Keith Whipple

Keith Mitchell Michael Whipple, age 82, passed away surrounded by his loving family on Saturday, January 16, 2021 at 5:01 a.m., after a courageous 12-year battle with cancer. He was a native and resident of Bourg, LA.

Keith is survived by his beloved wife, Judge Vanessa Lee Guidry Whipple; children, Walter Kirk Whipple and wife, Marilyn Morales, Amy Elizabeth Whipple Anderson and husband, Greg, Ricky James Whipple and fiancé, Dominique Bonvillain, and Dr. Christopher Keith Whipple and wife, Perrine Chaumont; grandchildren, Brendan Joseph Keating and wife, Megan Durham, Calvin Blake Anderson, Juliette Clara Whipple, and Pierre Christopher Whipple.

Keith is preceded in death by his mother, Lola Ann Whipple; and his granddaughter, Jillian Erica Keating.

Keith loved practicing law and enjoyed a long and successful career of over 58 years, as a prosecutor, trial attorney, and indigent defender.  He was admitted to practice before federal courts, state courts, and the Supreme Court.  He mentored many attorneys throughout his career and was the lead attorney in several landmark cases.  He also served as a campaign advisor and consultant for many who sought and held public office. 

He served as First Assistant District Attorney, prosecuting major felonies, and was also a founding member of the Indigent Defender Board, established to provide legal services for the poor.  He was honored by the Terrebonne Parish Bar Association for his many accomplishments and received the “Elton Darcey Lifetime Achievement Award.”  He was honored as an “LSU Golden Graduate” by the Paul M. Hebert Law Center at LSU.  He was a past Grand Exalted Ruler of the Houma Elks Club; member of the Terrebonne Parish Sheriff’s Office Flying Posse; and was a founder and the first P.T.C. President of St. Matthew’s Episcopal School.

Throughout his life, he was an accomplished outdoorsman, who loved to hunt and fish with his children, grandchildren and friends.  He loved farming his property in Bourg and generously shared the citrus he cultivated and grew.   He was an avid pilot and for many years, he owned and flew his own airplane. 

In his retirement, he enjoyed precious time with his children and grandchildren, teaching them to love and respect the beauty of the outdoors and to be a good steward of our planet.

The family wishes to publicly thank Dr. Matthew McElveen, Dr. Craig Walker, Dr. Owen Mogabgab, Dr. Anthony Lama, Dr. Fikre Wang, Dr. Jennifer Silinsky, Dr. Chris Barrilleaux, Dr. James Crowe, Dr. Shiva Akula, and all of the nurses and staff at Touro Hospital, Cardiovascular Institute of the South, and Slidell Memorial Hospital for their kind and compassionate care.

To honor his memory, for those who wish to make a donation, donations may be made to Jesuit High School of New Orleans, 4133 Banks Street, New Orleans, LA 70119.   

Due to the restrictions imposed by the pandemic and Covid-19, services will be private. A Celebration of his life will be held at a later date.

Chauvin Funeral Home and Crematory, INC. is honored to serve the Whipple family.