Willie N. Gouthier, Sr.

August 8, 1922 - August 25, 2012

Wilburn "Willie" N. Gouthier, Sr., 90, of Port Arthur, Texas passed away at Christus St. Mary Hospital in Port Arthur on Saturday, August 25, 2012. He was born in Port Arthur, Texas on August 8, 1922 to Victoria Lemoine Gouthier and Philmore Gouthier. Willie was a lifelong resident of Port Arthur and graduated from Thomas Edison High School in 1940. He served in the U. S. Coast Guard during WWII as a Coxswain and was honorably discharged in 1945. Willie worked with Hi-Note for many years, as an electrician affiliated with I.B.E.W. Local #479 and retired in 1985 after 44 years of service. He was a member of St. Joseph Catholic Church in Port Arthur. Visitation will be on Wednesday, August 29, 2012 from 4:00 PM to 8:00 PM with a vigil service at 5:00 PM and a Knights of Columbus rosary to be prayed at 6:00 PM at Clayton Thompson Funeral Home in Groves. A Mass of Christian Burial will be celebrated at 10:00 AM Thursday, August 30, 2012 at St. Joseph Catholic Church in Port Arthur with Rev. Stephen McCrate serving as celebrant. Burial will follow in Greenlawn Memorial Park under the direction of Clayton Thompson. He was preceded in death by his parents, his daughter, Mary Gouthier, his loving wife, Florence Gouthier and his son-in-law, Bobby Clay. He is survived by his daughters, Marsha Clay of Conroe, Texas, Deirdre "Debbie" Gouthier and Don Townsend of Phoenix, Arizona, his sons, Rodney Gouthier and wife Jodie of Port Neches, Texas, Will Gouthier and wife Regina of Groves, Texas. He is also survived by his grandchildren, Bobby Clay II and wife Kari, Shannon Clay Teeter and husband Kevin, Brandon Gouthier and wife Melissa, Misty Gouthier Castille and husband Donald, six great-grandchildren along with his brother, Nolan Gouthier, Sr. of Port Arthur, Texas as well as several nieces and nephews.