John E. Bouse

John E. Bouse was born in Boseman, Montana, and lived in Marshall, Missouri, most of his life. He moved to New Bedford in 1948 and worked at Hathaway Mills. When his shift was discontinued in 1953, he began fishing. He had been injured on a previous fishing trip.

Mr. Bouse was survived by his wife, the former Mary Medeiros, and six children: Antoine, 10; John Jr., 8; Diana Maya, 6; Nancy Lou, 4; Theresa Lee, 2; and Thomas Wayne, 6 months.

The Doris Gertrude,  with a crew of eleven, was dragging for scallops on the south side of Georges Bank on January 13 when bad weather caused her to secure her fishing gear and jog in location approximately 150 miles east by south of Pollock Rip Lightship. The vessel was not seen again.

On January 26, the owner of the ship reported to the Coast Guard Rescue Coordination Center in Boston that the Doris Gertrude was overdue. A Coast Guard search continued until February 3. None of the men's bodies were recovered. Eighteen children were left fatherless.