TALLULAH, La. — Alex J. “Hab” Monsour Sr., 79, left his Earthly body on Tuesday, Jan. 21, 2020, at Merit Health River Region in Vicksburg following a brief illness.

He leaves behind his loving soulmate of 35 years, Eva (McCoy) Monsour; his cherished children, Sandra Monsour and Alderman Alex J. Monsour Jr., both of Vicksburg, Deborah (Bill) McCalip of Natchez and Michael (Jill) Monsour of Vancleave; his stepson, Carl McCoy of Monroe, La.; his extended children, Paula (Mark) Harrison of Ridgeland and three sons, Jamie, Bruce, and Dennis Douglas, all of Vicksburg, as well as 23 grandchildren, five great-grandchildren, and numerous other family members, close friends, and adored pets.

Alex was preceded in death by his parents, Joseph Elias Monsour and Jennie Idell Cox; his siblings, Anjouil Dorothy, Paul, Mary Maxine, William Crosby and Eva Emily; and his stepdaughter, Dawn McCoy.

He was a structured family man respected by all. He was caring, loving, generous, and most of all, consistent. These traits were not unlike his father Joseph, a turn-of-the-century Syrian immigrant, who settled in Mansfield, La., at age 14 in search of a better life.

He grew to become a successful businessman, owning his own business and providing for his large family. Joseph received his citizenship in 1952, only to die tragically in a train accident less than a year later. Hab, the youngest of six children, was only 13 years old.

After Hab graduated from Mansfield High in 1959, he studied and played football briefly at the University of Louisiana at Lafayette until an injury curtailed his aspirations for a future in the sport.

This led Hab to an even more impressive career of over 50 years in the insurance business as an agent and sales manager, where he qualified for several national leader conferences and four president’s council trips.

He was passionate about his profession and genuinely enjoyed helping others to secure their financial future.

He loved his work so much so that even after retiring, he continued to work up to the day he was hospitalized.

A devoted husband, a loving “Pop,” a doting “PawPaw,” and LSU’s No. 1 fan, Hab was truly a “people-person”, someone that knew what it meant to be neighborly even to strangers.

From his daily chats with the cashier at the McDonald’s drive-thru to his feeding the wayward pup at the Dixie Dandy, Hab was consistent in giving a piece of himself in each interaction.

His family and friends will miss his calls, his sense of humor, and his football post-game commentaries. He fought a good fight, he finished his course, he kept the faith, and he’s awaiting us in Heaven.

Visitation will begin at 1 p.m. with funeral services to follow at 2 p.m. on January 25, 2020, at Crothers Glenwood Funeral Home in Tallulah. Interment will follow at the Memorial Park Cemetery.

In lieu of flowers, please send donations to St. Jude Children’s Research Hospital in his memory — Alex J. Monsour Sr.

The family would like to extend a special thanks to the MHRR ICU staff and the City of Vicksburg first responders for the exceptional care extended to Hab during his hospital stay.