Person Page - 4612

Elliott Paul Bourbonais
Portage—Elliott Paul Bourbonais died Wednesday, May 20, 1992, at Borgess Medical Center.
     He was born Oct 24, 1913, in Detroit, the son of Louis and Hazel Bourbonnais. He lived in St. Clair County until 1967, when he moved to Portage.
     He served with the U.S. Army during World War II and, prior to his retirement in 1975, was employed in computer operations at the Defense Logistics Service Center in Battle Creek. After 1976, he bred and raised puppies. He whelped four litters of puppies and pre-trained 13 leader dogs for the blind. He was an accomplished pianist and organist and performed in several area restaurants.
     He is survived by his wife, Helen; two daughters and sons-in-law, Teresa and Peter Carlson of Crestline, Calif, and Denise and Paul Otis of Towanda, Ill; five grandchildren; and one sister and one brother, Mrs. Muriel Ramsey and Gene Bourbonais, both of St. Clair.
     He was preceded in death by two sisters, Gerardine Welch and Lois Malane.
     In accordance with his wishes, there will be no services or visiting. Memorial contributions may be made to Leader Dogs for the Blind, 1038 S. Rochester Road, Rochester, Mich. 48063. Arrangements are by the Langeland Memorial Chapel, 622 S. Burdick, Kalamazoo.

—The Times Herald, Port Huron, Michigan, 27 May 1992, p 7

Helen Welch Bourbonais
Helen Welch Bourbonais, 94, died July 6, 2010 at Lake Arrowhead, CA following a long illness.
     Mrs. Bourbonais was born January 1, 1916 in Yale, MI, daughter of the late Grant and Letta Beadle Welch. She graduated in 1933 from Marysville High School, Marysville, MI. She married Elliott Bourbonais on April 2, 1948 in Smiths Creek, MI.
     Mrs. Bourbonais owned and operated a beauty shop in Yale. She later worked as a sales clerk for the J.B. Sperry Co. in Port Huron. She was an ardent genealogist and family historian for over forty years. She extensively documented the roles of her husband's and her own pioneer ancestors who settled St. Clair County. Mrs. Bourbonais was also an avid flower and vegetable gardener.
     Mrs. Bourbonais is survived by two daughters, Mrs. Teresa (Peter) Carlson, Lake Arrowhead, CA and Mrs. Denise (Paul) Otis, Towanda, IL; a niece, Mrs. Patricia (Haines) Layfield, Ellerslie, GA; five grandchildren, Amanda (Brian) Haber, Thousand Oaks, CA, Michelle Otis, Plymouth, MA, Jeanette Otis, Towanda, IL, William Carlson, Running Springs, CA, and Whitney Carlson, Oakland, CA; one great-grandson, Andrew Haber, Thousand Oaks, CA; several cousins, grand-nieces and -nephews. In addition to her parents, she was preceded in death by her husband Elliott, a brother, Rev. Howard Welch, and a niece, Sondra Webb.
     Interment will be in Elmwood Cemetery, Yale, MI. In lieu of graveside services a memorial service will be held at a future date at the Smiths Creek Community Church, of which she was a member.
     In lieu of flowers, remembrances can be made to the American Cancer Society.
     The family wishes to thank Mountains Community Hospital of Lake Arrowhead, CA for their loving kindness, care, and support of Helen during her time of need.

—The Times Herald, Port Huron, Michigan, 11 Jul 2010, p 10