Ratawn “Buck” Bourgeois Obituary (1978 - 2016)

On March 4, 1978, a "bucking" baby boy was born to Robbie and Leonard Bourgeois Jr., and they named him Ratawn Leonard Bourgeois. Ratawn "Buck" grew up in Galveston County. He was the oldest son of his two siblings, Iesha and Joseph. Ratawn dedicated his life to Christ at an early age and became a member of Neighborhood Missionary Baptist Church. He went to elementary and middle school in the La Marque Independent School District and graduated high school in California. He was employed at Wal-Mart in Pasadena, Texas. He achieved many accomplishments. He worked with his father for a long period of time at Bourgeois Enterprise as a Tile Setter/Helper. He worked at Skill Master, Inc. as a Production Operator and at Trey Industries as a Room Attendant/Helper. He was educated at ITT Technical Institute where he received an Associate of Applied Science Degree with honors in Drafting and Design Technology. He also went to Everest Institute where he achieved Medical Administrative Assistant with honors and he was currently a student at San Jacinto College working diligently to obtain a bachelor degree in Drafting and Design Technology. Ratawn was the proud father of two daughters, Merakle and Toure Bourgeois whom he loved unconditionally. He enjoyed spending quality time with his daughters. They had date nights and special moments together as a family. He also loved spending quality time with his nieces, nephews and family. He is preceded in death by his grandparents, Evelyn Burns, Mary Lou Bourgeois and Leonard Bourgeois, great-grandmothers Edna Hogan and Oriela Bourgeois, uncle Robert Darnell Burns, aunt Cathy Elaine Bourgeois and cousin Sheronda Bourgeois Jackson. Ratawn was a loving father, a great son, brother, uncle, nephew, cousin and friend. He was loved by everyone who came in contact with him and had an infectious smile. "Buck" was such an inspiration to his family and friends. He was a loving and caring nephew to his aunts and family where he would transport them to their doctors' appointments and wait there with them. He also was a caregiver to his "Paw-Paw" and his grandmother (Doll Baby). Buck loved to excel, he was very intelligent, and loyal to his family and friends. As Ratawn ascends to his eternal home, he will be dearly missed by his parents Leonard and Robbie Bourgeois Jr., daughters Merakle and Toure Bourgeois, grandfather Robert Burns, great aunt Jerlene Clay, sister and brother Iesha Lancaster (Reginald) and Joseph Bourgeois, god-sister Dominique Joiner, nieces and nephews, Joseph Bourgeois, Jr., Ka'Leshia Bourgeois, Iana Preston, Heavenle Walker, Alexandria Lancaster, Reginald Lancaster, Jr., Cameron Lancaster and Jaxon Bracken, aunts and uncles, great-aunt Jerlene Clay, Carolyn Franklin (Bill), Jackie Bourgeois (Carl), Marion Bourgeois, David Bourgeois (Tanya), Phyllis Henderson (James), Terry Bourgeois (Lucy), Lefornette Simpson (Michael), Alma Houston, Edna Long (Wayne), Regina Clark, Sherry Scott, Andre Burns and Bobby Burns, Great-aunt's and Uncle, Helen Gudry, Norma Cooper, Leona Archie (Taylor) and Namon Bourgeois (Sally), best friends Ricky McKinney and Alhaji Tommy and host of relatives and friends.