Ruby Bourque Mire

Kaplan—A Mass of Christian Burial will be held at 2:00 PM on Tuesday, August  4, 2020 at Our Lady of the Most Holy Rosary Roman Catholic Church honoring the life of Ruby Bourque Mire, 102, who died Saturday, August 1, 2020 at  her granddaughter's residence.  She will be laid to rest at Our Lady of the Most Holy Rosary Cemetery with Rev. John Joseph officiating the services.

Ruby Bourque Mire lived a full and vibrant life centered around God, family, and friends. She resided in Southern Louisiana, making homes as far west as Holly Beach and as far east as New Orleans, with communities and additional towns including Kaplan, Oak Grove (now named Creole), Lake Charles, Gretna, and Lafayette. She was an avid gardener, with a particular love for and skill with roses. She cultivated a wide range of succulents, especially aloe vera, which she used widely for its healing properties. She spoke with her plants in the belief and hope that her gentle voice would encourage their health and growth. She was a nurturer of all living things, no matter how humble. She was a lifelong learner and voracious reader. At the age of 100, she was awarded a diploma from the “Comprehensive School of Natural Health,” which was titled “Honorary Doctorate of Life”. Ruby was born to a family and culture of Acadian French speakers. French was her first language, and she continued to speak it throughout her life. Her generation was the last to use the language widely in daily life. Ruby was steeped in French Acadian (Cajun) culture, including her love of cajun music and dance, the vibrant and unique cuisine of the region, and her beloved card game, bouree, of which she was a (perhaps) unrivalled master. In her working life, Ruby showed flexibility, intelligence, and a willingness to learn new skills well into her sixties. Her vocations over her long working life included customer survey positions, working as a private investigator, being an Amway sales representative, seamstress in a sewing factory in New Orleans, and owning, along with her husband, a country grocery store. She also worked for a time at the Liberty Rice Mill in Kaplan, and she worked for the Hadacol Elixir Company. Her primary career, and that which gave her the greatest satisfaction, was as a beautician / hairdresser. Though she moved frequently, she carried the tools of her preferred trade with her, including her bulky hair dryer chair and her "barber" chair. Again and again, she would set up her salon in the new location. Ruby's true life's calling was her family; her husband, Ophie, her children Patrick, Priscilla, and Rebecca, her own parents and six siblings, her many aunts, uncles, and cousins, her nieces and nephews, and her beloved grandchildren, great-grandchildren, great-great grandchildren, and great great-great grandchildren. She basked in the presence of her family. To the very end of her life, she could name every relative, living or dead, of her vast extended family, and she could provide vital information such as days and years of birth, and / or death, location of family members on extended family tree, who fought in what conflicts, and much more. She was a deep reservoir of the family history. She saved every letter, card, photograph or memento given to her and cherished the memories. Ruby Bourque Mire's lifelong example of unconditional love, dedication, and joy she found in her family is the priceless legacy she leaves to those who have known her. May those fortunate enough to have known this gracious woman honor her memory and emulate her in their own lives.

She is survived by her son, Patrick Mire and his wife, Ola Clement of Ragley; her two daughters, Priscilla M. Wohlert of Duson and Becky M. and her husband, Mack Billeaud of Lafayette; her 13 grandchildren, David Jenkins, Scarlette Billings, Leticia B. Gary, Vanessa Billings Caiola, Anita M. Serrin, Aaron Billings, Timothy Billings, Chamaine Billings, Melissa Lawrence, Brandy B. Schaaf, Jared Billeaud, Chauntelle Romero and Laci B. Quinn; her 25 great grandchildren; her six great-great grandchildren; and her two great-great-great grandchildren.

She was preceded in death by her husband, Ophie Mire; her parents, Ulysses Bourque and the former Laura Meaux; her four brothers, Jessie "Jay", Ivan, Ellis and Loston Bourque; two sisters, Flo Ella B. Watkins and Madge B. Sonnier Miller; and one great granddaughter, Kelsey Peyton Gallet.

The family requests that visiting hours be observed at Our Lady of the Most Holy Rosary Roman Catholic Church, 600 N. Church Avenue, on Tuesday, August  4, 2020 from 10:00 AM until the time of the services at 2:00 PM with a rosary being prayed at 11:00 AM.