F.J. “Pierre” d’Entremont,

MAJOR F.J. "PIERRE" d'ENTREMONT F.J. "Pierre" d'Entremont, age 93, left his earthly body and met Louie Armstrong, Count Basie, Duke Ellington and all the jazz greats in Heaven for a celebratory jam session on Saturday, Jan. 21, 2017. Funeral Mass will be 11:00am Monday February 20, 2017 at St. Joseph Catholic Church with Rev Emilo Sosa, officiating. Arrangements are with Robert Massie Funeral Home. Pierre was born Sept. 20, 1923, in San Diego, to Felix and Dorothy d'Entremont. Pierre enlisted in the Army in 1942 with the hopes of being part of the Aviation Cadets. When he failed the vision part of the exam, he learned to fly a Piper Cub in the Civilian Pilot Training program. When he failed the vision test again, he went on active duty. During his call to report, he finally scored 20/20. "They said, ‘You're physically able to become a pilot; would you like to become a volunteer flight trainee?'" Pierre recalled in 2013 in a published article written about his life. "I said, ‘Where do I sign?'" Flying was one of Pierre's greatest loves. He ditched his nickname Cousin Weak Eyes (from the comic strip Lil' Abner) after developing a reputation for calling out bogeys he spotted while flying. After serving in Okinawa, Japan, Pierre returned to the U.S. in 1947 and attended instructor pilot school, which brought him to Goodfellow AFB in San Angelo. He married Mary George on Feb. 4, 1950. Pierre's career sent him and his family to Washington, Oregon, England, Spain, New York, Louisiana, Alaska, and throughout Texas. His most fulfilling job was second in command of an air defense squadron at Paine AFB, Washington, where he was responsible for 48 crewmen and 16 to 24 planes. He retired from the Air Force in 1963. After a fall in 2004, Pierre moved to a nursing home where he expected to die. Instead, he regained his mobility with the use of a walker and wheelchair and returned home to live independently again. Pierre was preceded in death by his parents; his wife of 39 years, Mary; one sister and one brother. Survivors include his children, Ron and Sylvia d'Entremont of San Angelo, and Pierre and Debby d'Entremont of Shawnee Mission, Kansas; granddaughter, Becca Sankey and husband, Brian, of San Angelo; great-grandchildren, Gavin, Savannah and Kate Sankey of San Angelo; brother, George D'Entremont of San Luis Obispo, Calif.; and his caretaker and surrogate daughter, Melissa Gill, and her children, Grace, Brandy and Aaron, all of San Angelo. Pierre was witty, sharp, and a hopeless romantic. He had a special nickname for many family members. Even as his health declined, he rarely missed Sunday morning Mass with his son. He was a jazz music aficionado who appreciated a hearty meal and a glass of Sangre de Toro. More than anything, he loved his family. We know that, in between those heavenly jam sessions, he's watching over us. In lieu of flowers, monetary donations may be sent to Disabled American Veterans, the Salvation Army San Angelo, or the Concho Valley Regional Food Bank. And now I think of my life as vintage wine from fine old kegs From the brim to the dregs, and it poured sweet and clear. It was a very good year. It was a mess of good years. -"It was a Very Good Year," Frank Sinatra