DONNY MCCOY SPEARS

VILLE PLATTE - Funeral services for Donny McCoy Spears, 79, will be held at 2 p.m. today, October 1, 2026, at Our Lady, Queen of All Saints Catholic Church in Ville Platte, with burial to follow in Gate of Heaven Cemetery.
Visitation will be held today, October 1, 2026, from 9:30 a.m. until the time of services in the LaVille Funeral Home Chapel.
Donny, a resident of Ville Platte, passed away Monday, September 28, 2026, at Heritage Manor Nursing Home.
Donny lived a full life centered around family, community, sports, and service to others. A loyal LSU fan, he proudly held season tickets for many years and rarely missed an opportunity to cheer on the Tigers.
His love of sports extended far beyond being a fan. For more than 20 years, Donny was actively involved with Dixie Youth, giving countless hours of his time to young athletes in the community. He also coached seventh and eighth-grade basketball at Sacred Heart and spent 17 years coaching at Belmont Academy.
Through the years, he touched the lives of many young people, sharing not only his knowledge of the game but also encouragement, patience, and a genuine desire to see them succeed.
Donny was also a hardworking businessman and entrepreneur. Throughout his career, he owned and operated several local businesses, including Pommier’s, followed by The Bank Note, and later Donny’s Place. His businesses became familiar gathering places where friendships were made and stories were shared.
Above all, Donny will be remembered for his generous heart and the way he consistently put others before himself. Nothing brought him greater happiness than his family, especially his grandchildren. He was their biggest supporter and could often be found cheering them on from the sidelines at their sporting events and celebrating their accomplishments. His love and pride for his grandchildren were evident to everyone who knew him.
He will be deeply missed by his loving wife, Jackie Spears, of Ville Platte; his son, Jimmy Fontenot, of Cecilia; his daughters, Amy Fontenot, of Ville Platte, Kelly Walker, of Pineville, and Katie Vidrine of Ville Platte; 13 grandchildren; four great-grandchildren; and numerous nieces, nephews, great-nieces, and great-nephews.
He is preceded in death by his parents, Gus and Julia McCoy Spears; his brother, Robert “Sonny” Spears; and his sisters, Joy Duplechain, Betty Aguillard, and Gussie Ann Spears.
Donny leaves behind a legacy of generosity, community involvement, and devotion to family. The many young athletes he coached, friends he made through his businesses, and family members he loved so dearly will carry his memory with them for years to come.
LaVille Funeral Home is in charge of arrangements.