Clebert Latiolais
May 21, 1961 — March 26, 2024
Clebert "Clay" Joseph Latiolais, III, born on May 27, 1961, passed away in the early morning hours of March 26, 2024, in Jacksonville, Florida, after a battle with lung cancer. Clay attended Cotton Valley High School in Louisiana before venturing eastward in the early 80s. Although he never pursued formal college education, he held a Master's degree in Resourcefulness from the esteemed School of Hard Knocks.
Clay was known for his sharp wit, mechanical ingenuity, and headstrong nature. Clay had a knack for getting under people's skin in a playful way, often turning moments of tension into amusement. His infectious "snickering" laughter resonated with all who knew him, and his protective spirit and compassionate heart were the character traits that bonded him to lifelong friendships with so many.
Though he made friends effortlessly, Clay was also a private person who often preferred solitude, especially later in life; embodying a bit of a vagabond lifestyle. Clay loved the ocean and deep sea fishing and found his greatest sense of peace out amidst the salty air and crashing waves.
A true "grease monkey" at heart, Clay was an old-school mechanic with a talent for fixing anything with an engine. He had a lifelong love affair with cars and was a curious tinkerer of all things with pieces and parts - beginning when he was just a child; often caught precociously dismantling and reassembling things he shouldn't have. Clay spent the last 20 or so years as the primary mechanic at "Coach n Carriage Limousine," servicing luxury limousines and tour/coach buses in Jacksonville, Florida.
Ultimately, Clay found purpose under the hood of a car, solace on the open ocean, and he found the most delight of all in his daughter, Sharlie, and the deep love they shared.
Clay is survived by his daughter Sharlie (Latiolais) Rippey and her wife, Jess Rippey, his ex-wife Sherrie Mann Latiolais, his brother Michael Latiolais, his sister Evelyn "Evie" Rossi, his sister Dana Solomon (and husband Gene Solomon), his niece Rani Solomon Zemanek (and her husband Chaz Zemanek), his brother Carl Shockley, Jr. (and his wife Hayley Hoang Shockley), and his great niece Willow Reece Zemanek.
Clay is preceded in death by his mother Sandra Joyce Burge Shockley, his father Clebert Joseph Latiolais II, his step-daughter Heidi McGuire Price, and his nephew Justin Reece Solomon.
Clay will be deeply missed by all who knew him, remembered by his friends, siblings, daughter, cousins, aunts and uncles for his sharp wit, his skillful hands, his "can-do" attitude, his nomad spirit and his warm, protective heart.
Clay arranged for his remains to be cremated, and there are no current plans for a service. We welcome and encourage your memories and photos on his Facebook page.
Clay was known for his sharp wit, mechanical ingenuity, and headstrong nature. Clay had a knack for getting under people's skin in a playful way, often turning moments of tension into amusement. His infectious "snickering" laughter resonated with all who knew him, and his protective spirit and compassionate heart were the character traits that bonded him to lifelong friendships with so many.
Though he made friends effortlessly, Clay was also a private person who often preferred solitude, especially later in life; embodying a bit of a vagabond lifestyle. Clay loved the ocean and deep sea fishing and found his greatest sense of peace out amidst the salty air and crashing waves.
A true "grease monkey" at heart, Clay was an old-school mechanic with a talent for fixing anything with an engine. He had a lifelong love affair with cars and was a curious tinkerer of all things with pieces and parts - beginning when he was just a child; often caught precociously dismantling and reassembling things he shouldn't have. Clay spent the last 20 or so years as the primary mechanic at "Coach n Carriage Limousine," servicing luxury limousines and tour/coach buses in Jacksonville, Florida.
Ultimately, Clay found purpose under the hood of a car, solace on the open ocean, and he found the most delight of all in his daughter, Sharlie, and the deep love they shared.
Clay is survived by his daughter Sharlie (Latiolais) Rippey and her wife, Jess Rippey, his ex-wife Sherrie Mann Latiolais, his brother Michael Latiolais, his sister Evelyn "Evie" Rossi, his sister Dana Solomon (and husband Gene Solomon), his niece Rani Solomon Zemanek (and her husband Chaz Zemanek), his brother Carl Shockley, Jr. (and his wife Hayley Hoang Shockley), and his great niece Willow Reece Zemanek.
Clay is preceded in death by his mother Sandra Joyce Burge Shockley, his father Clebert Joseph Latiolais II, his step-daughter Heidi McGuire Price, and his nephew Justin Reece Solomon.
Clay will be deeply missed by all who knew him, remembered by his friends, siblings, daughter, cousins, aunts and uncles for his sharp wit, his skillful hands, his "can-do" attitude, his nomad spirit and his warm, protective heart.
Clay arranged for his remains to be cremated, and there are no current plans for a service. We welcome and encourage your memories and photos on his Facebook page.
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