Local Obituaries
for Families in Lake Charles, Louisiana
Maizie Mendoza Knuckles
May 14, 2018
Maizie Mendoza Knuckles, 92, died Monday, May 14, 2018, in a local care center.
Mrs. Knuckles was born February 27, 1926 in Charenton, LA to Morris Joseph Mendoza and Inez Champagne Mendoza and was married to Gordon Edward Knuckles for over sixty-three years until his death in 2011. She had a strong Catholic faith, which was her foothold and...
Steven Ellis Hickox
May 13, 2018
Steven Ellis Hickox, 66, passed away on May 13, 2018.
Steve attended the University of Texas at El Paso on a full music scholarship where he played the trumpet. He also enjoyed listening to jazz music while driving and at home.
Although his roots were in west Texas, Steve had made many friends in Lake Charles since...
Marina Bellow Lemonia
May 13, 2018
Marina Bellow Lemonia, 77, of Fenton died Sunday, May 13, 2018 in a local care facility.
Mrs. Lemonia was a native of Mallet, LA and has lived most of her life in Fenton. She enjoyed crossword puzzles, coloring, “BANGO”, baking, flower gardening and most importantly, making another pot of coffee for family and friends that stopped by for...

Carol Ann Reed
May 13, 2018
Carol Ann Reed, 64, of Sulphur passed away on May 13, 2018. She was a member of Parkview Baptist Church in Sulphur. Carol loved spending time with her family, friends, and especially her grandchildren.
Carol is survived by her husband of 47 years, Garland Reed, Sr. of Sulphur; two sons, Garland Reed Jr. and wife Mandy of Iota, LA and...

Lesta Fay Bowers
May 13, 2018
Lesta “ Fay” Bowers, 70, of Sulphur passed away on May 13, 2018. She enjoyed fishing, cutting her grass, and hanging her clothes out on the clothes line to dry. Fay loved to spend time with her family.
Fay is survived by her son, Damus Bowers of Sulphur; 3 brothers, Richard Ravia and wife Pat, Raymond Ravia and wife Lynn...
Wayne "Gator" Hill
May 13, 2018
Wayne “Gator” Hill, 66, of Livingston, TX passed away at 1:00 AM on Sunday, May 13, 2018 in a Houston hospital.
Mr. Hill was born on July 5, 1951 in Seguin, TX and was raised in Lake Charles where he attended LaGrange High School before moving to Livingston more than 10 years ago. Mr. Hill was a superintendent welder...
Tamara Ann Cleghorn
May 12, 2018
Tamara Ann Cleghorn, 49, passed away at her residence on May 12, 2018.
She was born on April 11, 1969 in Lake Charles, LA to Jimmy Dale Leblanc and Judy Laurents Dugas. She will be remembered as a loving mother and grandmother and for her big heart, great sense of humor, and the love she had for her dogs...
Lester Paul Gaspard
May 12, 2018
Lester Paul Gaspard, 63, of Lake Charles, LA, passed away at 4:28 PM on Saturday, May 12, 2018 in his residence, surrounded by his family.
Lester Paul Gaspard was born on July 20, 1954 in Lake Charles, LA to Lester Joseph Gaspard and Betty Jo Leger. He always stayed strong in his faith while raised as a Catholic...
Charles Leroy Owen
May 12, 2018
Charles Leroy Owen, 86, passed away on May 12, 2018 after his battle with Alzheimer’s at The Guardian House.
Mr. Owen was always involved with athletics and was a coach and head coach of LaGrange High School’s football team from 1965 to 1979. Mr. Owen even played football while serving our country in the United States Navy during...
Ronald James Fontenot
May 12, 2018
Ronald James Fontenot, of Westlake, passed away peacefully, Saturday May, 12, 2018, at Landmark Nursing Home.
Ronald was a native of Ville Platte, LA and a longtime resident of Westlake. He was an excellent mechanic and enjoyed woodturning and sitting outside on his swing. He was a member of St. John Bosco Catholic Church of Westlake.
Those left...
Landon Michael Gardner
May 10, 2018
Landon Michael Gardner, infant of Seledia Mounicou and Damien Gardner, died on Thursday, May 10, 2018.
Cremation was entrusted to Johnson Funeral Home.
Jennie Rae Duncan Vinson
May 10, 2018
Jennie Rae Duncan Vinson, 46, of Welsh passed away at 5:45 AM on Thursday, May 10, 2018 in her residence surrounded by her family.
Jennie was born on April 6, 1972 in Lake Charles, moved to Iowa and lived there most of her life until moving to Welsh four years ago. She was a 1990 graduate of Barbe High...
Harold Turk
May 9, 2018
Harold Ezra Turk was born on September 1st, 1939 in Goodway, Alabama and grew up in Frisco City, Alabama. He joined the United States Air Force and served our country which brought him to Lake Charles, Louisiana where he met his wife Belba Spell Turk. As a veteran, Harold spent most of his years in the Beaumont, Texas area where...
Elizabeth Linam
May 8, 2018
Elizabeth Ann Morris Linam, 91, of Lake Charles, LA, died at 2:51 PM on Tuesday, May 8, 2018 in a local hospital.
Mrs. Linam was born December 23, 1926 in Texarkana, TX, where she was raised. She lived a number of years in Algiers / Gretna and eight years in Singapore before calling Lake Charles home in 2002. Mrs....
Kathy Jean Broussard
May 7, 2018
Kathy Jean Broussard, 55, passed away in the comfort of her own home on May 7, 2018.
Mrs. Broussard was a loving mother that enjoyed cooking for her family. She had both Southern and Cajun influences from her mother and mother-in-law that made for her memorable meals. She was a Den Mother in the Boy Scouts while raising her...

Danny Ray Benton, Sr.
May 7, 2018
Danny Ray Benton, Sr., 71, of Sulphur passed away on May 7, 2018 in his residence. He enjoyed watching some good old western shows and especially Dallas Cowboy football games, which was his favorite team, while eating his snacks and drinking his coke. Danny was also famous for hiding the remote. He enjoyed spending time with his family, friends and...
Lloyd Ellis Fontenot
May 7, 2018
Lloyd Ellis Fontenot, 46, of Lake Charles, LA, died at 6:00 AM on Monday, May 7, 2018 in a local hospital.
Lloyd was born September 1, 1971 in Lake Charles, LA and was a graduate of LaGrange High School. During his career, he worked for the DOTD and as a transmission mechanic. He was an avid fisherman and loved...
Kenneth "Jerry" Monteilh
May 7, 2018
Kenneth (Jerry) Monteilh, 86, passed away at his residence on May 7, 2018.
He was born on November 7, 1931 in Bunkie, LA to Charles and Alice Curtis Monteilh.
Mr. Monteilh served his country honorably in the United States Marine Corps and obtained his Bachelor of Science degree in Geology from Southwest Louisiana Institute (University of Louisiana). He started...
William "Billy Don" Gilbert, Jr.
May 7, 2018
William “Billy” Don Gilbert, Jr., 79, of Sulphur, LA, died on Monday, May 7, 2018 in a local care facility.
Mr. Gilbert was born June 29, 1938 in Port Arthur, TX, attended Landry High School and lived most of his life in Sulphur, LA. He served his country in the U.S. Army. During his younger years, he worked as...
James "Tiny" Celestine
May 6, 2018
James “Tiny” Celestine, 65, of Lake Charles died Sunday, May 6, 2018 in the comfort of his home surrounded by his family.
Mr. Celestine was a lifelong resident of Lake Charles. He worked as a farmer and cattleman for W.J. Gail & Son. He was an honorable man who will be remembered for his devotion to family and his...