Stella Marie Arabie Martin

Stella Arabie Martin, 73, of Buna, Texas, passed away Thursday, July 2, 2026 at Jefferson Nursing and Rehabilitation in Beaumont, Texas.

A memorial service honoring Stella’s life will be held 2:00 PM Tuesday, July 7, 2026 at Johnson Funeral Home in Lake Charles, Louisiana. A gathering of family and friends Tuesday will be from 1:00 PM until the time of service in the funeral home.

Stella was born on October 24, 1952, to John and Etta (Young) Arabie in Lake Charles, Louisiana. She devoted 25 years of her life as a veterinary technician, lovingly serving the pets and families of Southeast Texas with compassion, patience, and care. She is survived by her husband, William Martin of Buna, Texas; daughter, Dana Baldridge and John of

DeRidder, Louisiana; son, Kenny Daigle and Beth of Beaumont, Texas; daughter, Robin Eastham and Terry of Austin, Texas; daughter, Jennifer Davis and Jimmie of Buna, Texas; daughter, Jean Cooper and Mitchell of Midland, Texas; son, Wesley “Bubba” Daigle and Dana of Buna, Texas; brother, Ronald (Dee) Arabie of Carlyss, Louisiana; sister, Juanita

Moss of Lake Charles, Louisiana; brother, Dale Arabie and Donna of Nokomis, Florida; 11 grandchildren; 8 great-grandchildren; her bonus children, Jenny Holmes, Heath Martin, John Martin, and Amy Lockhart; and a host grandchildren and great grandchildren.

She was preceded in death by her parents, and her sisters, Christine Hornsbsy and Charlette Darbonne.

Stella will be remembered as a beautiful, free-spirited soul with an adventurous heart and a deep love for the outdoors. She found joy in the simple wonders of nature and shared that joy generously with those she loved most. From riding mules down the Grand Canyon to Phantom Ranch, took pack trips through the wild mountains of Montana and Colorado, camped beneath the stars in Colorado, Texas, and Montana, rode out lightning storms on horseback, hiked the Pryor Mountains in search of wild horses, listened to elk bugle in

Montana, watched wolves in the deep winter of Yellowstone, and took countless road trips across America with family and friends. She loved the Texas Hill Country, Wyoming mornings, Montana skies, and Colorado mountains. She loved her Louisiana roots but was also proud to be a Texan. In every place she traveled, Stella lived fully taking in the beauty around her and making memories that will be treasured forever.

Stella will also be remembered for her infectious smile, genuine laugh, compassionate heart… and her mountain ears. She loved spending time with family and friends, and her

greatest joy in life was being a mom, momma, Mama Seta, Stella Bella, Telly, Skiddy, Tootie, Tootsie or Toot.

Memorial donations may be made to the Sierra Club at giving.sierraclub.org, National Parks Conversational Association at npca.org/give/memorial or St. Jude Children’s Research at stjude.org/donate.