Richard Donald (Don) Caillouet

Don Caillouet, 86, of Bridge City passed away on Sunday, April 26, 2015.

A Mass of Christian Burial will be held 10 a.m. Friday, May 1, 2015 at St. Henry Catholic Church in Bridge City. Officiating will be Reverend Steven Leger. Burial will follow at Greenlawn Memorial Park in Groves.

Visitation will be from 5:00 – 9:00 p.m. Thursday, with a Rosary recited at 6:00 p.m. at Claybar Funeral Home in Bridge City.

Born in Iota, Louisiana on July 11, 1928, Don was the son of James and Edna (Daigle) Caillouet. He graduated from Opelousas High School in 1943 at 15 years old. He hitchhiked to Port Arthur at age 17 and got a job on a tugboat as a cook despite not even knowing how to fry an egg. From there he moved to working on tankers as a Merchant Marine and sailed around the world. His parents and younger siblings moved to the Groves, across the street from the family of Georgie Mae Smith, his future wife. Don married Georgie Mae on January 29, 1950. He left the Merchant Marines to begin his 40-year career in Operations at Texaco in Port Arthur. In 1954 they moved to Bridge City where Don and his father-in-law built a two-bedroom house across from the fire station. Don and Georgie raised nine children and resided in the ever-expanding house for the rest of their lives.

Don has been a member of St. Henry Catholic Church for 61 years and served two terms as City Council member in Bridge City. He was very proud that he was part of the council that obtained funding for the Bridge City Senior Center that continues to serve the community today.

Don was preceded in death by his wife Georgie Mae and his infant daughter Angela Marie.

Don is survived by his sons and spouses, Ricky and Gloria Caillouet of Lumberton, Chris and Kayla Caillouet of Basile, Louisiana, Kerry and Myra Caillouet of Bridge City, and Kelly and Karla Caillouet of Pensacola, Florida; and daughters and spouses Cathy and Freddie Guyote of Bridge City, Sandy and Gary Staton of Bridge City, Brenda Caillouet and Dr. Mary Ann Smith of Houston, Major Robin and Paul Barrett of Fairbanks, Alaska, and Colleen and Patrick Owens of Jackson, Tennessee.

He is also survived by 23 grandchildren and 15 great-grandchildren. He is also survived by his brothers James Jr (Bubsy), John Wayne, Dwight, and Nick; and his sisters Marlene, Gail, and Jackie Lafleur.

Serving as pallbearers will be his sons, Ricky, Chris, Kerry and Kelly; and grandsons, Simon and PJ Owens, Joseph Guyote, and Garret Caillouet.