Pierre Robert Mommessin

Pierre was born on July 10, 1927 in Les Lilas, France to Paul Mommessin and Isabelle Polette Mommessin. He spent his youth in France and completed his Baccalaureate in Science Experimental at the Sorbonne, Paris in 1946. During WWII, he served in the French Forces of the Interior (the Maquis) from 1944 –1946. Following the war, Pierre immigrated to the United States, arriving into the Port of Houston on the Liberty ship, Tillie Lykes. He made his home in New Orleans while attending Loyola University, earning a Bachelor of Science degree in Chemistry (1948). In the years following, he attended Texas Agricultural and Mechanical College, earning his Masters Degree in Science (1949), and his PhD in Organic Chemistry (1955). He became a citizen of the United States of America on May 13, 1954. He joined Shell Development at the Bellaire Exploration and Production Research Center, where he had a successful career until his retirement 31 years later. While at the Bellaire Research Center, he met Molly Brady and they were wed on September 14, 1955. Except for a year spent abroad with the Royal Dutch Exploration and Production Laboratory in Rijswijk, Netherlands, they made their home in Houston.

After retirement, Pierre’s faith and family continued to be at the center of his life. He volunteered at the Corpus Christi Catholic Church library and the Clayton Library Center for Genealogical Research. As a hobby, he spent hours researching both his and Molly’s family history and reading. His favorite childhood book was Rudyard Kipling’s Kim, which started his long time appreciation of India.

Pierre was predeceased by his father and mother, Paul and Isabelle, his brother, Andre Mommessin, his sister, Marie Emma Mommessin Baisier, and his grandson, Gregory Francisco Bogran.

Pierre is survived by his wife, Molly, and their children and their spouses, Paul Mommessin (Kim), Ann Bogran (Jeff), Claire Allen (Chris) and Jane Kramer (Kyle). He is also survived by his grandchildren Andrew and Ellie Mommessin, Isabelle and Mae Bogran, Brady and Barret Allen, and Olivia and Philip Kramer.

Visitation will be Monday, July 21st, beginning at 6:00pm with a Vigil Service at 7:00pm at Earthman Bellaire Funeral Home, 6700 Ferris, Bellaire. A Funeral Mass will be celebrated at 11:00am, Tuesday, July 22 at Corpus Christi Catholic Church, 9900 Stella Link Rd., Houston.

In lieu of flowers, the family requests charitable contributions to Corpus Christi Catholic School, or to the Blessed Sacrament Community, which will be directed to a mission house of the Blessed Sacrament Congregation in India. If you choose to contribute to the mission in India, please send your memorial donation to Corpus Christi Church, 9900 Stella Link Rd., Houston, Texas 77025. The donations will then be forwarded in Pierre’s memory to the appropriate address.

In the hour of my death call me

And bid me come unto Thee

That I may praise Thee with Thy saints

And with Thy angels

Forever and ever

Amen