Bernie "Frenchy" Souers

Bernie "Frenchy" Souers,
87, passed away on July 27 among his loving family. He was born on July 29, 1926 in Rabat, French Morocco, (thus French) to his American dentist father, Dr. James Souers, and his Spanish mother, Rachel. He grew up in Morocco until his family moved to Bloomington, Indiana when he was 13. He attended Bloomington High School and Indiana University. After serving in the U.S. Army, he returned to marry the love of his life, his surviving wife of 67 years, Lou Graebe.

While working for Sarkes Tarzian, he moved to Beech Grove, Indiana in 1959 to have a more than 40 year career in advertising sales for WTTV Channel 4. He went on there to become Director of Sales and Sports Marketing Director. Side projects there included sometimes playing "Crefur" to Sammy Terry, and more importantly, the producer of the Bob Knight Show. Many younger, successful business men and women consider him an important mentor in their lives. With Lou at his side, they were well-known for business entertaining, including their "Bucket" parties and the month of May at the Speedway.

He was always active in his communities, including the Bloomington Jaycees, the Beech Grove Lions Club, and the Indianapolis Ad Club, and served on the Beech Grove School Board. As respected as he was professionally, he was really always a family-first guy. He always supported his boys, who survive him, Jim (Nancy) and Jay (Julie), through school and sports like Olympia Club swimming, Little League and Beech Grove wrestling. This support continued forever. Bernie and Lou will always be remembered fondly for their summer Luau parties they hosted at their home. Bernie was an avid IU sports and Colts fan. He loved taking his family on many vacations and he especially loved the islands.

After retirement, he and Lou moved to Fishers, Indiana and later to Zionsville, Indiana to be close to his grandchildren, Jana, Kari, Amy Kol, and Kody. Known to their grandkids and their friends as Grandpere and Grandmere, they became the #1 fans of every one of their sports teams and activities with their "magic water" and snacks always in tow.

After recently beating his lymphoma for the second time and proudly returning to his lap swimming, he succumbed to heart difficulties.

The family is happy and proud to have had him as long as they did and will host a Celebration of Life party at the Indianapolis Farm Bureau Football Center at the Colts complex, located at 7001 W. 56th Street in Indianapolis, on Thursday, July 31st, from 5-8 PM, with commemorative words at 6 PM.

In lieu of flowers, memorial donations may be sent to the American Cancer Society online at www.americancancersociety.org or by mail to 635 W. 96th St. Indianapolis, IN, 46278, or to the American Heart Association online at http://donate.heart.org.

Arrangements entrusted to A.R.N. Funeral and Cremation Services. Friends may leave a memory or message of condolence by visiting the online obituary at www.arnmortuary.com.