Joseph J.E. E. Ventress

Joseph Emerson “J.E.” Ventress, a native and lifelong resident of Baton Rouge passed away peacefully at his home with his loved ones on Tuesday, January 24, 2012 at 11:25am, following a long and courageous battle with Parkinson’s disease and Alzheimer’s. His gentle nature and ever present sense of humor were his gifts to all who knew him. He will be greatly missed. A graduate of Redemptorist High School, he was a loving husband, father, and grandfather. He was a retired professional musician as well as the retired longtime owner/operator of Ventress Pest Control Co. He was an accomplished woodcarver and enjoyed music, RV camping, western movies and spending time with his family. He was a member of St. Patrick Catholic Church for 36 years and a 4th degree member of Monsignor Gassler 319 Knights of Columbus. He is survived by his loving wife of 57 years, Odile Marie Weber Ventress; sons: Ronald Paul Ventress, and Darrel Wayne Ventress and wife Melissa LeBlanc Ventress; grandchildren: Amy René Ventress, Rory Lane Ventress, Thomas Paul Ventress, Jessica Marie Ventress, and Garrett Joseph Ventress; sister, Bettie Raborn Goudeau; nephew Kirk Goudeau; and mother-in-law Mary Landry Weber. He was preceded in death by his parents, Peter Emerson Ventress, and Wilma Barrow Ventress Raborn; stepfather Freddie Lee Raborn; brother-in-law Leo Dale Goudeau; nephews: John Douglas and Richard Karl Goudeau; and a great nephew, Jamie Goudeau. Visitation will be held at Greenoaks Funeral Home on Thursday, January 26, 2012 from 5pm until 9pm and continuing at St. Patrick Catholic Church on Friday, January 27, 2012 from 9am until a mass of Christian Burial will be held at 11am. Interment will follow in Greenoaks Memorial Park. Services will be conducted by Rev. Jerry Martin. Pallbearers will be Ronald, Thomas, and Rory Ventress, Randy Long, Thomas Sylvester and Kirk Goudeau. His family would like to express special thanks to the entire staff of Amedisys Hospice Services, especially nurses Paulette Redmond, Kim Spillers, and Regina Cobb; Chaplain Barry Lagg; Dr. Joseph Acosta, Dr. Henry Patrick, and Dr. Mohammad Pirzadah for the care and compassion they provided during his illness.