Mary L. “Jimmie” Bouldin

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Mary L. “Jimmie” Bouldin, 87, of Gonzales, passed away Monday, Nov. 17, 2014 surrounded by her girls and husband. Jimmie was born Nov. 20, 1926 in the midst of the majestic cypress trees of the bayous of the Pearl River in southeastern Louisiana. 

In her day there was no fresh running water, electricity or indoor plumbing. Hers was a life of hardship to some, but for Jimmie and her family, it was just a way of life. They lived off the land, hunting, fishing, butchering their own hogs and processing their own cooking lard and soap. 

Jimmie left this way of life during World War II to study to become a registered nurse and serve her country. The war ended before she finished nursing school, so after graduating Jimmie accepted a nursing position with Warm Springs Hospital for Crippled Children.

She married William Benjamin “Billy” Bouldin on May 10, 1951 in Luling. They moved to Victoria where Billy was working and Jimmie continued her nursing career. Shortly thereafter they moved to Aiken, SC and started their family with daughters Ann and Patti Bea Bouldin both being born there. 

Billy moved his family to Rockdale where the last of their three daughters, Lisa, was born. Jimmie and Billy finished raising their family in Rockdale and after Billy retired they moved to Rockport and Jimmie took over her sister’s business, the Estelle Stair Gallery in Rockport. Jimmie owned and operated the gallery from 1988 to 1996 when she left the store to her daughter Lisa’s capable hands and moved to Gonzales with Billy to care for his mother after his brother Collis had passed away. 

She was a member of the Gonzales Spade and Trowel Garden Club, the Gonzales First United Methodist Church and the Lenore Boothe Circle of the church.    

Jimmie was a delightfully complicated woman, she was a creative artist and enjoyed painting. She found peace in gardening and delighted in riding around the ranch and watching the cattle with her husband. She sewed clothes for her children and grandchildren and made Halloween costumes as well. 

She was a fashionista, dressing with just the right amount of style and panache. She had great taste in everything and loved pretty things. She adored her grandchildren and cherished each moment she could be near them. She was well spoken, well read and completely independent. She had come a long way from the bayou of Pearl River, but that instinct for survival and the character developed from the hardships of that time merely made her spirit and appreciation for life that much more pronounced.

Mary L. “Jimmie” Bouldin is survived by her loving husband of 63 years, Billy Bouldin of Gonzales; daughters and sons-in-law, Ann and Mel Millican of Horseshoe Bay, Patty Bea and Mark Myron of Shreveport, La., Lisa M. and John Paul Frederick of Rockport; grandchildren, Collis Avant, Elizabeth Flowers, Neil Myron, Brett Baer, Stephanie Woosley and James Avant; great-grandchildren, Bryson Woosley, Eli Flowers and Paxton Woosley. She was preceded in death by her parents, grandson, Ben Avant, three sisters and three brothers.

A memorial service will be held at 11 a.m. Friday, Nov. 21 in the Gonzales First United Methodist Church with Pastor Andy Smith officiating. In lieu of flowers the family request memorials be made to the Children’s Ministry of the First United Methodist Church. 

The family wishes to thank her many friends for their love and support and express their sincere gratitude to the Dr. Terry Eska, the staff of The Heights and Gentiva Hospice Care. Arrangements are under the care and direction of Seydler-Hill Funeral Home.

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