Albert Lee Simien, Sr.

Mr. Albert Lee Simien Sr. entered this life on March 26, 1944 in Mallet, Louisiana to the late Carlton Simien and Martha Leger Simien.  Albert’s parents relocated to Opelousas, Louisiana when he was only six-months; where he resided until he was twenty-six years old.  He moved to Lake Charles, LA in the year of 1969 where he worked at the Port of Lake Charles for all of one week.  He took a job with a relative as a laborer in the brick business for three weeks; giving him just enough time to learn the trade, after which he was able to start his own successful business of forty-seven and a half years.  Shortly after Albert moved to Lake Charles, he met the love of his life JoAnn Simien; they were married into this holy union for fifty years.

Albert leaves to cherish his memories with his wife JoAnn Bushnell Simien of Lake Charles, Louisiana; two daughters, Pamela (Carlos) Hank of Las Vegas, Nevada and Rosalyn Marie Simien of Lake Charles; and one son, Albert (Nicole) Simien of Lake Charles; niece/daughter, Elizabeth Guillory; two sisters, Anabelle (Cleveland) Amos of Lake Charles, Louisiana and Marilynn (Archie) Thibodeaux of Beaumont, Texas; seventeen grandchildren, five great grandchildren, one sister-in-law; Leontine (Clearance) Lachapelle of Lake Charles; one brother-in-law, Roy (Jean) Bushnell of Iowa, Louisiana; two foster daughters, Stacy and Tracy Allison of Eunice, Louisiana; and a host of nieces, nephews and relatives. 

Albert was preceded in death by his parents, Carlton and Martha Leger Simien; one sister Rose Guillory; one brother, Joseph Simien; one daughter, Stephanie Simien Williams; one nephew/grandchild, Paulden James Lewis; one great-grandchild, Dallas JaR’Mar Williams (DJ). 

Albert was a member of Immaculate heart of Mary Catholic Church for fifty years, he also laid the bricks on the sign in front of the church and Bar-be que pit in the Founder’s Hall. Albert was well known in the community. He had a nick name in the Brick industry, “Foot, he was given this name by Mr. Ernie Natali.  Albert mentored young men by giving them jobs as labors. “He would always say he would make a man out of them”.  Another thing he would tell everyone was to find a job you love to do and not to worry about the money; it will come later.  Find your passion and love for it and you will never work a day in your life. 

Albert & JoAnn were foster parents from 1980-1991 and they will always be remembered for the many lives they touched.  Daddy never met a stranger, after retiring in 2006 he could often be found at the Wal-Mart on Highway 14 sitting at the front door greeting people, many thought he worked there; but that was not the case.  His love of people and building relations became his new passion and get away.  It made him feel as though he still had a purpose.  Daddy you will be truly missed, but never forgotten.

A mass of Christian burial will be held at 1:00 PM on January 15, 2021 at Immaculate Heart of Mary Catholic Church, under the direction of Johnson Funeral Home.  **In compliance with current COVID-19 mandates, we respectfully all attendees wear face masks and respect social distancing.**  Father Wayne LeBleu and Father Sam Orsot (great-nephew) will be officiating.  Interment will be at Sacred Heart Catholic Cemetery in Lake Charles.  His visitation will be at Lake City Baptist Church on Friday from 10:00 AM to 12:30 PM, with a rosary at 11:30 AM.