Bertha Sonnier Schumacher, 85, of Beaumont, Texas passed away on April 6, 2011. Born September 4, 1925, in Soileau, Louisiana, she was the daughter of Donat and Dozia LaFleur Sonnier. She had been a resident of Beaumont for over sixty-five years.
Bertha was married for thirty-nine years to Weymond J. Schumacher, a Gulf States Utilities Co. retiree who passed away in 1988. She was a graduate of Oberlin High School in Oberlin, Louisiana and was then employed by Southwestern Bell Telephone as an operator and training supervisor until she and Weymond started their family in 1952. Bertha was a gifted artist, talented seamstress, an amazing cook and adored wife, mother and grandmother. She was also a long-time member of First Baptist Church and the Esther Class in Beaumont and volunteered for several years at Baptist Hospital in the Gift Shop.
Bertha was the last surviving sibling of her large and loving Cajun family of four brothers and three sisters, whose heritage has been documented and traced to the 1755 Acadian Expulsion from Nova Scotia. Her Sonnier ancestors served in the Opelousas District Militia during the American Revolution under Galvez. She was preceded in death by her parents; her brothers, Jimmy Sonnier, Howard Sonnier, Herman Sonnier and Hadley Sonnier; and her sisters, Delia Chapman, Iris Boutte and Merdley Allen.
Survivors include her daughters, Deborah S. Mundy and husband Jeff of Dallas, Texas, Donna S. Beck of Beaumont, Texas and Terry S. Harris and husband Paul of Plano, Texas; grandchildren, Elizabeth and Catherine Mundy, Elliott and Lauren Beck and Daniel and Michael Harris.
Her funeral service will be held at 2:00 p.m. Saturday, April 9, 2011, at Broussard’s, 1605 North Major Drive, Beaumont, followed by burial at Forest Lawn Memorial Park. Family and friends are invited to a visitation and gathering Friday evening, April 8, 2011, from 5:00 p.m. until 8:00 p.m. at Broussard’s.
Contributions may be made in her memory to the charity of one’s choice.
