Samuel Peter Gautier, Sr. D.D.S.

Dr. Samuel Peter Gautier (Sam), of Shreveport, 85, passed away on August 3, 2018 in the company of family. A private graveside service was held August 5, 2018 at Forest Park East Cemetery. A memorial Mass celebrating his life will be held Saturday, September 29, 2018 at 11:00 a.m. in the chapel at The Glen Retirement Home, 403 East Flournoy Lucas Road in Shreveport. Dr. Gautier was born on September 27, 1932 in Memphis, Tennessee, son of Olga Dufilho Gautier and Adrien Cassard Gautier. He attended Christian Brothers High School in Memphis, Texas A&M University, and University of Tennessee School of Dentistry. On June 15, 1957, he married Lynn Watson Riddle Gautier of Memphis, Tennessee. He accepted a commission as a dentist in the United States Army and was stationed in Valley Forge, Pennsylvania, then Heidelberg, Germany from 1958 to 1961. In 1961, Dr. Gautier and his young family settled in Shreveport, Louisiana. In 1966, he built a dental practice at 9125 Mansfield Road, which he greatly enjoyed for over 40 years. He gave countless hours of his time to Mithra Grotto, the first free clinic devoted to children's dentistry in Shreveport. He was among the first to advocate for the use of fluoride in local drinking water to promote oral hygiene among children in Shreveport and the state of Louisiana. Dr. Gautier was a member of the American and Northwest Louisiana Dental Associations, former member of Shreveport Lyons Club, and Shreveport Jaycees. He was an active member of St. John Berchman's Cathedral, where he served on the parish council in the 1970s. Dr. Gautier enjoyed his farm in Keithville, raising cattle, horses, donkeys, and dogs over the years to the delight of his eight grandchildren. He and his wife Lynn traveled extensively in later years, exploring almost every continent. When Lynn became unable to travel, he cared for her at home with very little assistance. He was seldom idle and showed us by example the rewards of hard work and persistence in difficult times. He loved God and family; his life was a testament to his faith. Dr. Gautier is predeceased by his parents, Olga and Adrien Gautier; his daughter, Adrienne Gautier Dyson; and sisters, Corinne McDowell and Mildred Ewing of Memphis, Tennessee, and Lillian Moore of Carrollton, Texas. He is survived by his wife of 60 years, Lynn Watson Riddle Gautier, originally of Memphis, Tennessee; sister, Adrien Barnes of Memphis, Tennessee; sons, Pete Gautier of Shreveport and Ken Gautier MD (Robin Bruckner) of Senatobia, Mississippi; daughter, Ellen Darter (Dave) of Ft. Smith, Arkansas; grandchildren, Allie and Briana Dyson of Coppell, Texas, Christina Gautier of Portland, Oregon, Paige, Jill, and Claire Gautier of Senatobia, Mississippi, Katie Darter Bennett (Josh) of Salt Lake City, Utah, and Jim Darter (Rachel McNabb) of Nashville, Tennessee. Honorary pallbearers will be Billy McDowell, Forrest McDowell, Buddy Rogers, John Guth, Litt Martin, Douglas Caulkins, John Welter, Tom Goodwin, and Bill Huettel. The family suggests that memorials may be made to St. Jude Children's Hospital or to the charity of the donor's choice.