Mr. Herbert Joseph Portier, Sr.'s Obituary
I have fought a good fight. I have finished my course. I have kept the faith. - II Timothy 4:7
Mr. Herbert Joseph Portier, Sr. entered into eternal rest on Sunday, March, 24, 2024.
Herbert Joseph Portier, Sr. was born, September 11, 1936, in Opelousas, LA. The eldest of seven children to Mitchell & Antoinette Leblanc Portier, Sr. His native tongue was creole French and learned to speak English in grade school. He received baptism October 03, 1936, and confirmation May 11, 1946, at St. Bridget Catholic Church, Lawtell, LA. He was a member of Holy Family Catholic Church in Lawtell, LA alongside his family until he was an adult.
At the age of 87, he departed this life March 24, 2024, in Houston, TX at his residence under the care of his only daughter, son-in-law, and eldest son. He was a member of St. Benedict The Abbot Catholic Church in Houston, TX for over 40 years.
He married Cora Mae Joseph, November 20, 1955, in Beaumont, TX. To this marriage, they had five children: Herbert Joseph Portier, Jr., Charles Harvey Portier, baby Patrick Owen Portier, Gary Lynn Portier, and Robin Annette Portier.
He knew the meaning of hard work at an early age; first as a farmer on his parents’ acreage of land in Lawtell, LA. He left Louisiana at a tender age to live a decade in Beaumont, TX. He found work at a gas station, fish market, construction sites, and even owned his own night club. Later, he obtained work in Houston, TX. He joined and became a lifetime member of the Laborers’ International Union of North America, August 29,1966 and received a 50-year Service Award in 2016. During these years he worked as a Foreman for reputable construction companies such as Bellows, Brown & Root, and Goodyear. If a friend, cousin, or his sons needed a job, he would help them obtain work in construction. On his free time, he enjoyed playing pool in local juke joints and tunes to zydeco and rhythm and blues, worked on his vehicles, run and train his dogs for hunting, and until he was disabled in 2006, he spent time with his cousins and friends hunting wild game.
He leaves to mourn his death, sons Herbert Joseph Portier, Jr., Charles Harvey Portier, Gary Lynn Portier, a daughter, Robin Portier Jordan (Larry) all of Houston, TX, and a host of grandchildren, and great grandchildren. A brother, Mitchell Portier, Jr of Uptown, CA; sisters, Virginia P. Charles of Opelousas, LA Mary Ann P. Woodard of Houston, TX, Hilma Marie P. Dupre of Eunice, LA, and Lorita Mae P. Brisco (Chris) of Lafayette, LA. A special brother-in-law, John Fontenot of Houston, TX. A special cousin, Bernadine Leblanc Papillion of Iowa, LA; a special friend, Roland Morgan of Houston, TX, and a host of nieces, nephews, cousins, and friends.
He is preceded in death by his wife, Cora Mae Joseph Portier, son baby Patrick Owen Portier; parents Mitchell & Antoinette Leblanc Portier; father and mother-in-law, Valery and Aurelia Randolph Joseph. Jr.; sisters Ella Mae P. Charles, Hilda Marie P. Fontenot, and brothers-in-law, and sisters-in-law. Paternal Grandparents Leopold & Marcella Batiste Portier; Maternal Grandparents Marshall & Virginia Lugenia Veazie Leblanc, Sr.; Paternal Great-Grandparents Bazile & Clementine Marie Bellard Portier. Maternal Great-Grandparents Valmont & Eugenie Pierre-Auguste Leblanc. Paternal Great-Great Grandparents, Joseph Henry & Mary Williams Portier, Maternal Great-Great Grandparents, Julien Jean Gallot & Charlotte Leblanc.
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