Be completely humble and gentle; be patient, bearing with one another in love. (Eph 4:2) Joseph Franklin “Frankie” Bourgeois, 85, a humble and faith filled man, passed away in his home from congestive heart failure on Sunday, June 27, 2021 surrounded by his loving family. A native and resident of St. Amant, he is survived by the love of his life, his wife of 62 years, Eva Aime Bourgeois, as well as his six children and their spouses, Brent and Mary (Aldridge), Bart, Bridget and Don Boudreaux, Bob and Tracy (Strange), Blake and Ashley (Erickson), and Blair and Tambra (Booty); his twelve grandchildren, Nicole, Adam, Joshua, Jessica, Marlon, Alex, and Rachel Bourgeois, Candace Bourgeois Binning, Lauren Bourgeois Piglia, Seth Boudreaux, Jada Boudreaux Flurry, & Simone Bourgeois Stone, and his sixteen great-grandchildren. He is also survived by his siblings Glenn Bourgeois, Elma “Tooney” Melancon, Elaine “Tut” Leblanc, and Linda Bourgeois. Frankie was preceded in death by his parents Bertand and Marie Lydia Bourgeois and siblings Herman, Andrew, and James Bourgeois, Ethylene Bourque, and Evelyn “Pully” Hymel. Frankie graduated from St. Amant High School where he lettered in football, basketball, and track & field, garnering all-district honors as MVP of the football team and captain of the basketball team. He then went on to participate in track & field and football at Southeastern, earning both the sportsmanship award and honorable mention All American distinction in football, while earning a bachelor’s degree in education. He began his career teaching and coaching at St. Amant HS, serving as an asst. football coach and head basketball coach, and was named State Basketball Coach of the Year. After earning a master’s degree in education administration from LSU, he then served as an asst. principal at EA Jr. High and principal of Gonzales Primary School. Frankie loved to share fond memories of his coaching career as well as stories about his childhood siblings and cousins growing up next to Bourgeois Brothers grocery store. Frankie’s love for his family and Catholic faith were an integral part of his life and he embodied the biblical virtues of humility, compassion, kindness, gentleness, patience and wisdom. He and Eva dedicated many years of service to various ministries at Holy Rosary, but his most beloved ministry was caring for his son Bart. Visitation at Ourso Funeral Home in Gonzales on Thursday, July 1 from 5-8 pm with recitation of the Rosary at 7 pm, and at Holy Rosary Catholic Church in St. Amant on Friday, July 2 from 9-11 am with funeral Mass at 11 am. Burial to follow in church cemetery. In lieu of flowers, please make donations to Full of Grace Café at Holy Rosary, in memory of Frankie Bourgeois.
