Dr.Laurent Gousie, 79, of 3 Dolly Drive, Professor Emeritus at Providence College and retired Army Colonel, died on May 9, 2013.

He was the husband of the late Marie A. Gousie (Rauh), to whom he was married for 49 years, and the father of Michael B. Gousie of Massachusetts. Born in Rehoboth, Massachusetts, he was the son of the late Gerard and Beatrice (Morin) Gousie. Besides his son, he leaves two grandsons and two brothers, George R. Gousie of Tiverton, RI and J. Normand Gousie of Drexel Hill, PA. Dr. Gousie was a longtime resident of Pawtucket and currently lived in Bristol.

Dr. Gousie was a Professor of German and French and an administrator at Providence College for over 50 years. He received a Bachelor of Arts degree from Providence College, a Masters of Arts from Harvard University, and a PhD from the University of Fribourg, Switzerland. He was named a Fulbright Senior Scholar in 1988 studying in Bonn and Berlin.

Administrative posts at Providence College included Associate Vice-President and Registrar, a position he held for 21 years. He was also Resident Director of the Junior Year Abroad Program in Fribourg, Switzerland, where he helped establish the articles in the field of foreign language literature and teaching of foreign languages. Dr. Gousie was also active in St Mary of the Bay Parish in Warren, serving as Trustee of the parish an as a member of several parish committees.

In addition to his academic achievements, Dr. Gousie served in the U.S. Army, both active and reserves, for over 35 years. He volunteered for service during the Korean War, served in Germany for three years, and continued in the Army Reserves for the remainder of his military career. He began as a Private and progressed through every rank, culminating in his promotion to Colonel. Among his many assignments, Colonel Gousie commanded the 2nd Battalion, 4th Brigade, 76th Division; the first ever Onaway Eagle Operation at Fort Campbell, Kentucky in 1985; and the 76th Maneuver Training Command, 76th Division, formerly located in Cranston, RI. Colonel Gousie was awarded many medals, including the Legion of Merit, the Meritorious Service Medal with Oak Leaf Cluster, and the Army Commendation Medal.

Arrangements with Smith Funeral & Memorial Services, 8 Schoolhouse Road, Warren, where the family will receive friends 4-7pm, Monday, May 13th. Funeral Tuesday, May 14th, 9am from the funeral home, with a Mass of Christian Burial at 10 in St. Mary of the Bay Church, Main Street, Warren. Interment will be at Gate of Heaven Cemetery in East Providence. In lieu of flowers, donations in his name may be made to Fr. Flanagan's Boys Town, 300 Flanagan Blvd. Boys-Town, NE 68010 www.wjsmithfh.com