Kenneth Ray Higginbotham

Kenneth Ray Higginbotham of Lake Charles passed away on Saturday, September 6, 2025, with his family by his side. He was born on April 26, 1949, to Percy Joseph Higginbotham and Ella Mae Cormier Higginbotham Bourque. Ken was a lifelong resident of Lake Charles.

He met the love of his life, Rose Ann Aymond, on a blind date. They were married on August 21, 1971, and together they built a beautiful life over 54 years, raising three daughters along the way.

Ken's proudest moments, aside from his marriage and the birth of his daughters, came from his time serving his country-first in the U.S. Navy and then in the U.S. National Guard. Afterward, he worked in the sheet metal industry before being injured on the job. Determined to move forward, Ken attended SOWELA, where he studied aviation and went on to work at Boeing as an A&P mechanic. His greatest professional joy, however, came from serving as a Deputy with the Calcasieu Parish Sheriff's Office, a position he held for 19 years before retiring due to health challenges following his diagnosis with Merkel cell carcinoma in 2012.

A devoted Catholic, Ken was a Fourth Degree Knight and served as Grand Knight, earning the Star Council Award from 1991 to 1992 at St. Margaret's Council. After moving to Moss Bluff, he became an active member of the Knights of Columbus Council at St. Theodore's Catholic Church. He was also a proud member of the American Legion Post 1.

Ken was a wonderful husband and a loving father. He found great joy in attending every event for his children, grandchildren, and great-grandchildren-whether birthdays, sporting events, band concerts, school field trips, or Veterans Day ceremonies. Sunday dinners with his family were among his favorite times, and being surrounded by them brought him joy even during illness.

Ken also loved tinkering. He was always taking things apart and putting them back together, building model cars, airplanes, and boats. Truly a man of many trades, if he didn't know how to do something, he was determined to figure it out.

He is survived by his loving wife, Rose Ann Aymond Higginbotham; his daughters, Amanda Wilkinson and husband Troy, Farrah Higginbotham, and Kari Romero and husband Chad; his siblings, Gary Higginbotham and wife Belinda, Kathy Whittington, Vickie Trotter, and Faye Leverkuhn and husband John "Buddy." He also leaves behind four grandchildren, Baly Carter and husband Dylan, Austin Wilkinson, Mallory Wilkinson, and Chad Joseph "CJ" Romero; great-grandchildren, Lennox and Tucker Wilkinson, and Madelyn and Lyla Carter; as well as several nieces and nephews.

He was preceded in death by his parents Percy Joseph Higginbotham and Ella Mae Cormier Higginbotham Bourque; stepfather, Richard Bourque; sister, Patricia Franklin; and brothers, James Higginbotham and Randall Higginbotham.

The family would like to extend a special thank you to Heart of Hospice, especially nurse Anne Marie, for their wonderful care during Ken's final days. Gratitude is also extended to the teams of doctors at Lake Charles Memorial Hospital who treated and cared for Ken, especially Dr. Stuart Greathouse, Dr. Eric Fontenot, and Dr. Louise Becnel.

A Mass of Christian Burial will take place on Friday, September 12, 2025, at 10:00 a.m. at St. Theodore's Catholic Church in Moss Bluff. A graveside service will follow at New Ritchie Cemetery. Visitation will be held on Thursday, September 11, 2025, from 5:00 p.m. to 8:00 p.m. at Johnson Funeral Home of Moss Bluff.

Pallbearers will be Troy Wilkinson, Austin Wilkinson, Chad Romero, CJ Romero, Dylan Carter, and Dale Trahan.