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    BENEFIT FOR BOURQUE

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August 20, 2008

Friends recall Summer with “Bittersweet” benefit

By Darragh Doiron

By Darragh Doiron

The News staff writer

Friends of Summer Bourque are planning a benefit for her funeral expenses at the very restaurant where she was last seen. The staff at Dylan’s is concocting the Bittersweet, a drink in her honor.

The name reflects her personality, Lindsey Gothia, organizer, said.

“Because Summer was a feisty little girl. Very sweet,” she said.

The benefit will be from 5 to 10 p.m. Thursday at Dylan’s, 8601 Ninth Ave. in Port Arthur.

Gothia said friends organizing the benefit, including Holly Hebert, Allison Leon and cousin Jessica Lowry, worked with family and Dylan’s to make sure the event would be a sensitive, happy celebration. Guests may win donated items such as a guitar, table saw or gift cards. There will also be a silent auction.

Gothia said the organizers are discussing the option of a Summer foundation.

“We don’t want her remembered as something so tragic that happened in our community. We want her name to stand for more than just that. We have a lot of ideas up in the air,” she said.

Bourque’s body was discovered Aug. 13 in a waterway by employees of the J.D. Murphree Wildlife Refuge off Texas 73. She was last seen leaving Dylan’s Bar and Grill in Port Arthur on Aug. 10. Surveillance video obtained by police from Dylan’s shows Bourque leaving the restaurant/bar with a man identified as Jimmy Joseph Desormeaux, 43. Bourque was buried Monday.

Amy Bland, a Dylan’s manager and bartender, said the staffers are pitching in to help make the night a success.

“We all knew Summer. She was a great girl,” Bland said.

Gothia said several businesses have provided items for the benefit.

“Everybody’s all in for it and everybody in the community has really pulled together to help. Basically we’re just trying to do a good thing,” she said.

Items include gift cards, products and services from Gaudie Couture, IZ Funky Resale, Billy Joe’s BarBQ, Jaguar Salon & Day Spa, Charles S. Nacol, Ritter Lumber and Babe Zaharias Golf Course. Other businesses and groups are donating items.

Contact this reporter at ddoiron@panews.com.



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