Judith B. Petrie Bullion

Judy Petrie Bullion suddenly passed away on Friday, February 24 after a short illness surrounded by her family at Our Lady of the Lake Hospital at the age of 83. Judy was born and raised in Baton Rouge and graduated from LSU with a Bachelor of Science degree in 1962. From a young age at her father’s knee she developed a deep love of all things LSU. She recalls going to LSU football games and sitting on bleachers in the South End zone of Tiger Stadium before LSU closed the horseshoe that was Tiger stadium. That love continued on through the era of Joe Burrow. Before her death she was proud to be a Cincinnati Bengals fan. “Love Purple Live Gold” Shortly after graduation Judy married and had three beautiful children, Erin, Scott and Kristin. She devoted her life to them, making sure they each had a wonderful education in the catholic system and then, like her, LSU. While actively raising her children, Judy flourished in her thirty year career at First Presbyterian Church as Director of Food Services and Facilities. In that capacity she hosted many events for the members of the Church and the Baton Rouge community, including Wedding receptions, Dinners, Jubilee Sundays, Church Picnics and other events. One memorable event was the 1982 reception at the church for a local presentation of the Man of La Mancha in downtown Baton Rouge, as described in a front page article in the Morning Advocate in 1982. During Judy’s time at the Church she made life long friends within and beyond the Church. After retiring from First Presbyterian and taking a few years of retirement enjoying gardening, traveling and spending time with her grandchildren and family she was given the opportunity to become House Mother of the Epsilon chapter of Kappa Delta Sorority at LSU. She was lovingly known as “Mama Judy” She dearly loved being with the chapter during her fourteen years with Kappa Delta. Just as she did at the Church, Judy made lifelong friends, they were just a bit younger. When she retired in 2019 she was inducted into Kappa Delta as an honorary sister. God bless you Sister Judy! Judy was a true Southern Belle, the kind that did not like to leave the house without her lipstick. She did not like the sun and her beautiful complexion reflected that until her death. However, she loved to entertain cooking and creating dishes for two hundred people or for her family. One could say Judy had a bit of a sweet tooth. Chocolate and ice cream all the time, and then Louisiana was delivered Blue Bell ice cream. The best in Judy’s view since home made ice cream when she was a child. Judy and her husband, Ronnie Bullion, were life long friends. They wed relatively late in their relationship, but that did not diminish their love. Together they visited 38 countries, over many years. Her favorite cities were Assisi, Barcelona, London, Paris, Rome and Vienna. At their home they shared their love of food, gardening and, of course, LSU sports. She loved all things beautiful and was adored by all who knew her. She is survived by her beloved husband, Ronald Leonce Bullion, daughter Erin Petrie Reynaud and husband Claude Favrot Reynaud, Jr., her son Dr. Scott George Petrie and his wife Bridget Andrews Petrie, and daughter Kristin Petrie del Rio. Her grandchildren Matthew Christian del Rio, Peyton Scott Petrie, Madelyn Adelle Redmond and Seth William Redmond. Her sister in law Barbara P. Bourgeois and nieces and nephews, Robert Byron Bourgeois, Michael John Bourgeois, Ashley Bourgeois Harbin, Dr. Brian Michael Bourgeois and Karen Ann Bourgeois. She is preceded in death by her parents Byron Joseph Bourgeois, Sr and Jessie Brinkley Bourgeois. Brothers Byron “Choppy” Joseph Bourgeois, Jr and Michael Dale Bourgeois, sister-n-law Joan Dillion Bourgeois and grandson, Andrew Scott Petrie. Honorary pallbearers will be William “Billy” Doughty Andrews, J. Wayne Barker, Michael John Bourgeois, Matthew Christian del Rio, Peter Thomas Dazzio, Charles William Evans, Wayne Garafola, Leo P. Higginbotham, Sam Poole, Seth William Redmond and Claude Favrot Reynaud, Jr. We will gather on Monday March 6, 2023 at St. Joseph’s Cathedral at 9:30am for visitation followed by a 11:00am funeral mass. In lieu of flowers, the family has requested memorial donations in her name made to Catholic High School of Baton Rouge, Kappa Delta Foundation, or St. Joseph’s Academy of Baton Rouge. To view and sign the online guestbook, please visit www.rabenhorst.com.