Bernard “Touch” Lawrence Touchette
April 07, 1939 – May 07, 2006

Bellville, TX.

The Family of 67 year old Bernard Lawrence Touchette wishes to acknowledge his death in his fight against cancer that occurred on Sunday, May 07, 2006 in his Bellville, TX. home.

Mr. Touchette was born in Gardner, MA. on April 07, 1939 to Merle (Brehio) and Lawrence J. Touchette.  He was raised in and attended school in Baldwinville, MA.  He graduated from the University of Houston-Clear Lake-with a Business Degree.  He served his country in both the Army and Air Force and retired from the Air Force after 22 years of military service, including tours of duty in Viet Nam and Thailand.  He was a Technical Writer for several companies, including 9 years with Stewart and Stevenson in Sealy, TX.

He is survived by his wife of 27 years, Bettye Jo (Scarborough) Touchette; his 84 year old mother, Merle Touchette of Gardner; his daughters: Carol (Touchette) Spruiell of LaPorte, TX., Toni (Touchette) Child  and Nancy (Touchette) Pierce of Roy, UT.; his sons: Michael Touchette of Denver, CO., Christopher Touchette  and Chad Touchette of Houston, TX.,  Marc Scarborough of  Houston, TX., John Scarborough of Pasadena, TX., and Joe Scarborough of Manville, TX.; their spouses; his sister, Carole (Touchette) Boulay of Gardner and her spouse; his brothers: Richard Touchette of Gardner and William Touchette of Winchendon; 15 grandchildren and a great grandson in TX. and UT.; his aunt, Marion Lancey and his uncle, Edward Brehio of Baldwinville, MA.; a niece and many cousins.

He is predeceased by his father, Lawrence J. Touchette, who died in 1987.

During his lifetime, he was devoted to his family, his church, and his country.  He received many military medals including: the Distinguished Flying Cross in 12/67; an Air Medal-3/67; the Silver Star-1/72; Distinguished Flying Cross-First Oakleaf Cluster-5/72;  and a Commendation Medal-8/79.

Funeral services were held on May 12 2006 from the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter Day Saints in Sealy, TX..  Graveside services were held at Houston National Veteran’s Cemetery in Houston, TX. with full military honors.

Memorial contributions may be made in his memory to: The American Cancer Society; MD Anderson Cancer Center-Melanoma Dept.-P O Box 297153, Houston, TX. 77297; OR to Hospice Brazos Valley, 302 East Blue Bell Rd., Brenham, TX. 77833 who provided comfort and care to Mr. Touchette and to his family during his last days of life.

~ REMEMBRANCES ~
BARNARD L. “TOUCH”TOUCHETTE

Touch & I have been friends since we met at Binh Thuy in February 1967. We met again at Kadena, Okinawa in December of 1968. I was heading to Da Nang as an FE on the H-3‘s & he was going to NKP as an FE on H-3’s When I got to Hill AFB in Utah in 1973 I again had the pleasure of working with Touch in the H-3 FE section.

I retired & moved to Naples Florida in 1975 & stayed in contact with him. We both moved a few times but kept in touch . One day he called me & talked me into joining the Jolly Green Association & going to the reunion. I made it to the reunion but he didn’t. The next year we both made it, I took my motorhome & we stayed in the campground at Eglin AFB. I would get up early in the morning & Touch would be out walking or just sitting on the little beach. He said he had never been so relaxed. We were going to stay there for three days but he talked me into staying about a week, we had a great time.

After he retired from his civilian job he & his wife Bettye would come down to Florida to visit my wife & I. The women would go shopping & do women things while Touch & I would sit around & tell war stories.

One of my favorite stories was about the time that Touch walked into a mine field on one of our missions & the people on the ground were hollering at him but he couldn’t understand what they were trying to tell him. When everyone started diving to the ground he realized that something was wrong & he froze in his tracks. We had to pick him up with the hoist.

We went through good times & a few rough times but we stayed friends through all of it.

Bill Crawford
13 Feb 2007