James Gilbert “Gil” Couillard III, 84, of Cocoa, Fla., passed away in his sleep on Friday, Dec. 22, 2006.

He achieved his desire to return to the area of his fondest childhood memories with his Fortenberry cousins on Merritt Island and Cocoa, Fla. James G. Couillard will be interred at the Bushnell National Cemetery in Florida.

Mr. Couillard served with the Second Armored Division during World War II in Northern Africa and Italy. Mr. Couillard is remembered for his pursuit of learning as well as his love of family, reading and travel. He spent the majority of his working life as a construction supervisor and engineer. He began his career as a surveyor for Russell County, Ala., constructing roads and bridges. Mr. Couillard went on to supervise a variety of construction projects across the South, to include a chemical plant in northern Mississippi, a hospital in Macon, Ga., and an expansion of the Ledger-Enquirer building in Columbus, Ga. He was very proud of his family’s heritage from Quebec, Canada to Natchez, and spoke of it often.

He was preceded in death by his parents, James G. II and Hettie Couillard; sisters, Nell Lyons and Mary Jane Meadows, all of Hattiesburg; and his wife of 30 years, Eddie Ben Coker Couillard of Eufaula, Ala.

Mr. Couillard is survived by a brother, Ben Couillard of Chattanooga, Tenn.; six children; 16 grandchildren; and 34 great-grandchildren.