Lester Matthew Landry

Lester Matthew Landry, 94, passed away on July 19, 2026, in his home surrounded by his loving family. Born on September 30, 1931 in Baton Rouge, LA to Joseph Edgar and Noemie Louise White Landry, he was the youngest of five boys. He was raised in Baton Rouge but Lake Charles, LA was home for the past seventy-six years.

During the late 1940’s, Lester was the star quarterback for Istrouma High School in Baton Rouge. At that time, Istrouma, a football powerhouse, would garner 10,000 to 20,000 plus fans to watch the Istrouma Indians play. Their games were city wide spectacle events. He was named an All-City and All-State quarterback and made the All-Southern High School Team in 1948. Following graduation, he had the opportunity to play football at West Point and was offered scholarships to play football at Texas A & M, Notre Dame and LSU but chose to play at LSU, where he was a quarterback on the Freshman Football Team before transferring to McNeese State University in 1950. At McNeese, Lester co-captained the team for two seasons and was widely regarded as the most outstanding T-formation quarterback in the Gulf State Conference. His strong arm acquired him the nicknames “Lobbin Lester” and “The Arm”. In 1952, he was named to the Gulf Coast Conference All-Star Team. He was also voted the most valuable player at McNeese in 1951 and 1952. Lester still holds the record for the longest touchdown pass, 99 yards, at McNeese. In 2001, he was inducted into the McNeese State University Hall of Fame.

While at McNeese, Lester met, and later wed his beloved wife of seventy-three years, Geraldine “Geri” Christ Landry. Lester, the quarterback, and Geri, the homecoming queen, were quite the couple on campus establishing their mark together at numerous campus life events, clubs and activities. After graduation, the Los Angeles Rams recruited him and offered him a letter of intent to play football, but a pro-career would have to wait as he had a military obligation to fulfill. Having joined the ROTC on campus, Lester entered active duty with the United States Army as a Second Lieutenant in 1955. He served as a Platoon Leader in the Tank Company of the 32nd Infantry Regiment, 7th Infantry and was promoted to First Lieutenant while stationed in Korea, where he served until 1957. Once a high-ranking officer learned of his star quarterback talents, he was recruited to play football in Korea until he suffered a leg injury, which brought his football days to an end. Upon his return to the States, he remained with the Army Reserve until he was Honorably Discharged in 1962.

Lester excelled at sports and academics. While at McNeese, he coached at the all-boys school, Landry Memorial High School, which later become St. Louis Catholic High School. He graduated from McNeese with a Bachelor of Science, a Major in Education, and a Minor in Math and Social Studies. He later taught math and civics while coaching all sports at Breaux Bridge High School before reporting to duty at Fort Knox, Kentucky. His education and knowledge served him well and he was often considered a mechanical genius as there wasn’t anything he couldn’t fix. After his service, he worked as a Purchasing Agent at Davidson Sash and Door and eventually became a Senior Purchasing Agent for Olin Chemical Corporation, before retiring in 1991.

Lester was an avid Louisiana outdoorsman. He loved spending time outdoors with family and friends biking, playing tennis, boating, water skiing, fishing and hunting. Many days were spent at his beloved hunting camp, his second home, which brought many cherished memories and good times to all.

He was a very proud hardworking man with an eye for perfection and strong work ethic, which he passed down to his children. He had a quiet gentle spirit and was steadfast and loyal to those he knew and loved. While home was one of his favorite places to be, his kindness and generosity were known by many. He was an exceptionally honorable man who took amazing care of his family, whom he loved dearly. He will be sorely missed.

He was preceded in death by his parents and his older brothers, Joseph Edgar Landry, Jr., James Herman Landry, Harold Thaddeus Landry, Sr. and Louis Leland Landry, Sr.

Left to cherish his memory are his beloved wife Geri and his two daughters Joan Landry (David) Kaspar and Stephanie Landry (Steve) Cochran, his beloved grandchildren Sydney Kaspar (David) Borel, Benjamin Kaspar, Ferguson (Sarah) Cochran, Ada Cochran and Joseph Cochran and two great grandchildren, Adelaide and Adam Borel.

A Mass of Christian Burial will be celebrated at 10:00 a.m. on Friday, July 24, 2026 at the Cathedral of the Immaculate Conception, Lake Charles, LA. Burial will follow at Consolata Cemetary under the direction of Johnson Funeral Home of Lake Charles. Visitation will be held on Thursday, July 23, 2026 5:30 p.m. to 8:00 p.m. with a rosary service at 6:30 p.m. at Johnson Funeral Home. Visitation will resume on Friday, July 24, 2026 from 8:30 a.m. to 9:30 a.m. before processing to the church.

A special thank you to his wonderful caregivers, Adele Millin with St. Joseph’s Hospice of Southwest Louisiana, Vivian Annette LaSalle, Ashley Williams, Dalasia Jasmine and Mary Mouton.

Donations may be made to the St. Louis Catholic High School Foundation, the Lester and Geri Christ Landry Scholarship Fund, 1620 Bank Street, Lake Charles, LA 70601 or Autism Services of Southwest Louisiana, 3006 Common Street, Lake Charles, LA 70601.