Gerald "Bick" David Girouard, Sr.

New Iberia Long-time businessman Gerald Bick Girouard passed away on Friday, September 27 after fighting a long illness. He along with his wife Rita, were owners of Coastal Timbers, Inc. where Bick was instrumental in making the company the success that it is today. His hobby was the company. He truly was happiest when he was hard at work and joking with his many business acquaintances and customers he made through the years. He will sadly be missed by all those who knew him. Gerald (Bick) was a native of Loreauville and a resident of New Iberia. He was a veteran of the United States Army and proudly served his country enlisting in July 1956. He served in Japan and Korea and was honorably discharged in 1958. After his discharge, he went to work for Bayou Welding Works, then United Supply. He married the love of his life, Rita Folse Girouard, in 1959. He then went to work for Texaco Inc. for fifteen years before retiring in 1975. At that time he went to work for the family business, Coastal Timbers Inc., which was started by his father-in-law, Wofford Folse, Sr. in 1954. His greatest love was for his family and lived his life for their well-being. It was with this drive and determination that the family business grew and prospered under his guidance, business acumen and attention to detail. The past 25 years he was always eager for diversification and to that end he was instrumental in the designing, fabrication, and patenting of a very specialized crosstie pre-plating machine for the railroad industry known as Spike-Rite. Coastal Timbers Inc. continues to prosper today under the leadership of their four children, sons Craig, Rodney and Gerald David Jr., and their daughter Sheri G. Dugal. He is survived by his loving wife, Rita Folse Girouard of New Iberia; three sons, Gerald David Girouard, Jr. of Lafayette, Craig Michael Girouard, Sr. and wife, Martha, of New Iberia, and Rodney Patrick Girouard and wife, Cynthia, of Lafayette; his daughter, Sheri Girouard Dugal and husband, Dwayne Edward Dugal, of Lafayette; his brother, Otto Girouard, Jr. of Loreauville; and eight grandchildren, Sarah Elizabeth Dugal, Emily Catherine Dugal, Amy Catherine Girouard, Mollie Kristine Dugal, Amanda Claire Dugal, Craig Michael Girouard, Jr., Zachary Mann Girouard, and Andrew Ren Girouard. He is preceded in death by his parents, Otto Antoine Girouard, Sr. and Laurence Terradot Girouard. A Mass of Christian Burial will be celebrated at 10:00 am, on Monday, September 30, 2013, at Nativity of Our Lady Catholic Church in New Iberia. The family requests that visiting hours be observed from 5:00 pm until 9:00 pm on Sunday, and continue at 8:00 am until 9:15 am on Monday at Pellerin Funeral Home, 520 Jefferson Terrace Blvd., New Iberia, LA 70560. A rosary will be recited at 7:00 pm on Sunday. Rev. Ed Degeyter will officiate at the Funeral Mass. Scriptures will be read by Sarah Elizabeth Dugal and Emily Catherine Dugal. Gift Bearers will be Amy Catherine Girouard, Mollie Kristine Dugal, and Amanda Claire Dugal. Entombment will follow at Nativity of Our Lady Mausoleum in New Iberia. Pallbearers will be Gerald David Girouard, Jr., Craig Michael Girouard, Sr., Rodney Patrick Girouard, Craig Michael Girouard, Jr., Zachary Mann Girouard, Andrew Ren Girouard, and Dwayne Edward Dugal. Honorary pallbearers will be Otto Girouard, Jr., Louis Belaire, John Terradot, Donald Darcey, Ronald Fino, and the employees of Coastal Timbers Inc. The family would like to express special thanks to all of his caregivers, especially Dr. George Cousin, Dr. Darvin Hales, Dr. Moses Kitakule, Dr. Henry LaGarde, Debbie Phillips, Fay Fontenot, his longtime friend and traveling companion Louis Bucket Belaire, and to his longtime housekeeper/caregiver and friend Leontine James. Pellerin Funeral Home, 502 Jefferson Terrace Blvd., New Iberia, LA 70560, (337.365.3331), is in charge of arrangements. To view on-line obituary, sign guestbook and view video tribute, go to www.pellerinfuneralhome.com Visitation: Pellerin Funeral Home - New Iberia 502 Jefferson Terrace Blvd. New Iberia, LA 70560 8 am - 9:30 am ,Monday, September 30, 2013 Entombment: Monday Nativity of Our Lady Cemetery