Morgan City Junior High Football Coach Gilbert Jacob Besse Passes Away at 78, Leaving His Wife Gerrie, And 3 Daughters Behind

He will be sadly missed and lovingly remembered.

December 18, 2026

This article was last updated by Alisha Shrestha on December 18, 2026

Former football coach of Morgan City Junior High, Gilbert Jacob Besse, passed away, leaving behind his loving wife, Geraldine Clement Besse, and their three daughters.

Gilbert Jacob “Gil” Besse spent much of his professional life as an educator and coach in Morgan City, Louisiana.

He worked at Morgan City Junior High School, where he taught and coached students for many years.

At Morgan City Junior High, Coach Besse was known for working with students in football and other school sports programs.

Morgan City Mourns the Loss of Their Beloved Coach, Gilbert Jacob Besse!

Born on November 23, 1947, Gilbert was a long-time teacher and football coach at Morgan City Junior High.

Gilbert passed away on December 17, 2026, at the age of 78, surrounded by his family in Morgan City, Louisiana.

He is survived by his wife of 54 years, Gerrie, and his three daughters, Dominique Besse Thomas, Elizabeth Besse, and Meredith Besse Maggio.

Additionally, he is also survived by several nephews and a few grandchildren.

Gilbert was preceded in death by his parents, Charles “Chuck” Besse and Enola Daigle Besse.

His death has brought grief not only to the Besse family but also to the entire Morgan City community, which continues to mourn the loss of a beloved coach and mentor.

Following his death, one of his former students, who is now a coach himself, shared a heartfelt message for Gilbert on Facebook, saying:

A good man, teacher, and coach was lost today. Coach Besse was one of my favorite teachers. He played an important role at a very difficult time in my life. His class was always a safe haven for me. He is part of the reason that I teach and coach the way that I do today. You will be missed, Coach. Thank you for all that you did for me.

Now that Coach Besse has left this world, many remember him for his years of dedicated teaching and coaching, as well as his kind and generous nature.

While the family is still taking time to process their loss, they have scheduled the visitation for Saturday, December 20, 2026, from 12:00 to 1:00 p.m. at Sacred Heart Catholic Church, 415 Union St, Morgan City, LA 70380.

Following that, the Mass of Christian Burial will be held at 1:00 p.m. the same day at Morgan City Cemetery, 450 Myrtle St, Morgan City, LA 70380.

While the community mourns his passing, we also extend our heartfelt condolences to the Besse family, friends, and all well-wishers.

Rest in Peace, Coach!

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Nishan Dahal writes sports with a human touch, covering breaking news, athlete lives, and the stories that stats can't tell. Nishan believes every athlete has a story worth telling. With the goal of bringing those stories to life with honesty, heart, and a touch of curiosity, he shares his insights through PlayerBio.

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