Ethel Arabie

Ethel Mae Higginbotham Trahan Arabie, 82, went to be with her Lord and Savior on June 9, 2017.

Mrs. Arabie was born in Bell City, LA to Berchman and Palmyre Rogers Higginbotham on July 8, 1934. She attended Bell City High School before marrying Alvin J. Trahan and moving to Lake Charles. Together, they opened Trahan’s Hardware on Common Street and worked hard to make it a successful business for over 50 years.

She will be remembered for the love she had for her family and many people she met along the way. Her love had no boundaries and she made a friend with everyone she met. She loved bingo, bowling, gardening, traveling and playing cards. She will also be remembered as an excellent cook, for her strong and faithful walk with her Lord, and for her love of mugs.

Those left to cherish her memory are her husband, Wilson Arabie; children, Deborah Bellard (Ricky) of Bell City, LA, Eugene Trahan of Starks, LA, Carolyn Trahan (Lesa) of Lake Charles, LA, Ruth Vaussine (Calvin) of Lake Charles, LA, Michael Trahan (Kitty) of Lake Charles, LA, Charles Trahan (Martha) of Lake Charles, LA, Vickie Thomas (Cary) of Lake Charles, LA; stepchildren, Pat (Evelyn) Arabie of Moss Bluff, LA, Mike (Beth) Arabie of Ragley, LA, Denise (Gary) Faul of Katy, TX, Deann (Frank) Smith of Houma, LA; 25 grandchildren; 46 great grandchildren; 7 great great grandchildren; sister, Mary Trahan; brothers in law, Felix Richard Trahan and Robert Arabie; sisters in law, Betty Purcell, Vena (Charles) Guillory and Jean Simon; numerous nieces and nephews; numerous step grand children, step great grandchildren, and step great great grandchildren; special family friend, Laura Lyles; and her beloved cat Caramel.

She was preceded in death by her parents; first husband, Alvin J. Trahan; brother, Calton Higginbotham; sisters, Elda Tramonte and Florence Bible; daughter in law, Emma Trahan; and grandsons, Shane Tommasi and Gerald Courmier.

Funeral Services will be held at Christ the King Catholic Church on Tuesday, June 13, 2017 at 1pm. Visitation will be held from 3pm to 9pm with a rosary at 6pm on Monday, June 12, 2017 and will resume Tuesday, June 13, 2017 from 9am until 12:30pm at Johnson Funeral Home. Burial will be at Highland Memorial Park. Father Wayne Lebleu will officiate services.