Maurice Wright O’Rourk III, “Maury, Mo,“ age 85, passed away on March 26, 2022 in Baton Rouge, Louisiana. Maurice is survived by his loving wife of 61 years, Barbara Manda O’Rourk and his only son, Maurice W. O’Rourk IV(Maury). He is also survived by his devoted nieces and nephews: Mary Yarborough Bordelon (Macky), Tommy Yarborough (Tracey), Bobby Yarborough (Marsha), Steve Yarborough (Jeanne), and Matt Yarborough and numerous great nieces and nephews. He was born in Chicago and spent his childhood there. He was an Eagle Scout and in the honorary Order of the Arrow. While his dad was in WWII Maurice and his mom stayed with his beloved Grandmother Jewett in Muncie, Indiana. In 1951 he and his parents moved to Baton Rouge where he has resided since. Maurice is a 1954 graduate of University High School and a 1958 graduate of LSU with a degree in Marketing and Management. While at LSU he was president of his social fraternity Phi Delta Theta. After graduating, he managed 13 departments at Dalton’s Department Store downtown, was an officer at All American Assurance Company, and ended his career in banking as a collector at Regions Bank. Only five months after his wedding in August of 1961, his reserve unit 4009th was called to reopen Fort Polk during the Berlin Crisis. Maurice joined the Downtown Kiwanis Club in 1969, was president in 1975, and Lt. Governor of La/Miss/Tenn in 1979. He was a member of the art committee for the Kiwanis Pancake Festival for over 20 years. He served as captain of Group 34 at Manresa Retreat House for many years and attended faithfully for 40+ years. Maurice was a man of deep, abiding faith which sustained him throughout his life. He was also an avid sports fan, enjoying LSU football, basketball, Cubs baseball, but hockey reigned supreme! He loved reading, listening to traditional jazz, especially Benny Goodman; sketching, calligraphy, feeding his birds, and all things Irish. Maurice was a member of St. Aloysius Catholic Church. He was preceded in death by his parents, Martha Jewett O’Rourk and Maurice Wright O’Rourk,Jr.; his mother and father-in-law, Mamie Gagliano Manda and Vincent Manda; his maternal grandparents, LaRhue Dungan Jewett and Fred Jewett and his paternal grandparents, Ruth Cusey O’Rourk and Maurice Wright O’Rourk Sr. Visitation will be at St. Aloysius Catholic Church on April 1, 2022 at 11:45 a.m. with a Mass of Christian Burial at 12:45 p.m.. A reception will follow in the Parish Hall. Burial will be at Roselawn Memorial Park, 4045 North Street, Baton Rouge. In lieu of flowers, memorial donations may be made to Manresa House of Retreats, Convent, Louisiana, Congregation of the Sisters of St. Joseph, 3134 Hundred Oaks Ave, Baton Rouge, LA 70808, St. Aloysius Catholic Church, or a charity of your choice Special Thanks to Dr. Joel Silverberg for always being there and the Hospice of Baton Rouge. “Here I am, Lord; I come to do your will.”
