St. Paul Bourgeois, Iii

JEANERETTE " A Mass of Christian burial for St. Paul Bourgeois III, 88, will begin at 10 a.m. Monday at St. John the Evangelist Catholic Church. The Rev. Jody Simoneaux, rector of St. John the Evangelist and Monsigner Keith Derouen, rector of the Cathedral of St. John the Evangelist in Lafayette will be Co-Celebrants of the Mass and will conduct the funeral services. Entombment will be in the St. John the Evangelist Cemetery.

Visitation will be from 5 p.m. to 8 p.m. Sunday at Davids Funeral Home in Jeanerette, with a Rosary at 6:30 p.m. and visitation will continue at 8 a.m. on Monday until time of service.

A native of Jeanerette Mr. Bourgeois died on Thursday, April 22, 2010, at his residence in Jeanerette.

Mr. Bourgeois, a graduate of the Gulf Coast Military Academy, attended Southwest Louisiana Institute (now University of Louisiana at Lafayette) and Tulane University, where he was a member of the Delta Kappa Epsilon fraternity. He was a veteran of the Air Force division of the Army during WWII.

Mr. Bourgeois farmed sugarcane in Jeanerette for 42 years as owner of East Linden Plantation. He was a member of St. John the Evangelist Catholic Church congregation, where he served as trustee. He also served as a past board member of St. Joseph School, was a member of the Chamber of Commerce, and was affiliated with various other organizations.

He was an active board member, vice-chairman of First National Bank of Jeanerette from 1968 until being appointed chairman of the board in 1991.

Family and community were very important to Mr. Bourgeois, who frequently was an anonymous philanthropist to many worthy causes.

He is survived by his loving wife of 64 years, Rose Beverly Chew Butler Bourgeois, of Jeanerette; seven children St. Paul Bourgeois IV and spouse Sharon, of Lafayette; Elizabeth Sovine and spouse Ronnie, of Jeanerette; Sidney Bourgeois , of Lafayette; Linden Brashier and spouse Jim, of Biloxi, MS; Butler Bourgeois and spouse Carolyn, of Baton Rouge; Julie Brashier and spouse Mitch, of St. Francisville, LA; Katherine LaSalle and spouse Thomas, of Lafayette; grandchildren St. Paul Bourgeois V and spouse Stephannie, of Memphis, TN; Christopher Bourgeois and spouse Dianne, of Baton Rouge; Lauren Bourgeois and fiance William Stone, of Atlanta, GA; Kristin Bourgeois and fiance Brian Smith, of Baton Rouge; Emily Hathoot and spouse Michael, of Arlington, TX; Gregory Sovine, Sydney Sovine, of Jeanerette; Dewey Brashier, Jim Eley Brashier, Analise Brashier, of Biloxi, MS; Anna Katherine (Katie) Bourgeois, Butler Bourgeois, Carson Bourgeois , Mary Elizabeth (Libby) Bourgeois, of Baton Rouge; Samuel Brashier, of St. Francisville, LA; Thomas LaSalle, Ormond LaSalle, of Lafayette; great-grandchildren Madelyn Rae Bourgeois, of Memphis, TN; Sophie Grace Bourgeois, of Baton Rouge; and Joshua Hathoot, Vivian Cheri Hathoot, of Arlington, TX;

Mr. Bourgeois was preceded in death by his parents St. Paul Bourgeois Jr. and Julie Minvielle Bourgeois; sister Dewey May Bourgeois; granddaughters, Nicole Elise Bourgeois and Mary Elise Brashier.

Pallbearers will be St. Paul Bourgeois V, Christopher Bourgeois, Gregory Sovine, Jim Eley Brashier, Butler Bourgeois Jr., Carson Bourgeois , Thomas LaSalle and Ormond LaSalle.

Honorary Pallbearers will be Elton Blackie Beaullieu Jr, Dr. Gerald Buddy Beaullieu, Dr. Harold Chastant, Dr. Phillip Culotta, Ivory Gibson, Wilton Gibson, Ronald Guillotte, Robert Mickey Morrill, Pratt Munson, Dr. Donald Pavy, Clint Subra, Johnny Switzer, Paul Thibeaux, Robert Gonsoulin, Dewey Gonsoulin and Dr. Thomas Gonsoulin.

The family would like to express their appreciation to Drs. Stephen Boudreaux and Michael Alvarez for their vigilant care of their father over many years and to the many caregivers over these past few years including Linda Austin, Shirley Bessard, Antoilla Jeanlewis, Rose Jeanlewis, Cynthia Muffoletto, Chance Skinner and Margery Vitatoe. In lieu of flowers, the family requests a donation be made to the "Cemetery Alter Restoration Fund" c/o First National Bank of Jeanerette, 1331 Main St., Jeanerette, LA 70544 (337-276-3692) or to the charity of your choice in Mr. Bourgeois memory.

Davids Funeral Home of Jeanerette 400 Provost St. (337)276-5151 is in charge of arrangements.