Lola Meredith Bourgeois

After years of suffering with rheumatoid arthritis, Lola Bourgeois died peacefully in her sleep on November 24, 2025, in Sugar Land, Tex. An only child, Lola Meredith White was born on June 23, 1939, to parents Mildred Meredith (maiden name) and Charlie Lemuel White.

As a young woman, she was known for her natural beauty. In her senior year at Murrah High School, she was named "Most Beautiful" (judged by Paul Newman). At Louisiana State University, she was a "Beauty" in the Gumbo, the LSU yearbook. Lola's inner beauty equaled her outer beauty.

When her future husband, Andrew Joseph Bourgeois, Jr., saw Lola on campus for the first time, he told his friend that she was who he would marry. Andy and Lola married on December 21, 1959. The couple shared a remarkable, loving relationship through a long marriage (December would have been their 67th anniversary),

While Andy, an LSU athlete, completed his education, Lola helped support them. She dropped out of college to become employed with LSU's Extension Service on campus.

Following Andy's graduation, the couple moved to Vicksburg, Miss., where he began his coaching career and they began their family. Sons Charles Andrew (Drew) and William Blake (Blake) were born there. When Andy's coaching took them to New Orleans, Kenneth Troy (Troy) was born there.

The family next moved to Fort Worth, and then they settled in Missouri City, Tex. In recent years, they lived in Sugar Land. Andy's coaching took him away from home at times, and Lola was the glue that held the family together. Never a complainer, her sacrifice, toughness and tenacity got them through.

As their sons got older, Lola became a realtor in Quail Valley, their large community in Missouri City. Lola made friends easily with her qualities of strength, kindness, honesty, knowledge and candor, so she gained many trusting clients. Even in retirement, her former coworkers remained her best friends.

Lola was a woman of many talents. She was an artist of considerable ability, working in watercolor, pencil and oil. She generously shared with others her artistic creations. She sang in the choir at the First United Methodist Church of Missouri City, where she was an active member, teaching the Disciples class with Andy. Lola also served on leadership committees at the church.

An exceptional cook, some of her specialties were Oysters Bienville, oyster dressing (every Thanksgiving) and sausage/chicken gumbo. The family's love of her cooking resulted in many of her recipes being handed down.

Lola loved history and travel, and she researched beforehand each place their journeys took them. Andy and Lola made several trips to Europe, and a memorable trip took them to the Holy Land with their church. A favorite international destination was San Miguel de Allende, Mexio, where they spent weeks or months at a time. Another destination visited multiple times was Costa Rico.

In the United States, Lola loved visiting New York City at Christmastime and anytime at their cabin in the Sangre de Cristo Mountains, as well as other New Mexico locales.

Lola loved music, especially that of Willie Nelson, Johnny Rodriguez and George Strait. Andy and Lola's special love was evident whenever they danced to her favorite tunes.

Also known as Momma, Mamaw and Dodo, Lola has been described by family and friends as cool, kind, fun, intelligent, funny, spicy and wise.

Lola was preceded in death by parents Col. Charlie and Mildred White, parents-in-law Andrew and Billie Bourgeois, grandchild Cameron, and brother-in-law Mike Thorne.

She is survived by husband Andy; sons/spouses Drew and Cheryl, Blake and Laura, and Troy and Kim; grandchildren Kaleigh, Carter, Anna, Cole, Wes, Carson and Remy; great-grandchild Julia; and sister-in-law Wanda Bourgeois Thorne.

A private celebration of Lola's life will be observed at a later date for family and close friends. Lola will be forever missed, but her loving spirit will continue to be felt by the many lives she touched.