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==Background==

==Background==

Boucher was born to Henry Havis Boucher (1882-1952) and the former Mary Ella Dixie" Coyle (1892-1940), in the Bodcau community near Springhill. Boucher attended Shiloh School and graduated in 1931 from Springhill High School, as did all members of his immediate family. On September 11, 1940, he married Mary E. Herrington, his surviving widow who was born November 21, 1923 in Crossett in Ashley County in southern [[Arkansas]]. His brother, Augustus Ely Boucher (1924-1940), died of appendicitis at the age of fifteen on the day after Jesse Boucher's 28th birthday.<ref>{{cite web|url=https://www.findagrave.com/cgi-bin/fg.cgi?page=gr&GRid=115414955|title=Jesse L. Boucher|publisher=Findagrave.com|accessdate=September 10, 2017}}</ref> The death caused their mother great grief and depresson, and she committed suicide a month after Eli's passing. Henry Boucher remarried and donated the "Boucher Cemetery," now known as the Springhill Cemetery, to the city in her honor. The entire Boucher family is interred there.

Boucher was born to Henry Havis Boucher (1882-1952) and the former Mary Ella Dixie" Coyle (1892-1940), in the Bodcau community near Springhill. Boucher attended Shiloh School and graduated in 1931 from Springhill High School, as did all members of his immediate family. On September 11, 1940, he married Mary E. Herrington, his surviving widow who was born November 21, 1923 in Crossett in Ashley County in southern [[Arkansas]]. His brother, Augustus Ely Boucher (1924-1940), died of appendicitis at the age of fifteen on the day after Jesse Boucher's 28th birthday.<ref>{{cite web|url=https://www.findagrave.com/cgi-bin/fg.cgi?page=gr&GRid=115414955|title=Jesse L. Boucher|publisher=Findagrave.com|accessdate=September 10, 2017}}</ref> The death caused their mother great grief and depresson, and she committed suicide a month after Eli's passing. Henry Boucher donated the "Boucher Cemetery," now known as the Springhill Cemetery, to the city in her honor. The entire Boucher family is interred there.

   

   

As an outstanding football player at the end position for the Springhill Lumberjacks, young Boucher received an athletic scholarship to Northwestern State University in [[Natchitoches, Louisiana|Natchitoches]], then known as "Louisiana Normal". There he played football, ran track, and was a Golden Gloves [[Boxing|boxer]], including participation in a conference-winning mile relay race. He was president of both his senior class and the NSU student body.<ref name=obit/>  

As an outstanding football player at the end position for the Springhill Lumberjacks, young Boucher received an athletic scholarship to Northwestern State University in [[Natchitoches, Louisiana|Natchitoches]], then known as "Louisiana Normal". There he played football, ran track, and was a Golden Gloves [[Boxing|boxer]], including participation in a conference-winning mile relay race. He was president of both his senior class and the NSU student body.<ref name=obit/>  

Boucher died at 6:30 a.m. [[Christmas]] Day 2004 after a three-year struggle with [[cancer]]. Services were held on December 28, 2004, at the First [[United Methodist]] Church in Springhill. Honorary pallbearers include well-known figures: Louisiana Public Service Commissioner Foster Campbell, Louisiana State Senator Robert R. Adley, former State Senator John W. "Jack" Montgomery, State Representative Jean Doerge, Bossier City Mayor George Dement, former [[Heisman Trophy]] winner from Springhill John David Crow, and former U.S. Representative [[Joe Waggonner]] of Louisiana's 4th congressional district.<ref name=obit/>  

Boucher died at 6:30 a.m. [[Christmas]] Day 2004 after a three-year struggle with [[cancer]]. Services were held on December 28, 2004, at the First [[United Methodist]] Church in Springhill. Honorary pallbearers include well-known figures: Louisiana Public Service Commissioner Foster Campbell, Louisiana State Senator Robert R. Adley, former State Senator John W. "Jack" Montgomery, State Representative Jean Doerge, Bossier City Mayor George Dement, former [[Heisman Trophy]] winner from Springhill John David Crow, and former U.S. Representative [[Joe Waggonner]] of Louisiana's 4th congressional district.<ref name=obit/>  

In addition to Eli, his other siblings were Henry Creel Boucher (1913–1992), David G. Boucher (step-brother) of Atlanta, [[Texas]], Lynn Boucher (step-sister), youngest sister; Katie Boucher Nelson, and Estelle "Sally" Boucher Slack (1916-1977). He had three daughters, Savannah Boucher of [[Los Angeles]], [[California]], Sherry Boucher of Bossier City, an actress formerly married to the actor George Peppard, and Jessica Boucher-Ford and husband Randall L. Ford of [[Nashville]], [[Tennessee]], and two grandchildren, Nathan Kyle Rogers and Chessa Lytle.<ref name=obit/><ref name=boco/>  

In addition to Ely, his other siblings were Henry Creel Boucher (1913–1992), David G. Boucher (step-brother) of Atlanta, [[Texas]], Lynn Boucher (step-sister); the late Katie Boucher Nelson, and Estelle "Sally" Boucher Slack (1916-1977). He had three daughters, Savannah Boucher of [[Los Angeles]], [[California]], Sherry Boucher of Bossier City, an actress formerly married to the actor George Peppard, and Jessica Boucher-Ford and husband Randall L. Ford of [[Nashville]], [[Tennessee]], and two grandchildren, Nathan Kyle Rogers and Chessa Lytle.<ref name=obit/><ref name=boco/>  

Boucher's cousin, Drayton Rogers Boucher (1908-1983), held the Bossier/Webster Parish state senate seat from 1940 to 1952.<ref>"Wiley Family of Shongaloo" genealogy: Rootsweb.ancestry.com</ref>  

Boucher's cousin, Drayton Rogers Boucher (1908-1983), held the Bossier/Webster Parish state senate seat from 1940 to 1952.<ref>"Wiley Family of Shongaloo" genealogy: Rootsweb.ancestry.com</ref>