Local Obituaries
for Families in Lake Charles, Louisiana
Lester Garland Sanders
Aug 7, 2019
Lester Garland Sanders, 67, of Lake Charles passed away at 9:36 AM on Wednesday, August 07, 2019 in his residence.
Mr. Sanders was born on March 4, 1952 in Kilgore, TX as the youngest of six children. He was raised in Texas before relocating to Lake Charles 20 years ago.
Mr. Sanders felt God's call on his life in...
Robert Mitchell "Mitch" Fruge
Aug 6, 2019
Robert Mitchell Fruge, 62, of Lake Charles died Tuesday, August 6, 2019 in a local hospital following a brief illness.
Mr. Fruge was born in Lake Charles where he lived most of his life. He was a graduate of LaGrange High School and served in the United States Navy. He worked as a Boat Captain for Otis Corporation Marine Corp,...
Douglas Smith, Jr.
Aug 6, 2019
Douglas M. Smith Jr. was born July 9, 1950 in Crowley, LA, to Douglas and Theresa (Dubois) Smith. He died on August 6, 2019 at home surrounded by family and friends. He graduated from Marion High School and Sowela Technical where he certified in welding. He worked at PPG for 30 years. He was a member of International Machinist Local...
Barbara Ann Walker Reeves
Aug 6, 2019
Barbara Ann Walker Reeves, 81, of Lake Charles passed away at 1:15 PM on Tuesday, August 6, 2019 in a local hospital.
Ms. Reeves was born on December 3, 1937 in Longview, TX. At an early age, her father relocated the family to Lake Charles to open up and operate a well-known business, Lake Charles Tile and Carpet, which she...
Barbara Hogg Baird
Aug 6, 2019
Barbara Virginia Hogg Baird, 78, of Lake Charles died Tuesday, August 6, 2019 in the comfort of her daughter’s home.
Mrs. Baird was born in Dallas, TX and has lived most of her life in Lake Charles. She was a 1959 graduate of Byrd High School. She studied at Louisiana State University and obtained a Bachelor’s degree and Master’s degree...
Marella Meche
Aug 6, 2019
Marella Theresa Boudreaux Meche, 83, of Lake Charles, LA, died at 10:57 PM on Tuesday, August 6, 2019 in her residence.
Mrs. Meche was born May 18, 1936 in Rayne, LA, where she lived until moving to Lake Charles when she was married. She was a member of St. Margaret Catholic Church. She enjoyed sewing and cooking and playing Pokeno...
Payton Covington
Aug 5, 2019
Payton Russ Covington was born on September 20, 1935 in Ruston, Louisiana to Richard Marvin and Pauline Payton Covington, descendants of the founders of Ruston, Louisiana. He died on August 5, 2019. He graduated from Ruston High School and attended Louisiana Tech University before going on to receive his Juris Doctorate from LSU Law School. Moving to Lake Charles after...
James Sudduth Ii
Aug 5, 2019
James Edward “Bo” Sudduth, II passed away at MD Anderson Hospital in Houston on Monday, August 5, 2019.
He was born on August 26, 1959 in Lake Charles, LA to James Edward “Jim” Sudduth and Norma Marie Bertrand Sudduth. He will be remembered as a devoted, loving and dedicated father and for his generosity, great sense of humor, big heart,...
Norma Jean Guillory
Aug 4, 2019
Norma Jean Guillory, 60, of Lake Charles passed away at 11:30 PM on Sunday, August 4, 2019 in her daughter’s residence.
Miss Guillory was born on November 19, 1958 in Kinder before moving to Lake Charles where she lived all of her life and graduated from Lake Charles High School. She continued her education at Sowela Technical Institute earning an...
Marie Louise Wegener Roberts
Aug 4, 2019
“For I trust you in your unfailing love. My heart rejoices in your salvation. I will sing to the Lord, for He has been good to me.” Psalm 13:5‐6
If you asked Marie how she was doing, she would usually simply reply, “Blessed.” In the next few minutes she would know your name, if you were married, how many children...
Carlton Dwight Bourge
Aug 4, 2019
Carlton Dwight Bourge, 55, of Sulphur passed away on August 4, 2019 in his residence surrounded by his family. He worked in the construction industry for R.E. Heidt Company for 29 years. Carlton enjoyed watching football, playing pool, and to bar-b-que. He loved to spend time with his family and friends.
Carlton is survived by his loving wife of 29...
Jill Ellender
Aug 3, 2019
Jill Darlene Mertena Ellender, 72, of Lake Charles, LA, died at 3:09 PM on Saturday, August 3, 2019 in her residence.
Jill was born September 29, 1946 in Ponca City, OK and moved to Sulphur as a young child. Upon her graduation in 1964 from Sulphur High School, she followed her dream of graduating from beauty school. She was a...
Bobby Jack Bethea
Aug 2, 2019
Bobby Jack Bethea, 85, of Lake Charles, LA, passed quietly into eternity with Christ at 11:28 PM on Friday, August 2, 2019 in his residence, surrounded by his family.
Mr. Bethea was born August 31, 1933 in Fort Worth, TX and lived most of his life in Lake Charles, LA, where he graduated from LaGrange Senior High School in 1951. ...
Kathleen Oliver
Aug 1, 2019
Kathleen Oliver, 68, passed away in a local hospital on Thursday, August 1, 2019.
She was born on October 15, 1950 in Lake Charles, LA to Albion and Joyce Quebodeaux. She was the Majorette at Marion High School Chargers where she was a member of the 1968 graduating class. She will be remembered as a loving wife, mother and grandmother...
Eldridge Derouen
Aug 1, 2019
Eldridge Derouen, 95, of Lake Charles passed away on Thursday, August 1, 2019, in the comfort of his home. Mr. Derouen was born in Bell City, Louisiana to Clomere Derouen and Elodia Comeaux Derouen on March 21, 1924.
The family moved to Lake Charles where he graduated from LaGrange High School in 1941 and joined the U. S. Navy...
Rev. Dr. Don Allen Johnson
Aug 1, 2019
Dr. Don Allen Johnson, 79, born April 11, 1940, passed away suddenly on August 1, 2019 at his home in Lake Charles.
Don was born in Lecompte, LA. He was a graduate of Oakdale High School, LSU, New Orleans Baptist Theological Seminary, and Covington Theological Seminary. Bro. Don, as most called him, was a long-time minister of music and other...
William E. "Sr. Chief" "Bill" Van Atten
Jul 30, 2019
William E. “Sr. Chief” “Bill” Van Atten, 71, of Creole died Tuesday, July 30, 2019 in the comfort of his home.
Bill was born and raised in Texas, lived many years in Florida and has lived the past twenty years in Creole. He retired with twenty-four years of service to the United States Navy for which he served four tours...
Rochelle Kristal Miesel
Jul 29, 2019
Rochelle Kristal Miesel 78, was taken home to be with her Heavenly Father on July 29, 2019 at her home in Lake Charles.
Rochelle was born on March 26, 1941 in Chicago and was moved to Lake Charles when she was 6 months old. She was preceded in death by her parents, Edith and Allen Kristal of Lake Charles and...
John Leo Gayle
Jul 29, 2019
Johnny Gayle, a native of Lake Charles, passed away peacefully surrounded by family on Monday, July 29th, at the age of 71.
Johnny was born on September 5, 1947 in Lake Charles, LA to John Norbert (Buddy) Gayle and Henrietta Leonards Gayle. He graduated from Landry Memorial High School in 1966. He married Rita Barras Gayle on March 8, 1969,...
