Jacques passed on to the Lord's hands on Saturday, April 19, 2008. Visitation at Greenoaks Funeral Home, 9595 Florida Blvd., on Monday, April 21, was from 5 pm to 8 pm. Visitation resumes at the funeral home on Tuesday from 10 am until funeral service at noon. Interment in Greenoaks Memorial Park. Jacques was born on Dec. 1, 1919, in Mobile, Ala. He was preceded in death by his parents, Harry Huger and Victoria Baumhauer Houston; three sisters and five brothers; and his wife of 53 years, Ila Lorraine Hamilton. He is survived by three children, Victoria Houston Smith and husband Taylor, Jacques B. Houston Jr. and wife Cathy and Thomas C. Houston and wife Catheryne; nine grandchildren, Troy and Trey Hill, Tami Toups, Holly Paline, Heidi Pharris, Jacques B. Houston III, Shannon Trahan, Thomas Craig Houston II and Kelly Houston; and 12 great-grandchildren, with another due in September. He married his longtime friend, Joan Jackson Ward, on July 11, 1999. He is survived by three stepchildren, Carol Youngblood and husband Joe, Billy Ward and wife Terri and Randy Ward and wife Vickie; and five stepgrandchildren and a stepgreat-granddaughter. He was a graduate of Auburn University with a degree in chemical engineering. He retired from Kaiser Aluminum after 31 years of service, having worked in the United States, Australia and Sardinia. Jacques was a 32nd degree Master Mason and a 67-year member of Athlelstan Lodge 369 in Mobile. He was advanced to the degree of Royal Master by the Grand Council of Royal and Select Masters of Louisiana in 1976. He helped build and found St. Augustine's Episcopal Church in north Baton Rouge and was a member of St. Luke's Episcopal Church at the time of his death. He served in the Mediterranean as a lieutenant j.g. in the U. S. Navy during World War II. In lieu of flowers, donations in his memory may be made to Hospice of Baton Rouge, 9063 Siegen Lane, Suite A, Baton Rouge, LA 70810, or your favorite charity.

Published in TheAdvocate.com from Apr. 21 to Apr. 22, 2008.