by: Belinda Brooks
Members of the Butte Tribe met to pay homage to Council Chief Terry Allen Desadier Sr., Tuesday, December 10th, 2019, at Christian Harmony Baptist Church in Pace Community, Natchitoches Parish. Bro. James Lovell and Bro. Jerry Martin officiated.
Butte Chief Rodger Collum spoke of a lifetime friendship with his cousin, Terry. As far back as he could remember, Terry and he were in charge of burying their family members, as Collum put it, “…putting them in the ground,” of which the last count was 69. Chief Collum told of Terry’s pride of being a part of the tribe drum team, of earning his feathers and of just being a part of the Butte family. Terry was the official administrative Butte Treasurer and will certainly be missed by all who knew and loved him. Following the Chief’s remembrances, the Butte tribal singers sang a Native American song in their native language in honor of their blood brother’s home-going.
Terry was born on January 3, 1947, to Henry Roy (1918-1985) and Pearl Frederick Desadier (1909-1982) of Natchitoches, Louisiana. Through both his father and mother, Terry claims Texas Mission, Chitimacha and Caddo Indian bloodline. He was the grandson of Clarence and Lou Ella Waters Desadier. Clarence was the previous family/tribe leader. Terry would often laugh and have stories to tell about his grandparents and happenings in the family life at Bayou Bourbeaux. Being a descendant of Clarence Desadier put Terry in a direct line of lineage to White Smoke, the first chief of what is known today as the Butte Indians, and his wife, Two Moons. Other Native American ancestors in his lineage were the captive Chitimacha sisters, Marie Theresa de La Grande Terre, wife of Jacque Guedon; her sister, Marie Jeanie De La Grande Terre, wife of Francis Derbanne; Texas Mission Indian, Angelique who bore children by Charles Dumont; Ann of the Caddos, wife of Jean Baptist Breville; and others.
Terry served in the United States Army and was very proud of his patriotic service. Terry retired from Haynes International after many years of service in the maintenance department. During his free time, he enjoyed the outdoors, especially hunting and fishing with family and friends. Having an easy-going personality, he instantly made friends with anyone he met. Terry was a proud member of the Butte Tribe of Bayou Bourbeaux and served as treasurer for the chief council for many years. He was a long-time member of Pine Grove Baptist Church in Castor and enjoyed fellowship with his church family. His most prized possession on earth was the relationship with his family. He loved his children, grandchildren, and great-grandchildren and always put their needs ahead of his own. He will be dearly missed by all that knew and loved him.
He is survived by his children, Tammy Desadier Goodman, David Desadier, and Terry “Tad” Desadier, Jr., and his wife Crystal; a sister, JoAnne Holland and husband George; grandchildren, Austin Desadier, Autumn Rojas, Victoria Desadier, Preston Desadier, Colton Desadier, Tanner Goodman, James Prestage, Jacie Prestage, Maranda Desadier, Marisa Desadier, Bethany Temple, Travis Hargrave and Nick Newton; as well as 11 great-grandchildren.