R. Lee Goudchaux

A native of Baton Rouge and a resident of Connecticut and Texas, R. Lee Goudchaux passed away in Houston on Thursday, July 26, 2007, due to complications of open-heart surgery. R. Lee was born on April 9, 1937, in Baton Rouge to Lillie Bloomenstiel Teller and Harry Goudchaux. He had a full life, traveling worldwide and spending his later years in Connecticut, Texas and Louisiana. His love of family superseded everything in his life. In his eyes, family members were "perfect because they are family" and family members by marriage "became perfect the day they married into his family." He was the last heir to his grandparents, Bernard and Julia Goudchaux, founders and owners of Goudchaux's Department Store in Baton Rouge. He was preceded in death by the following: He was a devoted son of his beloved mother, Lillie Bloomenstiel Teller and "Papa" Dann Teller; and his father, Harry Goudchaux and wife Kawie. R. Lee is survived by his only brother, B.A. Bunny Pearl and wife Eloise, Sealy, Texas. Survivors also include nieces and nephews, Julia Pearl Morgan, Baton Rouge, Deborah Pearl Halling and husband Richard Halling, Kingwood, Texas, Tompson Pearl and wife Barbara, Freeport, Texas, Maurie Pearl, Ventura, Calif., Ronald Ford and wife Claire, Houston, and Greg Ford and wife Rachel, Celine, Texas; and great-nieces and great-nephews, Jeremy Dellafiora, wife Rosana and their daughter, Isabella, and Jamie Dellafiora, all of Baton Rouge, Meleesa Frances Halling, Lilliebeth Rosalee Halling (R. Lee's namesake), Pollyanna Emmalee Halling and Aaron Clyde Halling, all of Kingwood, and William and Ava Ford, of Celine. R. Lee is survived by numerous other relatives, but had an especially close relationship with cousin Pudsie Sachse Cooley and husband Sid and their family; Debbie Dee Cooley and Mike Cooley, Springfield, Mass., and Larry Cooley and wife Marina and their children, Tanya and Joshua, Arlington, Va. He cherished his relationships with his special friends, Jeanette Heintz, East Hartford, Conn., and dear friend, Celeste Lurie, Houston. He will be sorely missed by his family and the many people he touched throughout the United States. Visitation at Rabenhorst Funeral Home, 825 Government St., on Friday, Aug. 3, from 1 p.m. until a service at 2 p.m., with Rabbi Weinstein officiating. Burial in the Jewish Cemetery in the 1400 block of North Street. In lieu of flowers, please send donations to Congregation B'nai Israel, 3354 Kleinert Ave., Baton Rouge, LA 70806.