Jean Hawthorne Willis

Jean Marie Hawthorne Willis passed away on Sunday, January 8, 2017. Jean was married for almost 57 years to her loving husband Jim. Jean was born on March 28, 1938 and resided in St. Vincent's Infant Home in New Orleans, Louisiana until she was adopted at around the age of 4 years old by her parents, Hugh A. Hawthorne and Doris B. Hawthorne. She was the oldest of eleven children her parents adopted over the next few years. Her first years were spent at Delta Farms in Larose, Louisiana, and then her family moved to Raceland, Louisiana then later to Thibodaux, Louisiana where she was attending Nichols State College when in June 1959 she met her future husband, Jim. They married on February 6, 1960 In St Joseph's Church, Thibodaux. She is survived by her husband Jim (James A. Willis) and daughters Doreen W. Rodrigue (Kevin), and Bonnie Willis; grandchildren Kevin A. Rodrigue, Jr, and Leesa R. Vaughn (Clint) and greatgrandchildren, Gabrielle Vaughn and Eli Vaughn. Also survived by her brother Daniel Hawthorne (Gladys) of Frisco, Texas, her sisters Maureen H. Hammons of Lafayette, Louisiana, Kathleen H. Doize (Billy) of Lafayette, Louisiana, Sheila Hawthorne of Sarasota, Florida, Lisa H. Breaux of Lafayette, Louisiana, Patrick Hawthorne (Celine) of Gorey, Co. Wexford, Ireland, Bonnie H. Camos (Walter) of Lafayette, Louisiana and Monica H. Jackson (Anthony) of Phoenix, Arizona. Also survived by 21 nieces and nephews as well as 20 great nieces and nephews. She was preceded in death by her daughter Kathryn Mae Willis, her parents Hugh A. Hawthorne and Doris B. Hawthorne, and her sisters Pegeen H. Sonnier and Dolly Hawthorne and by her nephews Nicholas Camos and Shawn Doize. Jean resided in Marrero, Louisiana for many years before moving to Gonzales, Louisiana this past September. Jean and Jim recently joined the Ascension Baptist Church in Gonzales, before that they were members of First Baptist New Orleans. Since children held such a special place in Jean's heart, in lieu of flowers, the family request any who wish may make a donation in Jean's name to the Louisiana Baptist Children's Home in Monroe, Louisiana. The address is the Louisiana Baptist Children's Home, Post Office 4196, Monroe, Louisiana 71211. A memorial gathering will be held at Ascension Baptist Church, 13432 Airline Hwy. Gonzales, LA on Friday, January 20, 2017 from 10:00am until a Life Celebration Service at 11:00am. Please offer condolences to the family at www.oursofh.com. Ourso Funeral Home, Gonzales is in charge of arrangements.