Mr. Harry Whit Bourgeois

He was predeceased by Helen, his wife of 59 years. Their marriage was a model for all loving relationships. He leaves his son, Bruce Bourgeois, his wife Patricia, and their three children, Larisa, Sean (deceased), and Nicole, and a great-granddaughter Elodie; son Brian Bourgeois and his wife Ilda; daughter Coral Bourgeois, her husband Scott Stenhouse, and their two children Miles and Ruby; son Brent Bourgeois, his wife Mary Ann and their four children Adrian, Delaney, Corey, and Natalie; and daughter Becky Zimmerman Bourgeois, her husband Ray Bourgeois Zimmerman and their son Daniel.

Born on December 31, 1925, Harry was raised in New Orleans, Louisiana, the son of Earl and Gertrude Bourgeois, and younger brother of Gloria. Harry also lived in Nashville, Tennessee, Morristown, New Jersey, and for forty years, in Dallas, Texas before living out his final years in Houston.

In his early years, Harry had a paper route, sold peanuts at New Orleans Pelicans baseball games, and played clarinet alongside jazz great Al Hirt in both the marching and concert bands at his high school. After graduating from Fortier High School in 1942, he entered Tulane University, where he met his bride-to-be, Helen Dowling, over an engineering table in the Math Department. They fell in love and were married on September 6th of 1947.

But before that, WWII called, and Harry entered the Merchant Marines in early 1944 as a member of the U.S. Naval Reserve. After many tours of duty, he retired as an ensign and naval instructor in 1951. He went back to college at LSU after the war to collect his BS in Mechanical Engineering. He earned a second BS in Marine Engineering while serving in the Naval Reserve.

In 1949, Harry began a thirty-six year career with General Electric, quickly working his way up the corporate ladder. He was the youngest-ever District Manager when he was promoted to that position in New Orleans, eventually becoming the Regional Manager of the Lamp Division in 1972 when he moved the family to Dallas, Texas. He retired from GE at the end of 1985.

Harry was an avid sportsman; he enjoyed playing golf, tennis with his kids, and above all, fishing. Nothing made him happier than to be out on his boat trolling for bass. He was also an active member of St. Monica's church, attending Mass there every morning for some 40 years.

Harry held court behind his bar at his home in Dallas for as long as anyone can remember, always ready with a wink and a wisecrack. He loved his family dearly and taught them well. He will be deeply missed by all who knew him, but is now happily reunited with his bride.

A funeral Mass will be held in Dallas at noon on Thursday, March 26, at St. Monica's Catholic Church (9933 Midway Rd, Dallas, 75220; 214-358-1453) . A viewing (4:00-8:00pm) with rosary at 7:00pm will be held at Calvary Hill Funeral Home, located at 3235 Lombardy Lane in Dallas on Wednesday, March 25.