Emile John Bowers

Emile John Bowers passed away peacefully on the morning of March 6, 2021 in Belle Chasse at age 106. Mr. Bowers lived longer than many of the people that he dearly loved. He was preceded in death by his wife of 62 years, Ena Oris France Rigaud Bowers. They were affectionately known in their community as Maw and Paw Fisherman. Ena was followed in death by their daughter, Evelyn Ruth Rigaud Vincent, their son, Otto Alex (Junior) Rigaud, and their granddaughter, Andrea Gean (Geannie) Grundstrom. Emile was the eldest of five children and was born in Plaquemines Parish in Happy Jack on July 25, 1914. His siblings and their spouses preceded him in death. They were Odette “Detsy” Prest (Robert, III), Hansell Bowers, Sr. (Mary Irma), Rene Bowers, (Ruby), and Lucy David (Wallace). Emile was a lifelong resident of Empire and a lifetime member of St. Ann’s Catholic Church there. He made his living as a shrimper and commercial fisherman throughout his life. After his retirement, he continued to sportfish every chance he had. He was adored and doted upon by his family. He is survived by three grandchildren, David William Vincent (Nancy), Alice Ann Rigaud (Kenneth) and Pamela Faye Rigaud. His great grandchildren are Patrick Treadaway, (Ashley), Alex Treadaway, (Jessica) Whitney Gean Reno, (Bubby) and Leah Roberts Smith (Chad). His great great grandchildren are Logan Reno, Kadence Treadaway, Della Reno, Aubree Treadaway, Graison Reno, and Riley Treadaway. Emile Bowers was also incredibly special to dozens of loving cousins, nieces, nephews, and friends. So many of these friends and relatives were often at “the camp” that he and he and his family bult in 1957. That was a place where children, many of them now into their sixties, seventies, and eighties, learned to bait crab traps, throw cast nets, clean fish, and boil shrimp. The Camp was a place where beautiful memories were made and it stayed in the family until 2005, when Hurricane Katrina took it into the Gulf. Katrina also took the home that Emile built himself, and he left his beloved Empire then. Mr. Bowers had recently lived at River Bend, where he was treated with kindness and respect. Emile Bowers was locally famous for many reasons, not the least of which was his own recipe for blackberry wine, which he made in a Jack Daniels whiskey barrel. The stories about his wine are renowned. He was still drinking a bit of wine daily at the time of his death. He liked to say that loads of garlic, freshly caught seafood and blackberry wine are the keys to a long and happy life. He was once a skilled home chef, and he loved to cook and feed people. His garden was almost always successful. He loved baseball, the Blessing of the Fleet, and spending time in the bayou. Their home was a magical place on Christmas Eve, and he loved to entertain there each year. He was well-loved, had wonderful birthday parties, and adored oysters, soft-shelled crabs, and the occasional highball. He was a man of great faith, and he will be missed. His ability to “grow old gracefully” was his gift to all of us. In lieu of flowers, the family requests donations to the St. Ann’s Catholic Church Mission in care of St. Patrick’s, 28683 LA-23, Port Sulphur, Louisiana, 70083. St. Ann’s Catholic Church is where Mr. Bowers made his first Communion and where he proudly served as the first altar boy, at the newly built church, one hundred years ago. It will be the home of his services, which will take place on Tuesday, March 16, 2021. Family will be asked to visitation at 10 am. Friends will be welcomed at 11, and a Mass will be said at one o’clock. His interment at Good Harbor will follow. All those attending must wear face coverings. Family and friends may view and sign the online guest book at www.mothefunerals.com .