A graveside service with military honors for Steven Paul Ducote will be held on Wednesday, April 1, 2026, at 10:00 a.m. at Pythian Cemetery, located at 407 Cherry Street in Bunkie, Louisiana.

A Celebration of Life will follow at Steve and Denise’s home, located at 271 Dufour Road in Morrow. All who knew and loved him are invited to gather, share memories, and enjoy lunch featuring Steve’s own award-winning jambalaya recipe and refreshments—bringing everyone together once more, just as he always did.

Steve Ducote, age 68, of Morrow, Louisiana, passed away on Friday, March 27, 2026, in Bunkie, Louisiana.

Steve was born in Alexandria, Louisiana, to his parents, Merson and Leona Brown Ducote. He proudly served his country in the United States Marine Corps as a Vietnam War veteran. Known to many as “Gunny,” he carried those values of strength, discipline, and loyalty with him throughout his life.

Following his military service, Steve built a long and dedicated career as a project manager with Guy M. Turner, where he worked for nearly 30 years. He was also an entrepreneur at heart, owning and operating a pizza restaurant and grocery store in the small, close-knit town of Elmo, Virginia.

Steve had a passion for cooking that spanned decades. He was the owner of Cookin’ Cajun and BBQ America, and in the early 2000s, he catered events specializing in barbecue and Cajun cuisine—if anyone needed authentic Cajun cooking, he was the one to call. His love for creating continued throughout his life as the owner of Layin’ Leaux, where he crafted and sold his well-known barbecue sauce, Cajun seasoning, and rubs that are now enjoyed by many.

Beyond the kitchen, Steve was an incredibly skilled craftsman. Through Layin' Leaux, he created handmade woodworking and leather goods, including gun boxes, birdhouses, benches, wallets, holsters, and even knives made from scratch. He truly was a man who could build or fix anything and took great pride in working with his hands.

Steve touched the lives of many and will leave a lasting effect on all who knew him. He will be remembered for his strength, his talents, his generosity, and the way he brought people together through his cooking, craftsmanship, and service.

He is preceded in death by his parents, Merson and Leona Brown Ducote.

Those left to cherish his memory include his wife, Denise Janssen Ducote of Morrow, Louisiana; his children, Josh Gurney (Laura) of Liberty, Mississippi, Jason Ducote (Lois) of Clayton, North Carolina, and Blake Ducote of Morrow, Louisiana; his siblings, Aaron Ducote (Sharon) of Morrow, Louisiana, Eddie Ducote (Amy) of Round Rock, Texas, and Anita Simpson of Texas; and his grandchildren, Jaelynn Ducote, Aubree Gurney, Steele Gurney, Cannon Ducote, and Titan Ducote.

Serving as pallbearers will be: Vincent (Tweety) Baker, Jacob Clark, Toby Cormier, Matthew Cormier, Rick Daughtry, Aaron Ducote, Eddie Ducote, Jason Ducote, Phillip Ducote, Lucas Ducote, James Kieff, Seth Mayhall, and Blake Simon.

Arrangements are under the direction of Hixson-Ducote Funeral Home of Bunkie.

Online condolences may be sent to www.hixson-ducote.com.