James Ronald "Ronnie" Bergeron, M.D.

A memorial service for James Ronald “Ronnie” Bergeron, M.D., 85, will be held at 10:00 a.m. on Thursday, March 2, 2023 at St. Joseph Catholic Church, 204 Patton Ave., Shreveport, Louisiana. A visitation will be held on Wednesday, March 1, 2023 at Rose-Neath Funeral Home, 1815 Marshall St., Shreveport, Louisiana from 5:00 p.m. to 7:00 p.m. Officiating the service will be Father Matthew Long.

Ronnie was born on July 4, 1937 in Lakeland, Louisiana to Morris and Mae Bergeron and passed away Thursday, February 23, 2023 in Shreveport, Louisiana.

Ronnie, also known as “Dr. B”, graduated Valedictorian from Rougon High School in Rougon, Louisiana where he received the highest academic award for Pointe Coupe Parish, the Rougon Medal, in 1955 for being the honor student of the year. He then went on to graduate from Louisiana State University Medical School in New Orleans, where he met the love of his life, Earleen Fournet. He interned at Confederate Memorial Hospital in Shreveport and did a dermatology residency at University of Texas Medical School in Galveston, Texas. He was a practicing dermatologist for 53 years.  He was an active member of St. Joseph Catholic Church and a Lay Eucharistic Minister. He was an active member and past President of the Shreveport Medical Society and received their 2001 Distinguished Service Honor Award. He also was an active member and past Vice President of the Louisiana State Medical Society as well as on the Board of Governors, a Counselor, and a Member of the House of Delegates. In 2011, he was inducted into the Louisiana State Medical Society Hall of Fame. He was also President of the Louisiana Dermatological Society, Fellow of the American Academy of Dermatology, past President of Willis-Knighton Medical Center, past President of Shreveport-Bossier Right to Life Association, appointed a member of Practicing Physician Advisory Committee to Center for Medicare and Medicaid Services in Washington, D.C. He contributed medical knowledge through numerous published scientific articles through the years and a was a visiting clinical instructor of medicine at LSU School of Medicine.

Although you may think that his life was entirely devoted to medicine, he was very proud to be a certified American Tree Farmer and was the 50th Designated Louisiana Stewardship Forest Owner. He received the Louisiana Outstanding Tree Farmer of the Year Award in 2013. He was a member of the Shreveport Cotillion Club, Demoiselle Club, the Shreveport Club and past member of the Cambridge Club.

He was an avid hunter and gardener. He enjoyed fishing and was active in politics. He was a member of various wildlife organizations. He served as Captain in the United States Army Medical Corps, discharged with honors and received an Army Commendation Medal.

He was the kindest and most giving person that you ever met and brought joy and humor to all. He never met a stranger and loved telling stories, some of them true. Although he had his own children, many considered him a “second dad”.  Besides his children, his proudest accomplishment was the countless medical professionals he mentored and trained. As someone once said to him, “Not only did he change my life, he had an impact on others worldwide”.

He was devoted to his Catholic faith and had a special relationship with Jesus Christ and always tried to live by those values and principles.

He is preceded in death by his parents and brother-in-law, Sonny LeRay. Left to cherish his memory are his loving wife of 61 years, Earleen Bergeron; daughters, Blanche Nicole Bergeron and fiancé, David Whitsell and Michele Bergeron; son, James “Ronnie” Bergeron, Jr. and wife, Terri; grandchildren, Ashley Bergeron, Audrey Bergeron, Noe Andrews, Zayin Andrews, David Durel, Jonathan Durel, Darby Arnold and husband, Steven; sister, Janet LeRay; brother, John Kenneth Bergeron and wife, Evelyn, and nieces and nephews.

Serving as honorary pallbearers will be Joe Badt, Dr. Sonny Byrd, Dr. Charlie Black, Jimmie Dragoo, Harry Fair III, Michael Fair, Mark Noble, Leonard Patterson, Steve Patterson, Dr. David Renda, Charles Salley, Dr. Ray Smith, Dr. Lacy Williams, Don Updergrass, and Dr. Nadine Kaskas.

The family would like to express special thanks to the doctors, CCU, 2 North nurses, and staff at Willis-Knighton North Hospital, especially Dr. David Renda, for their care and compassion given to Ronnie, as well as Dr. Ray Smith, Dr. Richard Haynie, and Terri Bergeron. The family would also like to extend their thanks to Susan Sly, his personal assistant.

The family suggests memorials may be made to the charity of the donor’s choice.