Virgis Joseph Pitre

1915 Bayou Blue, Louisiana – 1979 Franklin, Louisiana

 

 

Continuation of tree (7th child of Augustin Adam Pitre/Claire Helene Thibodeaux); all known surname descendants:

                9          Virgis Joseph Pitre  b: 26 August 1915  Bayou Blue, Terrebonne, LA; d: 9 May 1979  Franklin, St. Mary, LA

                                    +Hattie Marie Boudreaux (Dugas)  b: 19 January 1917  Lafourche, LA; m: 14 December 1938  Franklin, St. Mary, LA [Dudley Frank/Angele Marie Knoblock]; d: 22 August 1964  Franklin, St. Mary, LA

                             10         Dolores M. Dugas (Pitre)  b: 29 March 1934  Franklin, St. Mary, LA; d: 29 October 2006  Baker, E. Baton Rouge, LA

                                            +Louis Ray Simoneaux  b: 29 June 1931  Franklin, St. Mary, LA; m: Abt. 1952 [Adrian/---]; d: 1 June 1980

                             10         Loretta M. Pitre  b: Abt. 1945; d: Aft. October 2006

                                            +Hal Clair Swafford  b: 8 October 1942  Franklin, St. Mary, LA; m: 23 November 1963  Church of the Assumption, Franklin, St. Mary, LA [H.C./Alma Wolfe]; d: 25 May 2006  Lafayette, Lafayette, LA

                             10         Bonnie A. Pitre  b: Abt. 1948; d: Aft. June 2008

                                            +Philip M. Gauthier    m: unknown [Harold J./Frankie C. ---]; d: Aft. June 2008

 

 

Notes for Virgis Joseph Pitre:

Census

- 1940 Belleview, St. Mary, Louisiana:  Virgis Petre 24 laborer/celotex co., wife Hattie 22, daughter Delores Dugas 6.

- 1950 Franklin, St. Mary, LA:  Virgis J. Pitre 34 foreman/celetex co., wife Haddie B. 33, daughters Dolores M. Dugas 16, Loretta M. Pitre 4 & Bonnie A. Pitre 1.

WWII Records:  Virgis Joseph Pitre, res. Franklin, LA; b. 16 Aug 1915 Houma, LA; contact wife Mrs. Virgis Joseph Pitre; 5' 11", 160 lbs., brown eyes & black hair, light brown complexion; 16 Oct 1940 Franklin, LA.

 

Obituary:  St Mary and Franklin Banner Tribune (LA), Thursday, 10 May 1979:   Virgis Joseph Pitre, 63, died yesterday at 4 p.m. at Franklin Foundation Hospital following a brief illness.  He was a resident of Franklin and a native of Bayou Blue.  The deceased was a foreman in the sugar industry.  Visitation will be Friday from 9 to 11 a.m. at Ibert's Funeral Home.  Services will be at the Church of the Assumption with interment in the Franklin Cemetery.  He was preceded in death by his wife, the late Hattie Boudreaux Pitre.  He is survived by three daughters Mrs. Dolores Simoneaux of Baker, Mrs. Loretta Swafford of Franklin, Mrs. Bonnie Gauthier of Brittany, La.; eight grandchildren and three great-grandchildren.

 

Tombstone Inscription:  Franklin Cemetery, Franklin, LA:  Virgis J. Pitre / born Aug 26, 1915 / died May 9, 1979 // Hattie B. Pitre / Jan. 19, 1917 / died Aug. 22, 1974

 

Notes for Hattie Marie Boudreaux:

Misc.:  St. Mary and Franklin Banner Tribune (Franklin, LA), Thursday, 14 October 1954:  (photo of the 2 ladies)  A Franklin lady on old age pension has quit buying coffee so that she can contribute to the swimming pool project - but a good neighbor is lending a helping hand by making her own pot of fresh coffee available at any time the pensioner has a yearning for a cup of South Louisiana's favorite beverage.  This is the way the story goes:  Mrs. Virgis Pitre who is one of the hardest working solicitors for the swimming pool fund, was making a canvass of her neighborhood.  She approached Mrs. A. Theriot and asked her for a contribution.  Mrs. Theriot told Mrs. Pitre that she was the recipient of an old age pension and financially unable to help the drive, although she said that she considered it one of the worthiest projects ever undertaken here.  The two ladies continued discussion of the merits of the project and Mrs. Theriot reconsidering, said, "You know, I've figured out a way to help.  Coffee sells for a dollar a pound and I don't have to drink coffee.  I'll give my coffee money to the swimming pool fund."  Mrs. Pitre replied, "That's fine, Mrs. Theriot.  You give your coffee money and you can come drink coffee with me every morning."  Community service?  Southern hospitality?  No one in town has been able to come up with the words that would adequately describe the gesture.

 

Obituary:  St. Mary and Franklin Banner Tribune (LA), Tuesday, 25 August 1964:  The body of Mrs. Hattie Pitre, about 45, of Franklin, was found floating in Bayou Teche near the shell pile at the Franklin cemetery about 5 p.m. yesterday, according to Sheriff Chester Baudoin.  The discovery was made by Robert Mitchell, a resident of nearby Blakesley Subdivision, who came in by the landing near the shell pile at 4:50 p.m. in his boat.  The sheriff's department was notified, and Baudoin, along with Deputies Johnny Graffeo and John L. Robicheaux, assisted by city police, went to the scene and pulled the body from the water.  Dr. Victor Feske, acting coroner, ordered the body to be taken to Ibert's Funeral Home, where an autopsy was scheduled to be held last night after press time.  Identification was made by a sister-in-law who told authorities that Mrs. Pitre, wife of Virgis Pitre, 617 Robert Street, had taken a cab about 11 a.m. and the family had been looking for her in the afternoon.  A taxi driver told authorities he had let Mrs. Pitre out near the A & P and that she had told him she was going to a nearby doctor's office.  Dr. Feske stated that the woman had apparently not been in the bayou very long but he had not issued a statement as to the cause of death by press time.

 

Obituaries for the children:

Dolores Dugas (Pitre):  St. Mary and Franklin Banner Tribune (LA), Monday, 30 October 2006:  Dolores "Dee" Simoneaux, 72, a native of Franklin and a resident of Baker, died Sunday, Oct. 29, 2006.  She is survived by two daughters, Debra McKee of Baker and Darleen Frank of Zachary; three sons, Keith Simoneaux of Tylertown, Texas, Kent Simoneaux of Olive Branch, Miss. and Louis Ray Simoneaux Jr.; three sisters, Loretta Swafford of Franklin, Bonnie Gauthier of Sorrento and Patty Samsel of Milan, Michigan; one brother, the Rev. Scott J. Dugas; 10 grandchildren; and two great-grandchildren.  Mrs. Simoneaux was preceded in death by her husband, Louis Ray Simoneaux.  She was a retired private sitter.  Visitation will be held Monday, Oct. 30, from 5 p.m. to 8 p.m., at the Baker Funeral Home in Baker.  Visitation will continue Tuesday, Oct. 31, from 9 a.m. until religious service in the chapel at 10 a.m., conducted by her brother, the Rev. Scott J. Dugas of the Houma-Thibodaux Diocese.  Entombment will follow in the Hillcrest Memorial Mausoleum.  Baker Funeral Home, 6401 Groom Road, is in charge of arrangements.

 

 

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Items in RED verified from transcriptions in the following:

- South Louisiana Records: Church and Civil Records of Lafourche-Terrebonne Parishes  (Rev. Hebert)

- Some Louisiana deaths in RED taken from obituaries or the Louisiana Deaths collection (which includes spouses/parents).

- Some birthdates in RED taken from Social Security records based on obituary/tombstone inscription deathdate.

 

Last updated:  15 June 2022.