David Louis Fournerat Sr.

David Louis Fournerat, Sr., 91, of Beaumont, passed away on March 6, 2026. Born on January 18, 1935, in Branch, Louisiana, to Enna Daigle and Marcial Fournerat, he began his military journey in the mid-1950s through the ROTC program at McNeese State University. Commissioned as a Second Lieutenant, he served in the United States Army through the mid-1960s, advancing to First Lieutenant and then Captain in the Artillery. Stationed at Fort Polk, Fort Hood, Fort Sill, and Fort Chaffee, he excelled both as a leader and as a competitive marksman, earning multiple trophies for his skill. He continued as a Reserve Officer, subject to active duty into the 1970s.

After his military service, David built a long career in the oil and refining industry. He began at the Cities Service refinery in Lake Charles, later known as CITGO. In 1978, he joined Exxon and moved with his family to Libya, where he worked at the Esso Standard Libya operation. In 1981, during the Gulf of Sidra confrontation, the family was evacuated. Upon returning to the United States, he settled in Beaumont, Texas, and worked at the Mobil Magnolia Refinery until his retirement. Even afterward, his expertise led him to continue contract work nationwide, performing metallurgical safety inspections.

Above all, David was a devoted husband and father who cherished his wife and children. A man of deep faith, he was a longtime member of Redeemer Lutheran Church. He will be remembered for his steadfast dedication to family, his honorable service to his country, and the quiet strength and integrity that defined his life.

He is survived by his children, David Fournerat, Jr., Steven Fournerat and his wife Deanie Richard, William Fournerat and his wife Judy, Jeffrey Fournerat, Lisa Farr and her husband Richard, Greg Fournerat and his wife Ronda, and Kevin Fournerat and his wife Lisa; his grandchildren and great-grandchildren; and his brother, DJ Fournerat. David was preceded in death by his parents, his wife Marjorie Fournerat, his sister Lilly Himel, and his daughter-in-law Deborah Fournerat.