Charles Jackson “Jack” Carmichael passed away on February 28, 2017.
Born May 19, 1924 in Bradenton, Fla., he was preceded in death by his beloved wife, Alice Joyce Bourgeois Carmichael; his parents Augusta Smith and Charles T. Carmichael and stepmother Genevieve Fournet; his sisters, Martha Lee, Frances, Helen and Elise; and an infant son, John Keith Carmichael. He is survived by his children: Randolph C. Carmichael (Colleen), Pamela Holt, Stephanie Russo, and Helene Blanchet (Charles).
He is also survived by his siblings, Oliver Carmichael (Ramona), Charlie Carmichael (Liz), Mike Carmichael (Nancy), Pat Carmichael (Kathy), Billy Carmichael (Dana), Rachel Jeyoursi (Mazan), and Ted Carmichael (Judy). He is also survived by his grandchildren, Heather Robbins (Kelly), Shay Bostick (Allen), Amanda Richardson (Adam), Meggan Geisler (Joe), Sarah Kamp (Bill), Matthew Carmichael (Rachel), Scott Carmichael (Angie), Zachary Blanchet (Halley), Virginia Easley (Corey), and Miranda and Joshua Blanchet. He is also survived by sixteen great-grandchildren, as well as numerous nieces and nephews, especially Roddy and Lisa Cline.
After an idyllic boyhood spent in Angola Prison — his father was a Captain on the farm — he graduated from Lafayette High School and Southwestern Louisiana Institute (SLI, now ULL) with a Bachelor of Science Degree in Chemical Engineering. He served in the Pacific in World War II and the Korean Conflict as a C-47 navigator in the U. S. Marine Corps, attaining the rank of Master Sergeant.
After WWII, he went to work for Texaco, living first in Erath, La. and then New Orleans East.
While with Texaco, he designed the Paradis, La. Gas Processing Plant. In the early 1960s he went to work for Continental Oil Co., and moved to Harvey, La. In 1967 he was in charge of the design and development of the Grand Isle Block 43 “AA” Complex, located approximately 20 miles offshore for the CAGC Marine Group (Continental Oil, Atlantic Richfield, Getty Oil, and City Services Oil Companies). This unique five platform complex, located in 110 feet of water – considered deep water at the time – utilized twelve 1200 HP turbine-driven centrifugal compressors as an integral part of its handling process, which was considered an innovation in the industry.
In 1968 he started his own company, Professional Engineering Services, Inc. (PESI), located on Manhattan Blvd. in Harvey. In the early 1970s he designed and patented a prototype sump pile to collect and treat storm water run-off on platforms in the gulf to meet the requirements of the impending Clean Water Act.
In retirement, he and Joyce lived in Picayune, Miss. He was a lifetime Baptist and a member of the Roseland Park Baptist Church in Picayune, where he was a founding member of the Men’s Ministry.
During his life, he wore many hats, including those of Boy Scout Troop Master and Coach. The family would like to thank the managers and staffs of the Summerfield Retirement Center, Azalea Estates of Slidell, Greenbrier Nursing Home, Anderson Memory Care and Canon Hospice for the loving and devoted care of our father. Funeral services will be on Saturday, March 4, 2017 at 2:00 p.m. at McDonald Funeral Home Chapel in Picayune, Miss. Visitation will be Saturday, March 4, 2017, from 12:00 p.m. to 2:00 p.m. at McDonald Funeral Home. Burial will be in Memorial Gardens in Picayune.
Obituary, register book, and driving directions can be found on the Internet page at www.mcdonaldfh.com.