GURTIE STEVENS BOUTON
April 15, 1918 - June 30, 2019
Gurtie Stevens Bouton, a 77 year resident of Franklin, passed away at the age of 101 on June 30, 2019, Sunday afternoon at the Franklin Health Care Center.
Gurtie was born Monday, April 15, 1918 in Patoutville, La., the eldest of seven children born to Joseph and Azelie Stevens. Like so many children of her generation she had to quit school at an early age, 13 years old in her case, to help her family. At an early age she was cooking for the farm hands on the Landry Sugarcane Farm in Patoutville and often had to bring meals out in the fields.
She married Robert Bouton on March 2, 1935 and the two were blessed with four children, Earl, Dolores, Drucilla, and Elridge. Although she had very little formal education, Gurtie was very intelligent and worked in the toughest profession known to man, that of a homemaker, which also included taking care of the family finances. In her earlier years with her husband she enjoyed fishing and shrimping. Family gathering and visiting with family and friends were also favorite pastimes for Gurtie, especially family visits during her later years at the Franklin Health Care Center. She was deeply loved and will truly be missed.
Those she leaves to cherish her memory include her children, Earl J. Bouton Sr. and his wife Cora, Drucilla B. Ratcliff, and Elridge J. Bouton and his wife Dianne; brother, Ira Stevens and his wife Mona; 11 grandchildren; a host of great grandchildren and great great grandchildren; as well as numerous relatives and friends.
She was preceded in death by her husband, Robert L. Bouton; her daughter, Dolores B. Darby; sons-in-law, Melvin Darby and Lloyd Ratcliff; granddaughter, Sundae Ratcliff Tanner; her parents, Joseph Stevens and Azelie Sonnier Stevens; two brothers, Irvin Stevens and Ivy Stevens; and three sisters, Gernice Romero, Gussie Romero, and Adelia Thibodeaux.
A Mass of Christian Burial will be held Tuesday, July 2, 2019, at 1 p.m. at the Church of the Assumption in Franklin with Fr. Joel Faulk and Fr. Billy Ruskoski celebrating the Mass. Following the Mass, Ms. Gurtie will be laid to rest with her husband in the Franklin Cemetery Mausoleum.
A gathering of family and friends will be held Tuesday at the church from 10 a.m. until Mass time, with the Holy Ro-sary being prayed at 11:30 a.m.
The Bouton family extends their heartfelt thanks to the staff of the Franklin Health Care Center for taking such great care of her for the past seven years, as well as to Dr. Steven McPherson and the staff of Journey Hospice. Your care, compassion, and love will never be forgotten.
Family and friends may view the obituary and express their condo-lences online by visiting www.iberts.com.
Arrangements have been entrusted to Ibert’s Mortuary, Inc., 1007 Main Street, Franklin, La. 70538, (337) 828-5426.