Jean Marie Fortenberry

Jean Marie Bourgeois Fortenberry, 90, of Sulphur, died peacefully at home on July 6, 2020, surrounded by loved ones.   She was born in Shreveport, La, on June 16, 1930, and lived there until the family moved to Maplewood in the early 1940’s.  They were the seventh family to move into Maplewood when her daddy, J. G. “Dutch” Bourgeois went to work at the new Cities Service Oil refinery. 

Jean graduated from Sulphur High in 1948, and attended business school in Beaumont.  She rented a room from a lady whose son was in the service.  Unbeknownst to Jean, her landlady was writing to her son about the cute “coonie” from Sulphur.  He fell for her before he ever met her.  They were married on June 25, 1949, at Our Lady of Prompt Succor Catholic Church.  The newlyweds moved to Beaumont and lived there until 1957, when Bobby went to work at PCI in Sulphur.  After renting for a few months, they moved to the newest subdivision in Sulphur, West Point, a subdivision full of young families with lots of kids. 

Jean was active in her church, Immaculate Conception Catholic Church in Sulphur, teaching second grade CCD for many years and was a member of the Ladies of LaSalette.  After all the kids were out of school, she returned to work.  She worked for Dr. Charles Fellows, along with her best friend, Ruth Jernigan, for a number of years.  When Bobby’s unit at the plant closed in 1982, he was not ready to retire, so he accepted a job with Union Oil in Rifle, Colorado. They moved to Grand Junction and lived there for seven years.  They loved living there and enjoyed showing Colorado to the many family and friends who visited them. 

After Bobby’s second retirement, they returned to Louisiana and bought a house “out in the country”, south of DeQuincy.  They were active members of Our Lady of LaSalette Church where Jean was a member of the Legion of Mary.   The twenty acres eventually became too much for them, so much to the delight of their grandchildren & great-grandchildren, they returned to Sulphur in April 2009. They bought a house in GilMar Acres subdivision and their home was filled with a generation of eight great-grandchildren, who adored their Grandmother & Maw-Maw. 

The family is grateful to Dr. Jose Gonzales and the staff of Heart of Hospice for their love and care of our mother in her last days. 

Although we will miss her terribly, we are grateful that we were able to have her with us as long as we did.  She is survived by her three daughters, Karen Henderson & husband, John; Barbara Mason & husband, Butch; daughter & caregiver Wyolene Davis, all of Sulphur, LA. & her son, Robin Fortenberry of Boston, MA; her brothers & sisters-in laws, Wayne & Marlene Bourgeois of Sulphur, & Charles & Patsy Bourgeois of Ruston, LA; her grandchildren, Kristi Folse & husband Chad , Katy Wescott & husband Bobby, Jeremy Gibbons & wife Rachael, Ashley Dufresne & husband Matt; her great-grandchildren, Taylor Henderson, Tiffanie Savage, Taylor & Hunter Folse, Ryan & Logan Wescott, and Reese & Lilian Dufresne. She also survived by 16 nieces and nephews, along with numerous great-nieces & nephews. 

She was preceded in death by her loving husband of 65 years, Bobby Joe Fortenberry, her parents Jean Germain “Dutch” & Clydie Mae Bourgeois, and her brother & sister-in-law Phyllis & Elmo Bourgeois. 

Funeral services will be at 2:00 PM Friday, July 10, 2020 at Immaculate Conception Catholic Church in Sulphur, LA under the direction of Johnson and Robison Funeral Home. Visitation will be from 5:30 PM until 8:00 PM with a rosary at 6:00 PM on Thursday, July 9, 2020 at Johnson and Robison Funeral Home. Burial will follow at Mimosa Pines South Cemetery. Fr. Tim Goodly will officiate services.