Earl Thomas Mouton

Earl Thomas Mouton, 83, of Lake Charles died Thursday, December 13, 2018.

Earl Thomas Mouton was born on March 15, 1935, the oldest of four children, to Johnie and Louise Fitch Mouton in Orange, Texas.  He was raised in Hackberry, LA and enjoyed visiting his Paran and Aunt, Otto and Jerry Mouton in Kaplan. With and accordion and fiddle always around, undoubtedly, this is where he developed his love for French Music.  He also spent a lot of time with his father who was a Game Warden for Wildlife and Fisheries on the refuges of Cameron Parish.  He was there when they built the Hackberry Refuge.  Mr. Mouton, as a young boy, along with his brother would ride his bike to church to be altar servers.  He also rode his bike to his first job at the picture show and Colligan’s Drug Store until he made enough to buy a car.  It was in this car that he met the love of his life.  He and his friend, “Clyde” Poochie Barentine found themselves racing a Buick that beat him.  The driver of the Buick was Miss Lillian Theriot, who came to be his sweetheart.  In 1955, he bought the Cameron Bus Line and on September 12, 1956 married Miss Theriot.  The following June, Hurricane Audrey struck Cameron Parish leaving only the two of them, of the Theriot family to survive.  Mr. Mouton held on to his bride in a tree, not letting her go.  That tree still stands in that yard, the Marshall Street home where they raised their family.  Around the time he bought the Bus Line, at the age of twenty-one, he began working for Harold Cooling as a Diesel Mechanic where he worked every day for twelve years.  In 1968, he and his wife bought the Western Auto in Cameron where they helped countless people for twenty-five years.  Mr. Mouton didn’t just run the store, he also serviced all the items he sold.   

Mr. Mouton was an active member of Our Lady Star of the Sea Catholic Church and the Knights of Columbus where he served as Grand Knight several times and was instrumental in the architecture and building of Cameron KC Hall.  He was also a member of the Lions Club where he served as President for twenty-five years.  With all this, he took time and was honored to volunteer for the Cameron Parish Fire Department.   He, along with his wife, was all about helping others.  They loaded their van to take toys for Christmas to families in need; headed food drives for families in need and delivered to them baskets on holidays.  They housed most of the Priest of Our Lady Star of Sea Catholic Church at some time.  The friends and families they came to know throughout their life in Cameron Parish will remember them for their selflessness, servant hearts and the gatherings at their home with live bands, dancing and lots of friends.

Mr. Mouton will be remembered most for his love and devotion to his family, his service to his community and the fact that he could fix anything!

He leaves to honor his memory, three sons, Dr. Gerald Mouton and wife Kelli, Valian Mouton and wife Derinda, both of Lake Charles and Earl Thomas Mouton, Jr. of Thailand; two daughters, Yvonne Bourque and husband Richard of Lake Charles and Teresa Smith of Cameron; twelve grandchildren; fifteen great-grandchildren; two great-great grandchildren; one brother, Huey Mouton of Aransas Pass, TX; one sister, Shirley LeBoeuf of Dewey, TX; three nephews, James Mouton, Kevin Mouton and  David LeBoeuf; one niece, Misty LeBoeuf; and his first cousin and dear friend, Wade Mouton of Kaplan, LA and many dear friends.

He was preceded in death by his parents, Johnie and Louise Fitch Mouton; wife of forty-forty years, Lillian Theriot Mouton; son, Johnny Clyde Mouton; infant daughter, Lucy Mouton;  grandson, Gerald  “Gerry” Wade Mouton, II and a sister, Martha Mouton.

A Mass of Christian Burial was held at 12:00 PM Tuesday, December 18, 2018 at Our Lady Star of the Sea Catholic Church in Cameron under the direction of Johnson Funeral Home.  Father Wayne LeBleu was the officiate.  Interment followed in Our Lady Star of the Sea Catholic Church Cemetery.  Visitation Monday was from 3:00 PM until 8:00 PM with a rosary beginning at 6:00 PM.  Visitation Tuesday was from 8:00 PM until 10:45 AM in the funeral home.