Bonnie Louise Bruce Selby, 70, a resident of Denham Springs, passed away Friday, October 1, 2021 after a long illness. Born December 27, 1950 in Raceland, Bonnie grew up in Cut Off on the banks of Bayou Lafourche. She was a graduate of South Lafourche High School and attended Nicholls State University. Bonnie loved to travel and visited all corners of the globe. She enjoyed the outdoors, especially fishing. She ran several successful businesses and was beloved by her customers. She was a sought-after model and raced motorcycles. Bonnie had a world-class talent for cultivating and growing orchids and left an extensive collection which has been donated, at her request, to the Baton Rouge Orchid Society. She loved her grandchildren, Kendall and Drew. Bonnie taught herself how to make stained glass and was quite good. She golfed - and even made a hole-in-one! She was an artist. She inherited the best of her mother Mae Alice's Cajun cooking skills. Bonnie was a political activist and worked on campaigns when very few women dared. A trailblazer. But her true passion was for her trips back home to Lafourche Parish. She’d visit as often as possible to get a taste of some home cooking, take a boat ride, cast a line, and to visit friends and family. Bonnie is preceded in death by her parents, Woodrow Paul and Mae Alice Mayet Bruce; her sister, Jane Alice Bruce and her life partner Paul Vance Wood. She is survived by her son, Milton M. Ourso, III “Trey” (Cindy); her grandchildren, Kendall Elizabeth and Milton M. Ourso, IV “Drew”; her sisters, Susan Cheramie (MJ) and Liz Pitre (Jackie) and numerous nieces and nephews who she loved dearly. Visitation will be held at Rabenhorst Funeral Home, 825 Government St., Baton Rouge, Friday, October 22, 11:00 am-1:00 pm. Inurnment to follow at Roselawn Memorial Park, 4045 North St., Baton Rouge. In lieu of flowers, please make a donation to Bless Your Heart Nonprofit Corporation (P.O. Box 1435, Larose, LA 70373) which is working to help the people of Lafourche Parish in their recovery from Hurricane Ida.
