Myrtis Louque Clees

Posted on June 28, 2019

Myrtis Louque Clees, 98, St. Petersburg, Fla.:  June 23, 2019.

Visitation; Friday, June 28, 6 to 8 p.m., Beggs Funeral Home, 201 W Main St, Perry, FL 32347.

Funeral Service, Saturday, June 29, at 10 a.m., Beggs Funeral Home, followed by a graveside service at Woodlawn Cemetery, near the corner of N. Center St. and Cherry St., Perry, Fla..

Myrtis “Bootsie” Clees, nee Louque, of St. Petersburg, passed away Saturday, June 23, 2019.

She was predeceased by her husband, Robert “Bob” Clees, and son, John Clees.

She is survived by: children Jim (and Darlene) Clees and Joan Herrera; grandchildren, Roberto Quinonez, Carla (and Jeff) Mulhollan, Jennifer Clees, Sarah Clees; and great-grandchildren, Caleb Quinonez and Hazel Mulhollan.

The daughter of Joseph and Alusia Louque, Bootsie was born and raised in Perry and graduated from Taylor County High School in 1938. She graduated from Florida State College for Women (now FSU) in 1942, becoming a teacher in Salem.

Her brothers and sisters were Lionel (and Jenny) Louque, Lizette (and Charlie) Tarver, Hilda (and O.W.) Jones, E.A. “Moe” (and Louise) Louque, and Tony (and Margaret) Louque.  Local nieces and nephews include Carol (and Chuck) Hendry, and Jimmy (and Glennis) Louque.

In 1943, Bootsie met Bob, a second lieutenant, who was stationed at Perry Army Air Field, training to become a P-47 fighter pilot. They became engaged before he shipped out for the war in Europe and married upon his return in early 1945. 

They lived the lives of a military couple, moving many times, stationed in six different states and two foreign countries, raising three kids along the way. Twice more, in the Korean War and the Vietnam War, Bootsie had to say goodbye to Bob as he was sent off to fight.

When Bob came home from Vietnam in 1966, the family moved to St. Petersburg, where Bob retired a few years later.

Myrtis passed away in St. Petersburg, of natural causes, after a long, full life.

Visitation will be held today (Friday) at Beggs Funeral Home in Perry from 6-8 p.m.

Funeral services will be held Saturday, June 29, at 10 a.m., at Beggs Funeral Home, followed by a graveside service at Woodlawn Cemetery.