Donald Ray Gongre

A Mass of Christian Burial for Mr. Donald R. Gongre will be at 10 am Tuesday, October 7, 2014 at Holy Cross Catholic Church of Natchitoches with Father Jason Gootee serving as celebrant. Interment will follow at Emmanuel Cemetery in Chopin, LA. The family will receive friends from 5 pm until 9 pm on Monday, October 6th at Blanchard St. Denis Funeral Home. Recitation of the Holy Rosary will be at 7 pm on Monday, October 6th in the Chapel of Blanchard St. Denis Funeral Home. Mr. Gongre, 77 years of age and a resident of Natchitoches, passed away Saturday, October 4, 2014 in Natchitoches. He was born November 18, 1936 to Roy and Annie (LaCour) Gongre in Natchitoches, graduated Natchitoches High School and attended Northwestern. He was a very hard worker his whole life and was employed by the LA Department of Transportation and Development from 1957 to 1987. He continued working construction with local contractors, which included Ballard & Associates and the Red River Waterway Commission, until his illness would not allow him to work any longer. He was a loving husband, father, grandfather and friend and will be dearly missed by his family and friends. He was preceded in death by his parents; a sister, Ruby Duraso; and a grandson, SSG Matthew Taylor. Those left to cherish his memory include his loving wife of 57 years, Reba Gongre of Natchitoches; daughter, Emelda Odom and her husband Cecil of Natchitoches; sons, Randy Gongre and his wife Annette of Goose Creek, SC, Daniel Gongre and his wife Sherri of Provencal, Darrell Gongre of Provencal, Delbert Gongre of Provencal and Denis Gongre and his wife Rachel of Middleburg, FL; brother in law, Roy Duraso of Flora; grandchildren, David Gongre and his wife Rebekah of West Columbia, SC, Dustin Gongre and his wife Tamatha of Bastrop, LA, Randi Spencer and her husband Rodger of Hanahan, SC, Aaron Odom and his wife Jessica of Natchitoches, Jessica Odom of Provencal, Alyssa Odom of Natchitoches, Bo Gongre of Provencal, Lindsey Flynt and her husband Jeremy of Natchitoches and Michael Gongre of Middleburg, FL. He was blessed with 13 great grandchildren as well as numerous nieces, nephews and close friends. Those honored to serve as pallbearers include: David Gongre, Dustin Gongre, Aaron Odom, Michael Gongre, Bo Gongre, Jeremy Flynt, Shannon Warren and Cody Alford.