Clarence Eueguene Bush Sr. took his last breath on earth at 12:30 p.m. Saturday, Nov. 29, at his home with his children by his bedside. Two days earlier, on Thanksgiving, he had celebrated his 83rd birthday with his family. He had been struggling with the effects of mesothelioma for the past few years.

He was a native of Bogalusa, a former long-time resident of St. Francisville and current resident of Watson. He was a U.S. Navy veteran. He was the son of A.C. Bush Sr., a native of Liverpool, England, and past constable of Bogalusa, and Lonie Elizabeth Thornhill Bush, a native of Morgantown, Miss., and resident of Bogalusa. He was retired from Crown Zellerbach Corp. Paper Mill in Bogalusa and St. Francisville, relocating to St. Francisville for the start up of the new mill in the late 1950s.

At retirement he was supervisor of the Steam, Power and Recovery Department. Following that, he began his own sprinkler system service, charging only what his customers could afford and used to offset his mission work. He was involved with the Avondale District of the Boy Scouts of America for decades, serving as troop leader all the way to district commissioner. He was also a police juror in West Feliciana Parish. He was an avid fisherman and loved sharing his catch during frequent neighborhood fish frys. He was a licensed pilot, loved boating, traveling throughout the United States and abroad and maintaining what he referred to as his own little “Ponderosa” in Watson.

He is survived by his children, Susan A. Bush of Baker, Tana Bush Tackett and husband Ken of Baton Rouge, Gene Bush Jr. and wife Mary of Tunica and Kimberly Bush Ferrie and husband Tommy of Bath, Maine; five grandchildren, Kristen Tackett Manes and husband Eddie of Baton Rouge, Jason Bush and wife Ashley of Tunica, Matthew Bush and wife Dara of Tunica, Brennan Bush of Baton Rouge and Katie Hankins of Bath; six great-grandchildren; two brothers, Newell Bush of Cross Roads, Miss., and Claude Bush of Bogalusa; numerous nieces, nephews and friends; and his four-legged baby, Gigi.

His parents, five brothers, one sister and three grandchildren preceded him in death: Russell Tackett III, Katheryn Tackett and Austin Bush.

Mass was celebrated at Annunciation Catholic Church in Bogalusa on Tuesday, Dec. 2, with burial in the Bush family plot in Ponemah Cemetery in Bogalusa. The family extends thanks to Marcinda, Latasha, Stacy, Rochelle and Pastor Jimmy of hospice for their tender care. In lieu of flowers, memorial donations may be made to a hospice service in the area or the ARCH National Respite Network and Research Center.