Joseph Frank “Pep” Fertitta, 85, of Beaumont died July 22, 2008 at Christus Hospital St. Elizabeth. A lifelong resident of Beaumont, Mr. Fertitta served as president of Texas Coffee Company for forty-seven years before retiring, and was a member of St. Jude Catholic Church parish. A United States World War II Air Force veteran, Pep was a POW of the Germans for sixteen and one-half months, and endured a thousand mile march between POW camps. He was a past board member of the BPM Club, Central Catholic High School, Lamar Bank; served on the grand jury; past president of the Beaumont Jaycees; past president and charter member of South Park Rotary, a Paul Harris Fellow; served on the MLK Parkway Commission, Beautify Beaumont Commission; was a volunteer with the Texas Energy Museum; member of Southern Coffee Association, Specialty Coffee Association, and Colombian Coffee Federation. Pep loved his family and enjoyed golf with his friends.
Survivors include his wife Nancy Fertitta of Beaumont; sons, Charles G. Fertitta and his wife Phyllis of Missouri City, and Joseph F. Fertitta, Jr. and his wife Sandy and Donald P. Fertitta and his sweetheart Valerie Hathaway all of Beaumont; daughter, Joannette Fertitta of Beaumont; sisters, Olivia Fertitta Serio, Sr. JoRita Fertitta, O.P., and Charlene Fertitta Busceme and her husband Carlo, Jr.; sisters-in-law, Annette Messina and her husband Charlie and Roseann Fertitta; grandchildren, Anna Marie Carter, Charles G. Fertitta, Jr., Nancy Marie Swanston and her husband Steve, Eric Douglas Yeager, Alicia Fertitta Croley and husband Collin, Alison Fertitta Nobles and her husband Chris, Joseph F. Fertitta III, Michelle Strawman and her husband David, Stephanie Ann Jordan, and Sterling R. Fertitta; great grandchildren, Ethan Carter, Micah Carter, Matthew Strawman, Caroline Strawman, Olivia Fertitta Nobles, Sophia Swanston, Nicholas Swanston, and Treavor Yeager; and numerous nieces and nephews. Joseph was preceded in death by his parents, Charles Joseph and Josie Marie Fertitta; brother, Charles J. Fertitta, Sr.; sister, Marietta Fertitta; and brother-in-law, Joseph A. Serio.
A Mass of Christian Burial will be celebrated 2:00 p.m. Saturday, July 26, 2008 at St. Jude Thaddeus Catholic Church followed by burial at Forest Lawn Cemetery under the direction of Broussard’s, 2000 McFaddin, Beaumont. Serving as pallbearers will be Sam Messina, Carlo Busceme III, Mike Messina, Sterling R. Fertitta, Charlie Messina, Jr., Charles G. Fertitta, Jr., Eric Yeager, and Joseph F. Fertitta III and honorary pallbearers are Pete Maida, Sr., Lonie Wier, Carlo Busceme, Jr., Charlie G. Messina, Sam “Boo” Serio, Joseph V. Tortorice, Jr., Bob Miller, Steve Messina, Greg Busceme, Elizabeth Fertitta, Roseane Fertitta Walker, Frances Jones, Anthony Busceme, Joseph V. Messina, and Annette Leonard. A gathering of family and friends will be Friday evening, July 25, 2008 from 5:30 p.m. until 7:00 p.m. with a rosary recited at 7:00 p.m. at the Mortuary.
Memorial contributions may be made to Monsignor Kelly High School, 5950 Kelly Drive, Beaumont, Texas 77707; St. Jude Thaddeus Catholic Church, 6825 Gladys, Beaumont, Texas 77706; or charity of choice.
