Brad David Laborde, 49, Marksville native

Memorial services for Mr. Brad David Laborde will be held at 11:00 a.m. on Tuesday, November 14, 2023 at St. Joseph Roman Catholic Church in Marksville with Fr. Dan O’Connor officiating. Visitation will be held prior to the memorial from 8 a.m. until the time of service at the Hixson Brothers Funeral Home of Marksville. Entombment will follow the memorial service at St. Joseph Catholic Mausoleum #2. Arrangements are under the direction of Hixson Brothers Funeral Home of Marksville.

Mr. Laborde, Age 49, of Pearland, TX, formerly of Marksville, passed away peacefully on Sunday, October 29, 2023 under home hospice care after a courageous battle with colon cancer.

Brad was a 1992 Marksville Highschool graduate and received a B.S. in Electrical Engineering from Louisiana Tech University in 1997.

His career as an electrical engineer in aviation and aerospace spanned over 25 years, working on production and modifications of various aircraft systems including the Ch47 Chinook, F-15, F-16 and F-18.

Brad was employed by Qualified Technical Services since 2009 and, in most recent years, the lead electrical engineer for NASA’s WB-57 aircraft. He spoke of this project to repurpose the WW2 bomber/reconnaissance aircraft as one of his most rewarding efforts of his career; from the respect he had for the QTS team, to use of his extensive knowledge toward repurposing aircraft, to monitoring launch missions for NASA.

Brad was an active member of a CrossFit gym for the last five years. It was transformative for him and he spent much of his time with his friends setting and achieving new fitness goals.

Brad’s generosity and loyalty made him a friend to many and he will be greatly missed by all.

Those left to cherish his memory are his parents, Harold and Yvonne Laborde; brothers, Harold “Hal” Laborde, Jr. (Tracy) of Houston, TX; William Laborde (Paige) of Missouri City, TX; aunt, Wanda Laborde of Marksville, LA; 1 niece; 2 nephews; and numerous aunts, uncles, and cousins. He is preceded in death by wife, Melanie Laborde, and his sister, Pamela Laborde.

To extend online condolences to the Laborde family, please visit our website at www.hixsonbrothers.com.