LELAND FOUGERON 1931 – 2024

Leland Arthur Fougeron was born in Morris, Minnesota, May 11, 1931, and passed peacefully surrounded by family in Navasota, Texas on June 2, 2024.

A gathering of family and friends was held at St. Joseph’s Catholic Mission in Stoneham Friday, June 7, 2024, from 5:30 p.m. to 7:00 p.m., with a rosary service that followed at 7:00 p.m. To continue his remembrance, a Mass and Celebration of Life was held at St. Joseph’s Catholic Mission Saturday, June 8, 2024, at 10:30 a.m. The rite of committal followed at the St. Joseph Church Cemetery.

Serving as pallbearers were Patrick Morris, Blake Fougeron, Daniel Wisnoskie, Ryan Williams, Kyle Wommack, Meredith Sico, Lindsay Fougeron and Christina Fortunato. Names as honorary pallbearers are Richard Davis, Larry Eickenhorst, Glen Fougeron, Donald Free and Jim Taylor.

Leland’s early childhood was spent in Morris, Minnesota. His family moved to Houston, Texas when he was a young boy, eventually settling in the country. There he joined the 4-H Club and began by showing chickens, then pigs, and finally a steer.

During high school, Leland was invited by his Ag teacher on two great adventures, one traveling to Venezuela by boat to deliver cattle, and touring the Western United States with a group of other young men. Certainly, this is where his love of travel first began.

Upon his return home at age 18, Leland was hired by Southwestern Bell Telephone Company as a fieldman working with a survey crew. A short time later, he volunteered for the Navy in 1949 during the Korean War. After boot camp in San Diego, California, he was assigned to an air station in Osugi, Japan, where he worked in the control tower helping the air controller and reviewing aerial photos of North Korea. He was thereafter assigned to the USS Essex as a CV9, where he worked on the transfer deck and later in aircraft operations. During his two tours to Korea, Leland reached the rank 3rd Class Air Controller (AC3) and completed his duty at Long Beach Naval Air Station as an air traffic controller. He was honorably discharged from the service on May 11, 1954. After his military service, he resumed his employment at Southwestern Bell Telephone Company and remained a faithful employee for over 35 years.

Leland married Barbara Boudreaux on August 29, 1954, and enjoyed over 68 years of marriage. In the years that followed Leland worked and attended night school, earning his degree in management from the University of Houston, during which time he and Barbara were blessed with six children. In 1968, Leland and Barbara moved onto 3 acres in Magnolia where they raised children and their animals, as he had in high school, with each of his children involved in 4-H/FFA. He was always right by their side as they began showing rabbits, pigs, and cattle.

Leland was very community minded. Over the years he participated in the Lions Club, volunteered at the Houston Livestock Show and Rodeo on the Calf Scramble Committee for over 20 years, and served on the school board at Magnolia Independent School District. He also enjoyed participating on barb- q cookoff teams in both Montgomery and Harris counties.

After moving to Navasota in 1986, Leland joined the Veterans of Foreign Wars Post 4006, where he supported the group by participating in many positions to include Commander and Treasurer. Leland was a faithful member of Alcoholics Anonymous (AA) and enjoyed mentoring others through the program as well as being incredibly involved with the prison system AA ministry, giving his time and service to aid others on their journey to recovery.

If all this did not keep him busy enough, his heart was firmly devoted to his Church. His faith was strong and unwavering, and he deeply loved his parish family. For many years, he was a Eucharistic minister, brought communion to the sick, practiced as a Sacristan, and chaired the Live Auction at the St. Joseph’s Catholic Church Bazaar. He was instrumental in bringing the ACTS program to SMSJ parishes. Sharing his faith with others was important to Leland and he worked to encourage others to explore their faith.

Leland’s love for travel began at an early age and continued throughout his life. For his family, he created a tradition of summer vacations at the Frio River that has lasted over 50 years, with many children and grandchildren continuing that very tradition to this day. As Leland approached retirement and beyond, he and Barbara began traveling together with family and friends. He and Barbara explored the country in their RV traveling to Tennessee, the Pacific Northwest, California, Colorado, New Mexico along with many states in between. Fortunately, they were also able to travel abroad to the Holy Land, Spain, Italy, Danube River, Mexico, Canada, and Hawaii, along with several cruises.

Leland lived life to the fullest, surrounded by family and friends, appreciating every moment of his 93 years, always sharing his wisdom and laughter. Truly a life well lived.

Leland was preceded in death by his wife, Barbara Jane; parents, Floyd and Ethel Fougeron; sisters, Evelyn Collins and Ruth Helen Fougeron, brothers, Myron and Charles Fougeron; and son in law, Wayne “Todd” Newman. He is survived by his six children, Nadine (George) Morris, Stephen Fougeron, Natalie Newman, Debora (Bobby) Williams, Teresa (Ken) Neal, Barbara (Craig) Sico, brother Glen Fougeron, twenty-two grandchildren, twenty-three great grandchildren, numerous nieces, nephews, cousins, and one very feisty puppy, Ms.Foxy.