Paul Aurele Bourgault

Paul Aurele Bourgault, 87, passed away peacefully due to cancer on July 8, 2016 in Lacey, Washington. He was born June 4, 1929 to William F. and Sarah (Arcand) Bourgault in North Battleford, Saskatchewan, Canada. Paul is survived by his wife, Bonita (Watters) Bourgault; sons, Philip Bourgault (Sally) and Jon Bourgault; daughters, Deanna Lotton (Kevin) and Cherise Tyler (Scott); five grandchildren; five great grandchildren; sisters, Lucille Kruse, Clara Markland (Gary), Alice Chapman (Craig), and Rose Dunkel (John); and many extended family members in Canada. He was predeceased by his parents; brothers, Joseph Bourgault and Philip Bourgault; and nephews, John Dunkel Jr. and Michael Bourgault. Paul moved from Canada to Washington State in 1939 and grew up in the Skokomish Valley in Shelton, graduating from Shelton’s Irene S. Reed High School in 1948. He served in the U.S. Army during the Korean War (1952-1954) and married Bonita J. Watters on August 21, 1954 in Shelton. He and Bonnie enjoyed 61 years of marriage. Paul earned a BA in Forestry from the University of Washington in 1959 and later became a Licensed Surveyor and Professional Civil Engineer. He had many years of service with municipal governments, as well as Washington State Parks in Olympia, and retired from the Washington State Department of Natural Resources. After “retiring,” Paul worked for the Federal Emergency Management Agency, where he traveled around the country to assess damages when natural disasters had occurred. Paul had an unwavering faith and was a longtime parishioner of Sacred Heart Catholic Church and previously St. Michael Catholic Church. Paul’s work ethic and character were reflective of being raised on family farms; he had a positive personality, and was warm and loving to his family and friends – and Paul never met a stranger. He loved golf, and also enjoyed playing bridge and poker, and played with mostly the same groups for 40 years. Paul had been a baseball and softball coach, as well as an umpire for many years. He was passionate about all sports, especially the Mariners and U of W sports teams. He was a lifetime member of the Knights of Columbus where he had been Grand Knight, and had also been a Eucharist Minister at Sacred Heart Church in Lacey, WA. In lieu of flowers, memorial donations may be made to Providence St. Peter Foundation/Hospice, Safeplace of Olympia, or charity of your choice. Please leave memories of Paul or condolences for the family in the Guestbook below.