Joan F. Boudreaux

Joan F. Boudreaux passed away peacefully at home on the morning of Tuesday, September 8, 2026, surrounded by her loving family.

Joan was born on August 25, 1944, in Dallas, Texas, to the late Oliver Enman Furrh and Winnie King Furrh. She was preceded in death by her brothers, William Neil Furrh and Kenneth Ray Furrh.

On August 22, 1970, Joan married Jerry Paul Boudreaux in Dallas, Texas. Together, they built a life centered on faith, family, and caring for others.

Joan is survived by her husband, Jerry Paul Boudreaux; her children, David J. Boudreaux and his wife, Casey Tolar, of Riverview, Florida; Jennifer B. Morrell and her husband, Willard Morrell, of Gulfport, Mississippi; and Jamie B. Varnado and her husband, Casey R. Varnado, of McHenry, Mississippi.

She was a loving grandmother to Devin Nguyen, Hannah May, Gabrielle Boudreaux, Cassidy Varnado, Caitlin Varnado, Colin Varnado, Madison Tolar, and McKenzie Tolar, and a cherished great-grandmother to Natalie Sophia Nguyen.

Joan also shared a special bond with her “Sisters by Adoption in Christ,” Linda Smith-Joffrion, Wanda Pfleeger, and Carla Powell, as well as her dear friend Judi Marks and the many friends she treasured through her Bunko and Pokeno groups.

Joan valued education and was a lifelong learner. She graduated from W. W. Samuell High School in Dallas before attending the University of North Texas, where she earned a Bachelor of Arts in Sociology and Psychology. She later earned her Master of Social Work from Louisiana State University and continued her studies through courses in education and religion.

Her Catholic faith was an important part of her life and guided the way she cared for others. Joan had a special passion for children and a deep commitment to the value of every life. She was a devoted Right to Life advocate. Throughout the years, her home was a welcoming place for children and teenagers, and through her teaching and counseling, she touched the lives of many young people.

Joan loved quilting and journaling, but she especially loved people. She had a wonderful sense of humor and loved to joke and laugh. She had a gift for making people feel cared for, often remembering someone with a small gift or a little something simply to brighten their day. After her husband’s serious accident in December 2020, Joan devoted herself to caring for him with love, strength, and dedication.

Joan was a devoted and loving wife, mother, and grandmother. She was an inspiration to many, and her faith, compassion, generosity, and sense of humor touched more lives than she likely ever knew. We were blessed to have her in our lives, and she will be deeply missed.

Funeral services will be held on Thursday, September 17, 2026, at St. James Catholic Church on Cowan Road in Gulfport, Mississippi. Visitation will begin at 10:00 a.m., followed by Mass at 11:00 a.m. Interment will follow at St. James Catholic Church Cemetery.

Bradford-O'Keefe Funeral Home, 15th Street, Gulfport is honored to serve the family of Joan F. Boudreaux.