Memorials › Corp Henry Simeon Couvillon

Corp Henry Simeon Couvillon

10 Jul 1931 – 9 Nov 2008

Birth	10 Jul 1931
Death	9 Nov 2008
Cemetery	Saint John the Baptist Catholic Church Cemetery Brusly , West Baton Rouge Parish , Louisiana , USA
Added by	Nelda Arnold on 20 May 2023
FaG	https://www.findagrave.com/memorial/103144017

Gravesite details

headstone has wrong date

Bio

"Coach," "Mr. Henry," and lovingly known to his grandchildren as "Pots," died Sunday, Nov. 9, 2008, at the Louisiana War Veterans Home, Jackson, from complications of Alzheimer's disease. He was 77, born in Erwinville in 1931 and lived most of his life in Port Allen and Brusly. Henry was a lifelong educator and a former head coach of football, baseball, basketball and track at Brusly High School. Retired from the Louisiana Division of Vocational Rehabilitation, he served as an officer in the Louisiana and National Rehabilitation associations. Henry was a corporal in the U.S. Marine Corps during the Korean War era and also on the 1952 Quantico and Camp Lejeune football teams and boxing squads. He attended Southeastern Louisiana Institute where he played football and was a graduate of LSU where he was on the boxing team. He received his master's degree in education from LSU. Always interested in youth, "Mr. Henry" worked to provide a positive example and guidance to young people as a leader with the Holy Family Church Catholic Youth Organization and Boy Scout Troop 38. For 34 years, he was the stalwart leader of the West Baton Rouge Junior Deputy Sheriff's League, educating thousands of West Baton Rouge youth on respect for laws, law enforcement, hunter safety, firearms safety and marksmanship. As part of the Junior Deputy program, he established a competitive junior rifle team and yearly brought teams of youths to compete in the National Rifle Matches in Camp Perry, Ohio. He went on to establish a state junior rifle program for competition and has been honored by the Louisiana Shooting Association in naming the Louisiana Champion Junior Rifle Award, the Henry S. Couvillon Trophy. He served on the Brusly Planning Committee, and, always proud of his service as a Marine, as chaplain of the Choctaw Chapter of the Marine Corps League, Always interested in sports, Henry refereed LHSAA football for 36 years, and for more than 27 years as a baseball, softball and independent school basketball referee and umpire. He was an avid LSU fan and served as a marshal in Tiger Stadium for more than 20 years, mostly as the guard at the Players Gate. He also faithfully participated in the Louisiana Senior Olympics in many events. Mr. Henry never failed to come to the aid of his children or anyone whom he taught, coached or led. He mentored many in life and was deeply respected by parents, children and peers in his affiliation with many organizations. It was rare that "Mr. Henry" or "Coach" could go anywhere and not be greeted by a former student, youth or parent of a youth who had known him. Later in life, as the insidious Alzheimer's disease began to take a toll, he enjoyed watching Westerns on TV with his beloved dogs. Preceded in death by his parents, Alvin B. "Prof" and Ivy Jeanesonne Couvillon; brother, Alvin B. Couvillon Jr.; and granddaughter, Bridget Anderson. He is survived by three daughters and sons-in-law, Ellise and Gary Knowls, of Lake Conroe, Texas, Jeannéette Flowers, of Spring, Texas, and Tina and Herman Lemoine, of Marksville; five sons and daughters-in-law, Marine Col. David and Sharon Couvillon, of Brusly, Navy Lt. Michael and Wendy Couvillon, of Houma, Edward and Cindy Couvillon, of Maywood, Neb., Terry and Diane Rathcke, of Zachary, and Mike and Tracey Rathcke, of Baton Rouge; grandchildren, Katie Graham, Dustin Rathcke, Daniel and Christine Knowls, Deborah (Knowls) and Chris Clark, Meaghen Couvillon, Angelle Couvillon, Danielle Rathcke, Candy Anderson, Kacie Lemoine, Garrett Couvillon, Angel Anderson, Lorne Knowls, Melissa Rabalais, Hillary Couvillon, Chad Rathcke, Hannah-Kate Couvillon, Lauren Couvillon and Sarah-Grace Couvillon; three great-grandchildren, Trenton Clark, Cameron Knowls and Alexis Gongorra; as well as numerous nieces and nephews. Also survived by his wife, Betty Mackey Rathcke Couvillon; sister and brother-in-law, Barbara and Roy Hotard, of Port Allen; brother and sister-in-law, Ronald and Ione Couvillon, of Port Allen; sister-in-law, Natalie Couvillon, of Chicago; and uncle, Murray and wife Deet Couvillon, of Lafayette. Visiting at Wilbert's Funeral Home, Port Allen, on Tuesday, Nov. 11, was from 5 p.m. to 9 p.m., with recitation of the rosary at 7 p.m. Visiting at St. John the Baptist Catholic Church, Brusly, on Wednesday, Nov. 12, from 8:30 a.m. until Mass of Christian Burial at 10:30 a.m., with the Rev. Matt Dupré, celebrant. Interment in St. John the Baptist Church Cemetery. Pallbearers will be his grandsons, Dustin Rathcke, Garrett Couvillon, Lorne Knowls and Chad Rathcke; son-in-law, Herman Lemoine; and Joe Woolf, representing all members of the Junior Deputies. Honorary pallbearers are members of the Choctaw Detachment, Marine Corps League and former students. The family would like to extend their sincere thanks to the entire staff at the Louisiana War Veterans Home in Jackson for their care and concern for "Couvie" and for their continued dedication and care of Louisiana's war veterans. Memorial contributions to the Alzheimer's Association in the name of Mr. Henry would be most appreciated.

Inscription

CPL U.S MARINE CORPS

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Ellise Couvillon Knowls 1958–2009 FaG

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