Name: Ourso Funeral Home
Address: Gonzales, LA

Mrs. Billie,
When my mom died, you said you would be my mom here.  I told you I now had two moms, one in heaven and one on earth.   You were like a mom to me, and treated me like your daughter.

You were more than just a mother-in-law to me and the entire Bourgeois Family.  As you said, we were your family.  My brothers and sisters, nieces and nephews all thought the same.   I am so thankful to have met Daryl and to have become part of your family.  I can't thank you enough for weathering every storm with Daryl and I, and we had a few.  For being the Grandmother and Great Grandmother you were to our kids and grandkids.  Ethan and Eli still want to know when you are coming back.  They truly miss you.  And for moving to St. Amant with us.  We were able to share in many happy memories together.

We were so much alike in many ways and I am thankful that we had a good relationship.  I was given a few of your recipes and to this day haven't mastered them as well as you, but I'm getting closer.   

Our lives are forever changed, but I am at peace knowing that you are with your Lord and Savior.  We couldn't ask for any better assurance than that.  We hope to join you one day.  Love you always,  Dawn

Dear Mother,  I would like to say how happy and lucky I am to have had you for my Mother.  I can remember days on Caldwell and McArthur streets when I was young.  You would always comfort me from my bad days at Mrs. Laiche’s or Mrs. Elsie's and you would take up for me when my big sisters picked on me.  We moved to Fairwood Subdivision & you encouraged me to get out on my own and to make friends.  You brought me to my Little League baseball games and patiently watched, even though I did not play much for the first few years.  You brought me to my Little League football games, no matter where we played.  As I got older and moved on to Jr-High and High School, you were in the stands for my basketball and baseball games.  You encouraged me to do the best I could in my schoolwork, knowing there was little or no chance of me going to college.  On my graduation night, you cried because your baby was moving on with his life.  You secretly helped me with my payments for Trade School because I couldn’t afford all of them.  When I came home on weekends, you'd wash my bags of dirty clothes before the weekend was over.  I remember trying to tell you that I proposed to Dawn, and you saying “I was wondering if you were ever going to tell me”.  I didn’t know that Mr. Floyd had told you that I had bought the ring a few days earlier.  I want to thank you for being so supportive of Dawn and I through our marriage.  When Stacie came along, you were so proud of your first Grandchild.  I remember telling you to quit buying everything in the world for her.  You were always there for Sandi & DJ, and all your great-grandchildren.  Thank you for being the special mom you were and for being such a wonderful person in my life.  We are so happy you agreed to move next door to us.  We were able to share in so many family memories and events together.  I will love you forever.  Your loving son, Daryl Keith

Part 2.:  We got along so well, (on the plane, Las Vegas and back) we were happy travelers.

There were trips to Dry Creek (Lone Star).  Thanksgiving in St. Amant, St, Patrick’s Day parades in Metairie.  Literally the weeks, months, years playing bingo and many hours playing the card game 31.  One of her favorite words was “unreal” and she used it often when the cards did not go her way.  Not to mention the endless conversations that went along with these activities!

Yes, she absolutely made the best divinty, fudge and mini pecan pies.  She distributed these to family and friends during the holidays but she was so thoughtful she would deliver packages to her doctors and dentists offices and others.  How gracious is that!

Over the years, she attended many parades during Mardi Gras season,  a few times on Mardi Gras Day, early in the morning we would walk to the French Quarter.   There she was (bad back and leg) enjoying the sights along the way with the rest of us.  When we returned, she loved to eat mama’s fried chicken and the “turtles” from McKenzie’s Bakery.

One year on New Year’s Eve we took a boat ride on the Delta Queen.  I believe Frankie Avalon was the entertainer(singer from the 60’s).  What better way to bring in the New Year than with champagne in one hand and a sparkler in the other watching “fireworks” over the Mighty Mississippi River.

We both had a great love for LSU sports, especially baseball, and spoke about it often.  Just as Kathy mentioned, she could name all the players & give you their stats.  We tried our best to get the boys to the college World Series every year.  Baseball is going on now and I know she is watching from above.  I will think of her often during this season.

Even though I know she had bouts with pain and depression, I believe overall she lived a good and active life! and she passed away (just like my mother) peacefully early in the morning.

THANKS FOR THE MEMORIES AUNT BILLIE, I LOVE YOU!  GO TIGERS!!!

MEMORIES OF MY AUNT BILLIE FAYE
Part 1:  First, I wondered why, after naming their first four daughters rather traditional names of the era (Thelma, Dorothy, Lucille, Kate) Herod and Lula decided on the name BILLIE FAYE for their fifth.  I do not recall her being named after anyone.  I FOUND THE NAME UNIQUE AND I LOVED IT!

In my opinion Ms. Billie Faye was a women’s liberator and upward mobility candidate before the “Women’s Movement” was even considered “COOL.”  She started in an entry level position at Gulf States Utilities in the 1950’s very young, and progressively moved upwards in the ranks into supervisory positions in Gonzales and again, through promotion, relocated to the big city of Baton Rouge where she ended her career.  I had great admiration for her accomplishing this beginning in the 1950’s.

I also admired her great sense of fashion/style.  She dressed the part as “working woman” as well as for social activities.  Her outfits were accessorized literally from head to toe.  ( Hat. outfit, earrings, necklace, scarf, bracelet and two of my favorite things were the wide belts she found that made her waist look really “tiny.”  What woman does not like that??  And, in the autumn and winter she wore boots in every color fitting the occasion.). I truly believe, if she had been born later in the century and had access to college/fashion programs, she would have gone into some type of fashion/design career.   Even though she told me many times that she really enjoyed her job and co-workers.  So she was happy and satisfied.  My mother, Chile, would say Billie Faye carries herself so well and she seems so smart and confident.

She and I took several trips to Las. Eva’s in the 1980’s.  I cannot begin to describe the fun (meeting new people, invited out to dinners and parties, attending shows for Wayne Newton, Dean Martin, etc.). I have a smile on my face recalling some of the antics.  

Dear Kathy and Daryl,
Unfortunately, I just heard about your mom passing away. I am so very sorry. Your mom meant the world to me and I loved her. 
She was a lovely, gracious, special person.  She was a non judgmental person who j accepted everyone and just enjoyed being and visiting with people.
I have so many wonderful memories of spending time with all of you. Hanging out at your house laughing and talking, weekends and summers in Dry Creek visiting with her wonderful family, the McRaneys.  She loved Christmas- Christmas time at your house was so much fun- and of course she always made her famous divinity. Honestly, I haven't been able to find any to measure up to it in all these years.
Billie Faye meant the world to me. She always made me feel so welcome and part of your family. She had such a positive influence on my life, especially at a time when  I needed that. I loved her sense of humor- she was such fun.
I know this is a hard time for you and your family. I hope you can take some comfort in knowing that she adored and loved both of you so much along with being extremely proud of you.  Family to her was everything and she loved hers. Our thoughts and prayers are with all of you.
She will be missed but always remembered with love and affection. Can any of us ask for more?  


I was born in Gonzales, LA.  When my family left Louisiana for the Midwest, we continued to visit as often as possible.  Our first stop was always at the Fortenberry's.  We all looked forward to that trip and loved the time spent with them.  When we lived in southern Illinois when I was in first grade, our mailman looked forward to Christmas time every year because my mother would give him a couple of pieces of the Divinity and Pralines that came every year from Miss Billie.  When that box showed up, he made a point to knock on our door and hand it over personally.  My childhood would not have been the same without knowing the Fortenberry's.  I am so happy that Miss Billie was clearly loved by friends and family and she passed in the best way possible.  My thoughts and prayers go out to the whole family.  

It means so much to read your kind words about Mom!  Thank you for remembering her.  She sure remembers you!  Mom had a memory better than most computers and never forgot your birthday or your anniversary or that she owed you divinity.  Know that she considered her friends and family her most valuable treasures.  She kept your cards and photos and relished in your successes and grieved along with you in your darkest days.  We will all miss her so very much.  
She planned every detail of her departure from this earth and explicitly asked for "nothing too extravagant" for her memorial, but you know she would love you to say goodbye, so please leave a note for her here.  We will collect them in a memorial book for the family.  You know she was as sentimental as they come, and she loved flowers, but she also loved her church, Ascension Baptist.  The love and support Mom received from its congregation has been tremendous over the years.  And we can't thank them enough for their loving care.
She died so peacefully in her sleep early Monday morning after enjoying "a really good week with my friends and family".  She was happy.  After surviving so many illnesses and life tribulations, I am so grateful our last conversation was joyous and while her departure was a shock to all of us, and she surely had many things left on her to do list, I am quite sure she was ready to meet her Lord.  She would want us to carry on and to remember her fondly as she always remembered us.
Peace, and God bless!
Wanda Kathleen "Kathy" Fortenberry Hayek


Billie and I worked together for years at Gulf States Utilities. We were  friends and stayed in touch until her passing.  We shared pictures of our grandkids and she loved to talk about the retirement party I planned for her many years ago. Her divinity was the best and she would always send home a batch for my husband when we were working. You are loved and will be missed Billie. Rest In Peace my friend. 

I will not be able to attend, but want you all to know that I will miss Mrs. Billie so much. She was secretary for dad, Rev. Waynon Mott, when he was pastor at First Baptist Church of Gonzales during the 50's. She was a dear friend to both my parents while in Gonzales and afterward when they moved to Alexandria until their deaths a couple of years ago. She has been a sweetheart/prayer warrior to me over the years, but especially in January when my oldest son passed away.  I know that she will be missed by everyone that knew her, but we are all BETTER for knowing her.

I am so upset we will not be able to make the visitation or service as we are going out of town Thursday.  Ms. Billie was very special to me in my time as CEO of Breco FCU.  She was always so supportive of me maybe because we had the Miss. State connection.  She was a wonderful and sweet person and I know we will all miss her terribly.

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Billie is survived by her daughter, Kathleen Hayek and husband, Ted; son, Daryl Fortenberry, Sr. and wife, Dawn; sister, Dorothy Barousse; grandchildren, Stacie Fortenberry and fiancé, Ryck Spears, Daryl “D.J.” Fortenberry, Jr. and wife, Jessica; Sandi Bourque and husband, Joel and great-grandchildren, Brendan, Destiny, and Nicolas Coleman, Ethan and Eli Bourque, Phoenix and Ozzie Fortenberry. Billie is preceded in death by her parents, Herod McRaney and Lula Coulter McRaney; sisters, Thelma Hefler, Lucille Lazard, Janice Johnson, Kathleen “Kate" McRaney and brothers, Johnny Ray McRaney and James Herod McRaney.

OBITUARY

Billie Faye McRaney Fortenberry

January 8, 1936 – April 1, 2019

Ourso Funeral Home

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