A COWBOY'S FINAL RIDE

LAKE ARTHUR - One local family is mourning the loss of a young cowboy here.

Clay Chance Leblanc, 23, was fatally injured in a rodeo accident and now his family is facing life without their loved one. They said they want the world to know what a great young man he was.

Clay was a rising star on the rodeo scene. His family said he has always had a passion for horses and he was in his happy place anytime he was with his beloved animals.

From an early age, Clay began learning the cowboy way from his godfather, Joseph “Larkie” Broussard, who also served as the young boy’s father figure and role model.

“Clay was fierce,” said Larkie. “He was never scared of anything.”

Larkie said he recalls the day that he believes kick-started Clay’s love of saddle bronc riding.

“We were out horseback riding one day,” said Larkie. “I started to hear the horse snorting. Next thing I know, the horse is going one way and I see Clay’s boot fly the other way.”

Larkie said the horse had bucked Clay off but he jumped back up and said he was ready to ride again. The fall had not shaken him one bit.

Larkie said he asked Clay if he was alright and without hesitation, Clay answered, “Yeah, get my boot, I wanna ride again.”

The fire within Leblanc had been ignited.

“That’s how it all began,” said Clay’s mother Stephanie Broussard Turner. “Clay was never afraid to get back on the horse.”

Stephanie said she was worried because she knew the possibility of her only son becoming injured in the rodeo world.

“I didn’t want him to get involved with it,” she said. “But I supported him and followed him on every adventure.”

Stephanie said that of all his rides, she can only remember ever missing two events due to traveling or prior engagements.

“If I had to miss, they had to send me a video of his ride,” she said. “He was my heart and my soul, my everything.”

Clay’s first-ever ride was at the rodeo arena in Jennings. Since his death, his family said cowboys as young as age seven have already pledged to dedicate their next ride to Clay at the same arena in September.

Stephanie said he was sharing his knowledge with the youngest rodeo members, not realizing he was learning just as much from them as he was teaching them himself.

A mere two years ago, Clay’s family said he began competing as an amateur saddle bronc rider.

“He was a member of the Cajun Rodeo Association (CRA) and the Louisiana Rodeo Cowboy’s Association (LRCA),” said Larkie. “Clay was ranked second in rankings for the CRA rating.”

Larkie said Clay always gave 100 percent in whatever it was that he was doing.

“He was always willing to help someone else but never would ask for help himself until he had tried to do everything he could to do it himself,” said Larkie.

Clay’s grandmother, Catherine Broussard, agreed with Larkie.

“Clay would do anything for anyone,” she said. “He’d give you the shirt off his back. He’d do anything for anyone at any time.”

Lark Dale Broussard, Clay’s grandfather, said he was just an all-around great kid.

“He never smoked or drank or did any drugs. He was all about his horses.”

A 2014 graduate of Lake Arthur High School, Clay was a member of the basketball team, 4-H Club, Future Farmers of America and part of the student council.

Family members said he even gave track and field a try, but it wasn’t a gold medal he was looking to secure.

Clay’s family said he had his eye on the prize alright, but it had nothing to do with running. He was chasing the girl of his dreams instead, they said.

His future fiancee, Keelie Gatte, was a member of the school’s track team.

“Clay joined just so he could spend more time with her,” said Spring Weekley, Keelie’s mother. “His track career only lasted that one year.”

After that, the couple became high school sweethearts and were inseparable from that day forward, the family said.

“Clay was an amazing young man. We were very fortunate to have him and we could not have chosen a better man for my daughter,” said Weekley. “He was like my family. I’m so thankful for the people who made Clay the man he was. You can’t find a love like the love those two shared.”

Keelie, 21, said she is lost without her best friend.

“Clay was my eyes when I couldn’t find something, my heater when I was cold, my pillow when we laid down at night. He was everything,” said Keelie. “We were at what felt like the peak of our lives, a perfect little boy, a new business and plans to marry next June. Clay was living his dream, training horses and rodeoing.”

The recently engaged couple shared one son, a seven-month-old named Cooper Wayne.

“I know he loved me and Cooper so much and he knew we loved him too,” said Keelie. “Clay was the most selfless person. He would do anything for anyone, especially us.”

The family said Keelie and Clay never fought or argued. They were always happy and where you saw one, you saw the other.

“She was his queen,” said Weekley. “To him she was beautiful and there would never be anything that could change his mind. There is no doubt in my mind that he would’ve been faithful to her for the rest of their lives.”

The family said the two had a well-known agreement before the recent proposal.

Clay was wanting to purchase a new hat but Larkie said Keelie had already put her foot down.

“She told him that before he could buy a new hat, she wanted a ring from him,” said Larkie.

After being together seven years, the time had come.

“We were all together at an event last month,” said Stephanie. “Clay’s hat was destroyed during his ride on Friday night.”

She said they were all sitting together and noticed Clay standing by the door, very quiet.

“I was wondering why he was so quiet,” said Stephanie. “Next thing we knew, he was asking Keelie about that new hat and she replied, ‘Not until I get that ring.’ He pulled that ring from his pocket and went down on one knee to propose.”

Stephanie said they were all shocked, “and poor Clay was there like, ‘Well, will you marry me or what?’”

Of course, Keelie said ‘yes,’ Stephanie said.

Clay’s father, Chance, said Clay did the respectful thing by approaching Keelie’s father and asking his permission to marry Keelie. The two were able to keep it a secret from the unsuspecting family the entire time.

“He always confided in me but this was the one time he didn’t ask for Mom’s advice,” said Stephanie.

Larkie said, “If there was a golden child in the line-up, Clay was it. He’s the only guy I know of that had all his cards in place before his time was up. He really was living his dream. He had it. The only thing he will miss out on was that hand in marriage and his son’s first birthday. That would’ve meant the world to him.”

With Clay being Stephanie’s only child, she said she has been asked why she never had more children.

“I’ve already made a perfect child, what do I need more for?” said Stephanie.

Larkie said Clay had zero enemies and he touched the hearts of everyone he ever met.

On a recent trip for schooling in Colorado, Clay had the opportunity to make an impression on two very accomplished stars in the rodeo world, said Larkie.

Rodeo enthusiast Charles Montgomery said he had the chance to see Clay in action.

“This was a very talented man, he was really something,” said Montgomery. “He was gifted with the talent of agility and he was a great athlete. He was even noticed by two of the greatest rodeo men.”

Cody DeMoss is a 14-time National Finals Rodeo qualifier, five-time reserve champion and the only man to win the Houston Rodeo two years back-to-back. He won the American, the Calvary and holds arena records for the highest scores, according to Montgomery.

Mike Fletcher was the 1983 Saddle Bronc’s World Champion, who was also awarded Best All-Around.

“Clay left a mark on both of these great men in just a short period of 4-5 days,” said Montgomery. “These men saw that Clay was absolutely fearless. He would get slammed and never once complained. He got back up and got back on. Mike and Cody were both moved by what they saw in Clay at such a young age. They saw themselves in Clay. They said they knew what it took to be a champ and Clay had it all. It takes a champ to see a champ.”

Fletcher, an ordained minister, was so inspired by Clay that he has offered to speak at Clay’s services, providing a special Cowboy Mass.

“He said people often ask him to visit services to deliver the mass and he always obliges,” said Larkie. “This is one of the first times Mike has offered to do the service before it was requested. That shows the impact Clay had on him.”

Cousins of Clay also shared fond memories of who they considered one of the best cowboys around.

Dylan Broussard said he was raised by Clay’s mother and instead of cousins, they were more like brothers. He shared hunting and rodeo stories of times he will always remember with a smile.

“We lived every second we had together like it would be our last,” said Dylan. “He was by far the greatest cowboy I’ve ever known. He was loved by many, many people and will be forever loved by all of us.”

Dylan said he wrote a message to Clay, which he read to him while he was in the hospital.

“It was a good ride, Cowboy. You have a little living legend to follow in your footsteps, Cooper, with a great mom to raise him to be just like you,” said Dylan. “Now it’s your time to ride away, Cowboy. Have a safe ride.”

Another cousin, James Zeno, also recalled what a great man Clay really was.

“Bronc riding brought me and Clay closer than ever,” said James. “He was ambitious, intelligent and willing to help anyone. He would smile the entire time until the minute he got on that horse, then he had those serious eyes, chin down and was ready to go.”

James said Clay was a rare breed of a man.

“Clay was something you can’t teach in any man or any boy,” said James. “He came from a happy home and a happy family. He never got in trouble for anything and that is not something you can teach these days. He always made good of what he had.”

Chris Zeno said not only was Clay’s cousin, but also his best friend.

“Clay and I spent a lot of time together, whether it was playing basketball or working horses,” said Chris. “He’d show me up at everything we ever did together. He was always very competitive. He wanted to be the very best at whatever he did.”

Anna Roy, Clay’s cousin, said he was a humble man.

“He had a heart of gold and he loved his family,” she said tearfully.

Stephanie said she always told Clay to never give up on anything.

“I always taught him that,” she said. “I guess that’s how he got it in his blood and body to never quit and always give it all he had.”

Brooks Broussard, Larkie’s wife, said Clay was like a son to her as well.

“I came into his life when he was seven years old,” said Brooks. “He is the Godfather to two of our children. My three-year-old daughter, Lilian, is where he got his nickname from. She couldn’t say Padan Clay and one day it sounded like she called him ‘Pancake.’ It stuck from that day on. We all referred to him as Pancake after that.”

Brooks said they know it will be difficult to explain to their three young children why they won’t be seeing Clay anymore.

“We’ve decided to tell the kids that Pancake has now gone on up into the ‘Big Sky’ where he will continue to watch over them,” she said.

All of Clay’s family said they agree that he had plenty love to share with everyone. His mom said he was very affectionate and always had hugs and kisses to pass around. He had a very unique laugh that they will never forget.

Larkie finished by adding one more positive comment about his nephew.

“We all know how great of a man Clay was,” he said. “We just want others to know it as well.”

A bank account has been set up through Jeff Davis Bank to help Clay’s young child and fiancee.

“Anyone who would like to help can inquire at the Lake Arthur branch of Jeff Davis Bank, just mention Clay’s name and they will know what to do,” said Larkie.