia and Louis Saia IV. Honorary pall bearers are: Earl Williams Sr., John Champagne, John Breaux, August Gallo, John McGinnis, Nick Chetta, Vincent Saia Jr. and Greg Jones. In lieu of flowers the family request donations be made in the name of Louis P. Saia Jr. to one of the following institutions: St. Francis de Sales Cathedral, 500 Goode St., Houma, LA, 70360; St. Jude Hospital, 501 St. Jude Place, Memphis, TN, 38105-1942; or the Louis Infant Center, 3513 Bayou Black Drive, Houma, LA, 70360, or any other needy charity.