Willie Beatrice Gonsoulin

Willie Beatrice Gonsoulin passed away in Houston, Texas on June 25, 2016 at the age of 90. Willie B, as she was called, is survived by six of her seven children, including daughter Becky Bell, daughter Nancy Hermann and son-in-law Heinz, son Jeffrey Gonsoulin and daughter-in-law Felis, daughter Nellie Hartsell and son-in-law David, son John Gonsoulin, and daughter Jennifer McCarthy. She is also survived by daughter-in-law Carol Gonsoulin. She was preceded in death by her husband of 60 years, Ernest Joseph Gonsoulin, and youngest child, Samuel Gonsoulin, husband to Carol Gonsoulin. Grandchildren are Russell Bell, Scott Bell, Molly Bell-Kuckein, Jessica Manojlovich, Ryan Hartsell, Sally McCarthy, Gregory Hermann, Andrew Hermann and Chase Gonsoulin. Great-grandchildren are Lucy Bell, Jack Bell, Zoe Bell, Grace Bell, Ryder Kuckein, Rylie Kuckein and Wyatt Manojlovich.

Willie B was born on December 25, 1925 in Port Arthur, Texas to Eula Julia Laughlin Weldon and Edward Elias Weldon. She graduated from St. James High School in Port Arthur, Texas and married her high school sweetheart, Ernest Joseph Gonsoulin, in 1944. They were married for 60 years and had seven children. After moving to Houston, Texas in 1966, she continued to raise her family and returned to work, settling on a career with the United States Customs Service. She worked full-time until she retired in 1991. Willie B rarely, if ever, missed one of her seven children’s school or extra-curricular activities, as she strongly believed in the importance of supporting and cheering on her children in all of their various pursuits. She was an incredible and loving grandmother. Willie B was an accomplished musician and vocalist, and played violin and piano for church services, weddings and funerals for many years. In early years before marriage, she sang with her sister, Marjorie Choate, for a weekend radio program in Port Arthur, Texas, and together they were known as “The Weldon Sisters”.

A funeral mass is scheduled for July 8, 2016 at 10:00 a.m. at St. Anne’s Catholic Church, 2140 Westheimer Road, Houston, Texas. A reception will follow at the church. Visitation will be held July 7th, 6-8:30 pm, at the Hunters Creek Chapel at Earthman Funeral Directors, 8303 Katy Freeway. A Rosary will be held at 7:30 pm. The family would like to thank Willie B’s eldest son, Jeffrey, and his wife Felis, for the loving care they provided her during her last years.