Ray “Peanut” Savant, Sr., age 86, passed away peacefully on Wednesday, June 24, 2026.

Funeral services for Ray “Peanut” Savant, Sr. will be held on Monday, June 29, 2026, at 4:00 p.m. in the First Pentecostal Church of Melville (112 Fontenot Street, Melville, LA 71353).

Pallbearers will be Justin Savant, Alex Savant, Tyler Sessums, Steven Sessums, Virgil Duval and Gary Fontenot. Honorary pallbearers will be Nick Ardoin, Ricky Sessums and Destiny Dotson.

Visitation will be held on Monday, June 29, 2026, in the First Pentecostal Church in Melville (112 Fontenot Street, Melville, LA 71353) from 10:00 a.m. until 4:00 p.m.

Ray “Peanut” Savant, Sr. was a tree cutter; he cleared away the branches from power lines for many years. He worked on the pipeline as a young man. Peanut, as most of us knew him, worked with his brother, Johnny (Cheese) on a supply boat. He worked a little while in iron, building and constructing high rise buildings. Working offshore was a hard job; he became a successful rigger. After many years, he returned to iron work. When this job ended, he went on a land rig to drill in Henderson, Louisiana; and went back to tree cutting. These two jobs; he loved them the most. He retired after many years. He always supported his family. The joy of his life was his wife, son, and grandchildren. Any child he met, he became their friend. He loved babies, and no matter what their age he thought of them as a baby.

Peanut is survived by his wife, Velma Jean (Vercher) Savant, of Melville, LA; his granddaughter, Serina Jean Savant (Leroy Smith) of Alexandria, LA; his grandson, Justin Ray Savant (Victoria), of Deridder, LA; his step-granddaughter, Hope Ardoin, and husband, Nick, of Ville Platte, LA; eleven great-grandchildren; two great-great grandchildren; the foster parent of his great-niece, Bambi Ferguson, of Alexandria, LA; his daughter-in-law, Margie Savant of Melville, LA; his brothers, Billy and Melinda Savant of Denham Springs, LA, Millington and Sheila Savant of Missouri; Larry and Pearl Savant of Venice, LA and Raymond and Kathy Savant of Venice, LA; his sisters, Evelyn and Homer Drinnon, Ann Bonvillian of Venice, LA and Aline Pearson; his half-sister, Ann Savoie of Port Barre, LA and his brothers-in-law, David and Gloria Vercher of Oklahoma and Vernon and Lori Vercher of Texas. He is also survived by many nieces and nephews.

He was preceded in death by his parents, Daniel W. and Hazel Savant; his son, Ray Savant, Jr.; his brothers, Daniel (Shirley) Savant, Johnny (Geneva) Savant, John (Joyce) Savant, Jessie (Marilan) Savant, Joseph (Janice) Savant, and Sherlen Savant; his sister, Betty Jane (Sherlen) Goutro; his father-in-law and mother-in-law, Leroy and Gladys Vercher; his sisters-in-law, Barbara and Buddy Sharbino, Dollie and Norman Dupre, Sandra and Kenneth Smith and his brother-in-law, Roy Vercher and Mike Pearson.

Ray “Peanut” Savant, Sr, will be remembered by all who knew and loved him.

Family and friends are invited to sign and view the online guestbook at www.lafondardoin.com.

Lafond-Ardoin Funeral Home of Melville, 607 1st Street, Melville, LA 71353, (337) 942-2638, has been entrusted with the funeral arrangements.