Helen Bourgeois

Helen Bourgeois passed away Sunday, October 11th, 2015. She was at home, surrounded by her family who loved her and cared for her. She was 78 years old. Helen is survived by her daughters, Carol Ann Bourgeois and Mary Margaret Bourgeois and Mary's husband, Keith Gaston. She's also survived by her grandchildren (Carol's children) Jesse David Allen Babyak and his wife Christie, Zane Patrick Louis Babyak, and their father, David Babyak, and Mary's children, Robert Allen Murray, Sean Patrick Murray, and their father Byron Louis Murray, as well as Mary's step son, Sean J. Gaston. Helen is also survived by her brother, Patrick Ray Jones and his wife Judith, and her sister, Letha Green Donaldson and her husband, Melvin. Helen also had many nieces and nephews who love her, including Jim, Joy, Mark, Steve, Valerie, Sylvia, Grayer, Grayum, Price and Greer. Helen was preceded in death by her husband, Allen Bertie Bourgeois, 40, his brothers Robert Bourgeois and James Bourgeois, and her parents, Jesse Ray Jones and Charlotte Lauderdale Jones, of Cedar Creek, Texas. She was also preceded in death by her biological father, Preston Green. She was loved and cherished by all. Helen was born on August 29, 1937 in Austin, Texas. She went to McCallum High School, and later graduated from the University of Texas, in Austin. She was very proud to be a Longhorn, and was a great fan of UT football. On June 20, 1959, she married the love of her life, Allen Bertie Bourgeois. She and Allen went to school together at the University of Texas, and they were married as soon as they graduated. It was easy to see the love between Allen and Helen; they were soul mates and best friends. Their wedding was at Shettles Methodist Church, in Austin Texas. Her attendants were Miss Jane Elizabeth Callaway, and Miss Margaret Ann Harrell. Allen's brothers, James Bourgeois and Robert Bourgeois were the best man and the groomsman. Ushers were Patrick Ray Jones of Austin, brother of the bride, Guy Robinson of San Angelo, and Fred Dewitt Reed Jr., of Port Arthur. On December 7, 1960, Helen gave birth to their first daughter, Carol Ann Bourgeois. At the time, they lived at 2211 Post Road, in Austin, Texas. As young couples do, they soon saved up enough money to buy the house on River Oaks Drive, in Austin, where she would live the rest of her life. On October 11, 1963, she gave birth to their second daughter, Mary Margaret Bourgeois, and the family was complete. They opened their own business, Westover Pharmacy, on Hyridge Drive, in Austin, and life was good. Helen worked part time as the secretary of her church, St. Mark United Methodist Church, where the pastor, Charles (Chuck) Merrill, was a long time school mate and friend of Helen's. When she wasn't working at the church, she was working at our family pharmacy, delivering prescriptions to customers who were unable to drive to the pharmacy for their medicines. Mom and dad both took personal care of those they loved and served, family, congregation, customers and friends. Helen and Allen had only just begun their young lives with their two children, when Allen died suddenly at the age of 40. Helen was courageous and strong, and took a job at the phone company, Southwestern Bell, later AT&T. She made sure we had everything we needed; food, shelter, love and family. Her parents, Jesse and Charlotte, stepped in and were the rock solid support we needed, bringing us food, and making sure we were okay. We used to have lunch with them every Thursday at Luby's, those were wonderful times. Mom loved art, and collected many works by Amado Pena. She loved geology and was an avid rock hound, cutting and mounting stones to make jewelry in her own little shop in the garage. Mom enjoyed taking her daughters out for a meal, and had a way of making you feel like you could tell her anything, and it would all be okay. She loved to take us to events, like the Aqua Festival, where we watched the speed boat races on what was then called Town Lake, now Ladybird Lake. She even took me to Austin City Limits for a live concert way back before anyone outside of Austin knew it even existed. She had several lifelong friends, including Margaret Anne (Maggie) Holt, Yani Brewer and Sherri Frink. She took special pride in her grandsons, who were to her, the most wonderful, handsome, smart and amazing boys in the universe. She loved them with all her heart. Helen spent her final years living with her daughters and grandsons, who cared for her and loved her to the end. She suffered from Alzheimer's disease, which eventually took her life. She died peacefully at home, surrounded by family who loved her.