Gayle Falgoust

Beloved mother, grandmother, sister and friend, she died Tuesday, Dec. 28, 2010, in a tragic accident while traveling in California at the Safari West wildlife preserve. She was 70. Gayle was a native of St. James Parish and a longtime resident of New Orleans. Born March 15, 1940, on Bethlehem Plantation to Philomene "Tut" Dufresne and Clerville "Cap" Falgoust, she graduated from St. James High at the top of her class in 1958 and continued on to complete a B.S. in education from Southeastern Louisiana University in Hammond in 1962. Her vocation for many years was in elementary education. After completing a M.A. in counseling education from the University of New Orleans, she continued her career in education until retirement. After Hurricane Katrina, she relocated to Madison, Ala., in 2006, where her son resides. Like her mother and father, simplicity provided her with contentment. She enjoyed reading books, traveling and participating in community programs, both in New Orleans and Madison. She is survived by a son and a daughter-in-law, Greg and Thu Morgavi, Madison; daughter and a son-in-law, Julie and Jamie Thomason, Los Angeles; a sister, Sharon Zeringue; two brothers, Michael and Glenn Falgoust; and three grandchildren. Visitation and funeral services will be held at St. Francis Assisi Catholic Church in Smoke Bend, near Donaldsonville, on Thursday, Jan. 13, from 9 a.m. until a Mass of Christian Burial at 11 a.m., celebrated by the Rev. Phil Spano. Final arrangements are being handled by Ourso Funeral Home. She will be entombed in Ascension Catholic Mausoleum. In lieu of flowers, please make a donation to the Huntsville Botanical Gardens at www.hsvbg.org.