Date de Décès: 2005-12-18
Date de Parution: 2005-12-20
Source: The Advocate, Baton Rouge, LA, US
BOURGEOIS, FRANCES O. A resident of Fort Smith, Ark., she died Sunday, Dec. 18, 2005, at Peachtree Hospice of Fort Smith. She was 80. She was instrumental in promoting the performing and visual arts in Fort Smith and was a recipient of the 1997 Civic Center Honors Award. She served as president of the Fort Smith Musical Coterie and as chairperson of the National Federation of Music Clubs Junior Festival for 25 years. Mrs. Bourgeois was a 1941 graduate of Academy of the Sacred Heart in Grand Coteau and a 1946 graduate of Southwestern Louisiana Institute, now University of Louisiana at Lafayette. Before she settled on a career as a professional piano teacher, her early career in Louisiana included service as a band director in Golden Meadow, second-grade teacher in Morgan City and pianist in the Harry Greig Dance Band in Lafayette. She was an accomplished musician and taught piano for more than 50 years. She brought piano lessons to students at Lavaca and Christ the King schools and taught private lessons in her home until recently. Later in life, Mrs. Bourgeois had another career, as a surveyor for Research Triangle Institute. In addition, she worked for the federal government, retiring from the Census Bureau in 1999. A memorial service will be held at 2 p.m. Wednesday, Dec. 21, at St. Bartholomew Episcopal Church, 2701 Old Greenwood Road, Fort Smith. The family will visit with friends after the service at the Bourgeois' home at 2000 S. 65th St. A second memorial service will be held at 2 p.m. Tuesday, Dec. 27, at St. Charles Borromeo Catholic Church in Grand Coteau. After the service, the family will visit with friends at the childhood home of Mrs. Bourgeois at 139 Meche Road, Arnaudville. She is survived by her husband, Calvin R. Bourgeois of Fort Smith; daughters, Kathy LeDew of Harlingen, Texas, and Debbie Bourgeois of San Diego, Calif.; sons, Karl Bourgeois of Bowie, Md., and Rick Bourgeois of Baton Rouge; sister, Ellen Ramier of Arnaudville; brothers, John Olivier of Sunset and Joe Olivier of Mauldin, S.C.; and grandchildren, Karen Payne, John Bourgeois, Rich Bourgeois, Jim Bourgeois, Adam Bourgeois and Michael Paul Bourgeois; and two great-grandchildren, Roger and Ashley. In lieu of flowers, the family requests memorial contributions be made in her name to: IPFAC Piano/String Camp, Duane Langley, treasurer, 1203 Whispering Pines, St. Louis, MO 63146. Published in The Advocate on 12/20/2005.