Cleadis James Mott

Cleadis James Mott of Lake Charles, Louisiana, passed away at the age of 93 surrounded by his family on Sunday, November 9, 2025.

Cleadis was born to Louis and Azena Pousson Mott on August 20, 1932, in Welsh, Louisiana, and later established his residence in South Lake Charles with wife, Cora Mae. There, they provided their two daughters, Donna and Janet, with a wholesome country upbringing filled with their love of family and music.

During his lifetime, Cleadis became skilled in auto repair and primarily made his living in his later years by operating his own radiator repair business. Cleadis was also a skilled gardener who spent countless hours growing all sorts of fruits and vegetables for sharing with his family and friends.

Cleadis will likely be remembered by most as the beloved lead singer of the local country western, Swamp Pop and Cajun cover band, Cleadis Mott and the Tune Toppers. With a natural talent and love of music, Cleadis honed his singing skills and taught himself to play the harmonica, the guitar, and the accordion. Cleadis and his band became a regular fixture in local nightlife and were well-known and loved for their lively antics and often comical shows. Cleadis spent several decades of his life playing music and truly loved entertaining his community, family, and friends with his performances.

Yet when the first act ends, the second act must begin. After thirty years of performing for the crowds, Cleadis retired from his public persona in order to play to a smaller, but entirely enamored audience of his grandchildren. His second act was filled with countless Friday nights on his front porch swing, where he sang and played much of the same music, sitting under a pile of his miniature adoring fans. In all the years that followed, Cleadis remained an endless source of bad jokes, burnt toast, PawPaw’s special gumbo and potato salad, roadside rescue missions, and side-splitting laughter. But it’s the underlying steady source of love, wisdom, support and devotion to his wife, children and grandchildren that will remain unmatched. His service to his family was without comparison and it is this legacy that will endure well beyond Cleadis’ earthly 93 years through the family that loved him.

Cleadis is survived by his devoted wife of seventy-three years, Cora Mae LeBlanc Mott; his daughters, Donna Babineaux, and Janet Aguillard (Dale); his seven grandchildren, Shelley Bouillion (Blake), Jill Robert (Ralph), Julie Babineaux, Cindi Gott (Aaron), Dustin Reagan (Sophie), Amy Walker (Matthew), and Therese Aguillard; his 18 great-grandchildren and 2 great-great-grandchildren.

Cleadis was preceded in death by his parents; his grandson, Beau Reagan; his good friend and son-in-law, Michael Babineaux; and his sisters, Irene Martin and Audrey Stewart.

A Mass of Christian Burial will be celebrated at 2:30 PM on Thursday, November 13, 2025 in the Cathedral of the Immaculate Conception, 935 Bilbo St., with Rev. Rommel Tolentino serving as Celebrant. Burial will follow in Consolata Cemetery under the direction of Johnson Funeral Home of Lake Charles. Visitation will be at the funeral home, located at 4321 Lake St., from 10:00 AM until departing in procession to the church, with a rosary being recited at 1:00 PM.