Individual Details

Burial

Obituary: Gayle Hoffpauir Bourdier, 71, died on October 7, 2008, at her home after a bout with cancer. Gayle was born March 4, 1937, in Sulphur to Claude and Galena Hoffpauir. She graduated from Sulphur High School in 1955 and attended Louisiana State University in Baton Rouge from 1956 through 1959, majoring in math and English education. She was a member of the Phi Gamma Chapter of Chi Omega Sorority and a member of the National Education Association. Gayle was employed by the PPG accounting department as her first job after college and remained there until after she and A. C. Bourdier married in 1963. They were both members of Art Associates, painting flats and hanging exhibits from 1962 through 1968. While busy raising two young boys, they served as co-treasurers of the Western Heights Elementary Parent Teacher Organization, co-treasurers of the Sam Houston High School Band Boosters, and built a home in Moss Bluff. Gayle and A. C. joined the Krewe du Grand Bois and served as pageant co-coordinators from 1981-1990. They were on the court as duke and duchess in 1981 and king and queen in 1985, returning to court with all the past kings and queens on the tenth anniversary of the krewe. Gayle retired from The Estate of J. G. Gray after 16 years in 1999 and began volunteering at the Therapeutic Riding Center in 2002 by working in the barn, cleaning stalls, bathing horses, cleaning and painting the horses' hooves and other barn-related chores that needed to be done. Preceding Gayle in death were her parents, Claude Barney Hoffpauir and Galena James Hoffpauir, her brother, Claude James Hoffpauir, and Gayle and A. C.'s adopted son, a black, fuzzy poodle named Napoleaon. She is succeeded by her husband of 45 years, Alfred C. Bourdier, their two sons, Andre Charles Bourdier of New Orleans and Jean Christopher Bourdier and wife Lisa and her son, Jordan. of Clemons, N. C., and several nieces and nephews. Visitation will be 6-9 p.ml. Friday, Oct. 10, at Johnson Funeral Home. Services will be held at 10:30 a.m. Saturday, Oct. 11. Monsignor Harry Greig will officiate. Burial will follow at Highland Memory Gardens. Serving as pallbearers will be Bruce Kirkpatrick, Kent LeDoux, Elvin Rene, David Richard, Pat Webb, and Steve Zibilich. Honorary pall bearers will be Ernest Pines, Bryan Zibilich, Erik Zibilich, Phillip Zibilich, Christopher Zibilich, Jonathan Zibilich, Jon Petitjean, Travis Bourdier, and William Bourdier. Very special thanks go to Dr. Ralph Zinner and the excellent staff at MD Anderson Cancer Center of Houston, to Dr. Leroy Fredericks at Lake Charles Memorial Hospital, the staff of Odyssey Healthcare of Lake Charles and the kind and generous volunteers for their help during this stressful time. In lieu of flowers, the family requests that donations be made to the Therapeutic Riding Center. (L. C. American Press, Octobe 9, 2008)