Fourth Generation
105.
Jessie L. BOUCHER was born on Jan 7, 1912 in Bodcau, Webster
Parish, LA. He died on Dec 25, 2004 in Springhill, Webster Parish,
LA.
Monday, December 27, 2004, Minden Press-Herald, Minden, Webster Parish,
Louisiana
Jesse Boucher
Funeral services for Mr. Jesse L. Boucher will be held at 2 p.m. Tuesday, Dec.
28,2004, at Springhill United Methodist Church with Dr. Burton Blair officiating.
Burial will follow under the direction of Bailey Mortuary in Springhill.
Visitation will be held from 4 until 8 p.m. today, Dec. 27, at the funeral home.
Mr. Boucher passed away early Christmas morning in his home with his family at
his side. He gave up his place in this world after a courageous three year battle
with cancer.
He was born on Jan. 7, 1912 on a cold winter's day in Bodcau, a community less
than20 years old, founded in the early 1890s by his father and others of the
Boucher family. Jesse began his formal education at Shiloh School and continued
by graduating from Springhill High School in 1931. From there, he continued his
education at Normal State College in Natchitoches on an athletic scholarship.
For four years, he was on the football and track team. He ran on the conference
winning "Mile Relay."He served as senior class president and president
of the student body, NSU.
After receiving his bachelor of arts degree in 1935, he accepted a high school
coaching and teaching position at Evergreen, followed by a move to Doyline High
School and then Minden in Webster Parish. By this time, he was employed by Warner
Bros. Pictures and then in 1938, he joined Drayton Boucher in the insurance business
and was joined one year later by his lifelong friend, Wilburn A. Slack, creating
Boucher & Slack Insurance, a mainstay in Springhill since 1938.
He married Mary Eloise Herrington on Sept. 11, 1940. In 1940-44, he was stationed
in Pensacola, Fla., where he served as an officer in the United States Naval
Academy. Just prior to World War II, he served as a captain in the U.S. Air Force
in Clovis, N. M. Following his honorable discharge, he returned to Springhill
to resume his work with Boucher & Slack Insurance.
Jesse began pursuing land and home development as a contractor and developer.
As a developer, he became responsible for the construction of many of the most
successful subdivisions and apartment complexes in the North Louisiana and Mid
to South Arkansas regions.
He is responsible for a major part of the development of Webster Parish. His
work continued into developing subdivisions, schools, apartment complexes, hotels
and shopping centers throughout Louisiana and Arkansas. Several of these subdivisions
include North Acres, Moreland, Whiteway, Marie Street, Meadow Creek, Frost Subdivision
and B&S Park. In 1945, he opened an electric supply company housing retail,
real estate management, home centers and subdivision development. His current
developments include Louisiana cities Springhill, Bossier City, Vivian, Baton
Rouge and Lake Charles .His current developments in Arkansas include Fordyce,
Pine Bluff and Little Rock.
A leader and innovator in his field, Jesse was voted by the Lions Club 1949's
"Outstanding Young Man." His style of building complexes earned him
the honor from the Real Estate Community as "Builder of the Year" 1995-1996.
His name was added to the "Who's Who" in America and listed in the
National Register. He served as Chairman of the Springhill American Legion Post;
president of the Springhill Lions Club; PTA and SHS Alumni Association. In the
early 1960s, he served as mayor of Springhill.
Jesse and lifelong friend Woodrow Turner founded the "Alumni Association"in
Springhill and initiated the birth of the Lumberjack Festival. In 1997, he was
honored for his civic work by the Bossier City Lions Club and inducted into the
Springhill High School Alumni Hall of Fame. He was recently inducted into the
Northwestern State University's prestigious "Long Purple Line."
Jesse was an active member of the Bossier City Chamber of Commerce for many years
and had a lifetime commitment as a devoted citizen of Springhill. When once asked,"What
was his most important accomplishment?" His answer, "My most important
accomplishment was when I married my wife, Eloise Herrington."
He was preceded in death by his parents, Henry H. Boucher and Mary "Dixie"Coyle;
brothers, Ely Augustus Boucher, Henry Creel Boucher; sisters, Katie Boucher Nelson,
Estelle "Sally" Boucher Slack and granddaughter, Sherri LeAnn Campbell.
He is survived by his brother, David G. Boucher and wife Sondra of Atlanta, Texas;his
beloved wife of 64 years, Eloise Herrington Boucher; daughters, Savannah Boucher
of Los Angeles, Calif., Sherry Boucher of Bossier City, Jessica Boucher-Ford
and husband Randall L. Ford of Nashville, Tenn.; granddaughter, Chessa Boucher
Lytle of Bossier City; grandson, Nathan Kyle Rogers; niece, Beverly Angel Wilburn
and husband Sam and children of Hilton Head Island, Christy Nelson Coy and husband
Ted of Hilton Head Island; and nephew, Nick Nelson and wife Dana and their children
of Stockbridge,Ga.
The family wishes to express their love and gratitude for Barbara Scott with
whom the Lord so gloriously blessed them. They deeply appreciate the compassion,
love and care that she gave their loving husband and father.
Pallbearers will be Ed Bankhead, Ricky Darst, Allen Gray, David Gray, Ray Huddleston
and Huey Mayfield. Honorary pallbearers will be Robert Adley, Toxie Bowen, Larry
S. Burns, Foster Campbell, Harley E. Cox, John David Crow, David Curry, George
Dement,Jean Doergy, H.D. Gray, Lloyd Kimbrell, John Madison, Jack Montgomery,
Firal Ryder and Joe D. Waggoner.
In lieu of flowers, the family requests memorial donations be sent to the National
Cancer Society, P.O. Box 102454, Atlanta, Ga., 30368-2454; United Methodist Prayer
Garden in Springhill, 104 4th N.W., Springhill, LA 71075; or the Alumni Association/NSU
Foundation, Northwestern State University, Natchitoches, LA 71497.
Jessie L. BOUCHER and Eloise HERRINGTON were married on Sep 11, 1940.