Edward Franklin Fuselier, Jr. passed away on November 12, 2017 in Houston, Texas after a full and joyous life of 86 years.

Edward was born to Lena Cuccio Fuselier and Edward Franklin Fuselier, Sr. on October 19, 1931 in Carencro, Louisiana. He was their only child.  His family moved to New Orleans after his birth because there wasn't any work in Carencro.  His father became a barber.  He recalled that his mother was close to a neighbor, Mrs. Joe, who also spoke Italian.  With her assistance, the family bought a double house on North Robertson Street.  The rental of one unit paid for the $15 per month mortgage.  The house was built with lumber from a church that had been demolished.  He recalled taking his wagon to the train tracks to pick up pieces of coal to heat the home.  He also recalled his mother renting a room to a musician who played the guitar.  He recalled that, although his family struggled financially, they had food.  He enjoyed listening to his mother and Mrs. Joe speaking Italian.  He recalled that his father worked hard to support the family.  He spent his time working and repairing the home.  His mother was an excellent cook and liked to sew.  The family attended church, but there wasn't time for hobbies.

Edward graduated from Francis T. Nichols High School at age 18. This was a trade school.  He had his first job while still attending high school.  His father secured a position for him at Denneshene Transfer.  He would ride the street car for seven cents after school to pick up Bills of Ladence.  After he graduated from school, he worked for Crane Company as a salesman.

As the United States entered the Korean conflict in 1950, Edward's father began to talk to him about enlisting in the Navy. Edward said that his father told him that he would always have a place to sleep and food to eat if he joined the Navy.  Edward told the story of riding a street car to the recruitment center near Lake Ponchartrain.  He began the enlistment process, but was told by the doctor conducting his physical examination that he had a "murmur of the heart" and couldn't join.  The recruiter told him to come back on Saturday, when they had another doctor.  Edward did that and the second doctor determined that the murmur was not serious and allowed him to enlist.  He recalled that Mrs. Joe provided him with clean clothing for his journey to basic training.  His father was happy with his decision to join the Navy.  His mother worried, as he was her only child.  She gave him a religious medal to wear.  Edward traveled with other recruits by train to Great Lakes, Illinois where he completed basic training.  While in basic training, there was a sign that said "Take all that you want and eat all that you take".  Edward enjoyed the plentiful food the Navy provided.  After basic training, he was then assigned to the USS Haynsworth (DD700), a World War II destroyer.  Edward recalled following a Bosun's Mate, walking over many ships, until they reached the Haynsworth.  Edward became sea sick and the Bosun's Mate told him that he would get used to it, which he did.  He was assigned to the boiler room and became a boiler operator helper.  He felt that his experience in trade school had prepared him for this work.  Edward recalled his years in the service fondly.  The Haynsworth was in the Atlantic and their job was to accompany aircraft carriers.  He learned about boilers, which were essential to keeping the ship running.  Edward said that he made friend with many of the other 275 men aboard.  He recalled working in the US Postal Service in New Orleans while on leave from service, where he and fellow workers ate candy that escaped from packages.

After leaving the Navy, Edward returned to New Orleans in 1953. He was living at home with his parents.  Through a friend and her brother, Edward met Marilyn Monie, who was a nursing student at Hotel Deiu.  He teased her that she might have cared for him when he had his appendix removed at that Hospital.  They began dating.  Marilyn's father was a very kind man and even allowed them to borrow his car for dates.  Edward recalled that they went to a drive in movie and the car wouldn't start when they were ready to go home.  Edward said that he proposed to Marilyn was very happy that she accepted.  However, he needed to find employment to support himself and a wife.  Marilyn had an idea about advertising for a job in the newspaper and getting a post office box where responses could be mailed.  Edward received a letter from Louisiana Power and Light.  In order to get to the interview, he had to borrow his father's car.  The supervisor at LP&L was impressed with his Naval experience and his knowledge of boilers.  He was offered a job, which paid $1.50 per hour.  In order to get to work, he had to purchase his own car.  He was unfortunately taken advantage of and sold a car in poor repair.  He sold it and bought another car, a Dodge.  With his employment secured, he and Marilyn were able to marry on December 26, 1955.  They were able to get a small home on Marshall Drive in Harahan, LA, where they began their family.  Their daughter, Rosemary, was born in 1956, followed by Edward Maurice "Butch" in 1958.  With the family growing, they bought a larger home on 2320 Maine Ave., in Metairie.  There they had Stephen in 1959, Nancy 1961 and Linda in 1965.  Marilyn's brother, "Sonny"(Maurice Monie), his wife Marilyn and their children, Gary, Judy and Sharon lived across the street.  Eventually Marilyn's parents moved into the neighborhood as well.  Edward recalled with great joy raising his five children.  There are many hours of home movies showing Edward and Marilyn with their children on outings and adventures.  Edward was very involved with his sons in Boy Scouts.  He said that Marilyn encouraged this as a good father son activity.  Edward said that he had been in the Boy Scouts as a child himself, in Troop #3.  Edward recalled attending a week of Camp Salmen each summer with his sons and dressing up as Indians, canoeing on Bayou St. John.  The family attended St. Lawrence Catholic Church.

The family had challenges. Butch had heart surgery and Linda was in a body cast as an infant.  While he continued to advance in his career, financially supporting his growing family was difficult.  He recalled a kind neighbor who owned the local McDonald's.  He offered that Edward could work there any time he wanted.  Edward was working shift work at LP&L and would periodically work at McDonald's.  He recalled peeling potatoes and slicing them in a cutting machine.  When he spoke of this, he seemed to enjoy the work.  Edward spoke of his mother's death from colon cancer in the 1970's.  He said that in the old days, if you got cancer, you died.  Losing his mother was very difficult for him.  Edward tragically lost his father in 1987 in an act of violence.  This was also a very difficult time for him.

Edward was very proud of his children and their accomplishments. Oldest daughter Rosemary completed college at LSU and then moved to Colorado with her husband, Vernon Logrie.  They had Sarah and Andre.  Butch graduated from the University of New Orleans and began a career in Texas.  He married Charlotte Donner and they had children Jonathan, Wagner and Roxanne and grandchildren Romeo, Lana, Ryden, Orion, Penelope and Leonardo.  Stephen graduated from University of Iowa with his PhD.  He married Elizabeth Packer and had children Justin and Claire.  Stephan and Elizabeth live in San Antonio.  Nancy completed Veterinary School at LSU and moved to Colorado.  She married Dailey Bugg and they had daughter Mary.  Linda graduated from University of Kentucky with her PhD and has son Joshua.  They live in Kentucky.  Edward and Marilyn were wonderful grandparents and enjoyed spending time with their grandchildren.  Edward recalled showing the movie "Ready Kilowatt" to Joshua's elementary classroom.

Edward spoke of his love of running. He said that he proposed the idea of entering races to Marilyn.  She encouraged him, but said that he needed to run 5 or 10 K races, not marathons.  He frequently placed in his age group and really enjoyed the food and drink after the race.  He had an extensive collection of racing t-shirts and was proud of the t-shirt quilt that Marilyn had made for him.

After 35 years of employment at LP&L, Edward retired. He said that he had been employed since he was 16 years old and he was ready to retire.  Marilyn saw an advertisement for a movie extra in the newspaper and encouraged him to apply.  Thus began Edward's career as a movie extra.  He appeared in almost all movies filmed in New Orleans including "Interview with the Vampire", "Benjamin Button", and "RED".  He loved meeting movie stars and, of course, the free food.  After retiring from her career in teaching and school counseling, Marilyn joined him as an extra.

Edward worked as an usher for the New Orleans Zephyrs (AAA minor league baseball team) from 1993 to 2013. He enjoyed visiting with friends and watching the games.  He remained active with other retirees from LP&L, a group that called themselves "The Old Fossils".  Edward had a life-long interest in history, as demonstrated by the many photographs he took with his children on cannons at the sites of battles.  In retirement, he attended history seminars and particularly enjoyed listing to lectures by Stephan Ambrose.  Edward and Marilyn moved to Marguerite Road after he retired and they began attending St. Edward the Confessor Catholic Church where he was active in the Men's Club.  He enjoyed helping with the pancake breakfasts and the Cochon de Lait.  Edward recalls flying with his son-in-law, Dailey, and was very proud of his certificate of pilotage.  He and Marilyn doted on their little dog, Noel.

In 2013, Edward and Marilyn moved to Texas to be near their son, due to Marilyn's declining health. They moved into the Solana Assisted Living.  Sadly, Marilyn died shortly afterward on November 8, 2013.  Edward grieved the loss of his beloved wife.  He continued to be active, volunteering at St. Luke's Hospital, playing Bingo, participating in Arts and Crafts and organizing movie night for fellow residents.  In January 2015, he was diagnosed with colon cancer, but recovered with surgery.  His health, however, began to decline.  Towards the end of his life, he reflected that he had a great life.  He had raised five wonderful children, he had a wife whom he loved deeply, and work that he found enjoyable.  He felt that his life was complete and he was ready to join Marilyn.  He is remembered fondly by the family that he and Marilyn created and nurtured.