Geraldine "Jerry" Pourcy Bates

Geraldine “Jerry” Pourcy Bates, died Wednesday, November 26th, at her residence at Lake Sherwood Village Retirement Community after a long journey with Alzheimer’s disease. She was 88. She is survived by the love of her life, Hilton “Gene” Bates, her husband of 70 years as of December 25th; a daughter, Melinda Bates Petersen and husband, Glen, Baton Rouge; 5 grandchildren and 7 great-grandchildren: Brandon Bates and wife, Laura, (Rickey, Rebecca) Atlanta, GA; Kyle Petersen, wife, Michelle, (Hadley, Connor, Presley) Baton Rouge; Justin Bates, wife, Amy, Dunwoody, GA; Drew Petersen, wife, Amanda, (Jack, Amelia) Marietta, GA and Kirsten Petersen and fiancé, Sean Subjeck, Farmer’s Branch, TX. Also survived by a sister, Sue Pourcy Cayer of Alexandria, LA; sister-in-law, Merlie Pourcy Hunt, Winnfield, LA, and a former and beloved daughter-in-law, Joyce Jackson Bates Starnes, Roswell, GA; along with numerous nieces and nephews.

She was proceeded in death by a son, Richard Louis Bates and wife, Leighann; an infant daughter, Jerry Lynn Bates; parents, Louis, Sr. and Conelia Pourcy; 6 sisters and spouses: Mary Pourcy; Eva Pourcy and Clinton Ryder; Madeline Pourcy and Woody Woodman; Noellee Pourcy and Clyde Deville; Ella Pourcy and Luger Deville; Marie Pourcy Hollis and Charles Satterthwaite; Jimmy Louise Pourcy and James French, and 2 brothers and a sister-in-law: Ashley Jack and Marjorie Pourcy and Louis Pourcy, Jr. and also a brother-in-law Anthony Cayer.

Geraldine was born in Boyce, LA, graduated from Bolton High School in Alexandria, and was a graduate of CUNA School in Madison, Wisconsin. She was a resident of Baton Rouge for 66 years. Known by the business community for her astute banking skills, she was a retiree of LA USA Federal Credit Union (Ethyl Credit Union) where she was Operations Manager. She served on many boards and banking committees including American Bank’s Credit Women’s Panel in the 1970s. Jerry was a member of Broadmoor United Methodist Church and served as a youth director at Jefferson United Methodist Church in the 1960s. She was known for her warm hospitality, great sense of style, unique dinner parties and her friendly, outgoing personality. Her grandchildren shall not forget fond memories of standing on a stool at her kitchen counter to make her fabulous homemade biscuits. Nor will they forget sneaking special candies from the “no, no” room meant for after-dinner surprises. The grandchildren will serve as pallbearers.

Visitation will be from 2-4 p.m. on Sunday, November 30th with burial service Monday, December 1st at 10:00 a.m. at Greenoaks Memorial Park, 9595 Florida Blvd., Baton Rouge, Louisiana.

Special thanks to our friends at Lake Sherwood Village Retirement Community, Dr. Scott Wharton and staff, Feliciana Home Health and Amedisys Hospice Care.