Local Obituaries
for Families in Lake Charles, Louisiana
Dorothy "Dot" Horn Sweeney
Sep 5, 2017
Dorothy “Dot” Horn Sweeney, 84, died on Tuesday, September, 5, 2017 at her home in Lake Charles.
A lifelong resident of Lake Charles, Dot was a graduate of Central School and Lake Charles High School, and an alumna of Southwestern LA Institute (SLI) now ULL. She often spoke proudly of her years at Lake Charles High School and her...
Ernest Joseph Meche, Sr.
Sep 4, 2017
Ernest Jospeh Meche, Sr., 92, of Lake Charles passed away at 5:55 AM on Monday, September 04, 2017, in Jennings, Louisiana.
Born in Boscoe, Louisiana on November 4, 1924 to Moise and Ella Thibodeaux Meche, Mr. Meche was reared in Big Lake and Duralde, Louisiana before moving to Lake Charles.
He served his country during World...
Eric Victor Wilkerson
Sep 4, 2017
Eric Victor Wilkerson, 59, of Lake Charles, passed away Monday September 4, 2017 at a local hospital after an extended illness.
Eric was a native of Lake Charles and graduate of Lake Charles High School. He honorably served our country in the United States Air Force.
He is preceded in death by his parents, Warren Patrick...
Janet Troutman
Sep 3, 2017
Janet Joyce Dooley Troutman, 82, of Lake Charles, passed away on Sunday September 3, 2017 in Katy, Texas.
Janet was a native of Brandenburg, Kentucky and longtime resident of Lake Charles. She was a homemaker and a long-time active member of University United Methodist Church, where she contributed tirelessly to countless initiatives in support of the Church and...
Joseph Louis Bourgeois
Sep 2, 2017
Joseph Louis Bourgeois, 77, passed away September 2, 2017 at his home in Creole, LA.
He lived in Creole for 54 years where he worked for Boudoin Bros, Cameron Telephone Co., the Monkey Island ferry and also trapped nutria for their fur. Most know Louis from his small engine and lawn mower repair business. Louis was born January 11,...
Richard Wegener
Sep 1, 2017
Surrounded by his family, Richard Eric “Red” Wegener, 57, passed away in Webster, Texas, on Friday, September 1, 2017.
He was born in New Orleans and raised in Lake Charles by his loving parents, G.J. (Gitch) and Gloria Wegener. He graduated from A. M. Barbe High School in 1978 and received an Electrical Engineering Technology degree in March...
Judy Fisher
Sep 1, 2017
Judy Fisher, 68, of Sulphur passed away on September 1, 2017 in her residence surrounded by her family. She was a member of Christian World Church. Judy worked as a Day Care Director for Faith Temple Church for 20 years, then worked for the school board as a teachers aid. The joy of her life was spending time with her...
Mindy Elizabeth Lavoi
Aug 31, 2017
Mindy Elizabeth Lavoi, 44, of Houston, TX, died on Thursday, August 31, 2017 in a Houston hospital.
Mindy was born April 9, 1973 in Iowa City, IA, and raised in West Monroe, LA, where she attended high school and was a graduate of Tulane University. She lived a number of years in Lake Charles before settling in Houston, TX...
Auray Thibodeaux
Aug 31, 2017
Auray Thibodeaux, 90, of Lake Charles, passed away on Thursday August 31, 2017 at a local hospital after an extended illness.
Auray was a native of Grand lake and a longtime resident of Lake Charles. He was a retired Pipefitter and member of the Pipefitter’s local 106. Auray honorably and faithfully served our country in the United States...
Flora Siebarth
Aug 30, 2017
Flora Siebarth, 38, of Lake Charles passed away Wednesday, August 30, 2017 in the comfort of her home surrounded by her loved ones.
Mrs. Siebarth, a former native of Lucena City, Philippines, has lived for the past five years in Lake Charles. Flora traveled abroad with her husband where they enjoyed entertaining and spending time with family...
Judy Rathjen
Aug 30, 2017
Judy Ann Rathjen passed away in a local hospital on August 30, 2017.
Ms. Rathjen was born to Lawrence William and Eleanor Laura Grill Rathjen in Davenport, Iowa on May 11, 1946. She grew up on a farm in the state of Iowa and moved to Louisiana from Missouri in 1987. She worked for Boeing and Walmart before...
Dorothy "Ms. Dot" Evans Branch
Aug 29, 2017
Dorothy Margaret Evans Branch, 85, of Lake Charles, LA, died on Tuesday, August 29, 2017 in her residence.
Ms. Branch was born September 19, 1931 in Many, LA, where she graduated from Mount Carmel High School. She also graduated from Secretarial School in Pennsylvania. Ms. Branch lived in Many, LA until moving to Lake Charles in 1982. She was...
John Carroll Manning
Aug 29, 2017
“The steps of a good man are ordered by the LORD, and He delights in His way. Though he fall he shall not be utterly cast down; For the LORD upholds him with His hand…” (Psalm 37:23-24 NKLV)
John Carroll Manning entered into eternal joy of the Lord on August 29, 2017.
John had a muscular disease similar...
Roger Steven Leblanc
Aug 29, 2017
Roger Steven LeBlanc, 68, of Lake Charles, LA, died on Tuesday, August 29 at his home, with his wife and children by his side.
Mr. LeBlanc was born on September 15, 1948 in Lake Charles to Erma “Smokey” & M.A. “Chic” LeBlanc. He graduated from LaGrange High School, attended McNeese State University, and served his country with honor...
Orian "Tutu" Thomas Rider
Aug 29, 2017
Orian “Tutu” Thomas Rider, 71, passed away in Lake Charles on August 29, 2017 in the comfort of his home.
Mr. Rider was born on January 11, 1946 to Orian and Ruby Hebert Rider in Lake Charles. He will be remembered as a jack-of-all-trades. In his earlier years he worked as a mechanic, finished sheetrock, and was a talented...
Paul Stephen Theriot
Aug 29, 2017
Paul Stephen Theriot, of Lake Charles, passed away on Tuesday August 29, 2017 at a Houston, Texas hospital following a brief illness.
Steve, as he was known to his friends and family, was born and raised in Lake Charles. He was a graduate of the Culinary Institute of America in Heyd Park, New York. His passion was cooking...
Michael Wayne Johnson
Aug 28, 2017
Michael Wayne Johnson, 64, of Lake Charles, LA, passed away on Monday, August 28, 2017, at a local care facility. Michael was born in Lake Charles on November 26, 1953 to Edward and Audrey Smith Johnson.
Michael enjoyed fishing, reading and traveling. He also enjoyed playing his electric guitar. Michael was a member of Our Lady Queen of...
Virginia J. Brown
Aug 27, 2017
Virginia Juanita Brown, 93, of Lake Charles, LA passed away on Sunday, August 27, 2017 with her husband at her side
Mrs. Brown grew up as one of thirteen children and was born on July 31, 1924 in Bel, LA to Joseph and Victoria Thigpen. She attended high school in Shreveport, LA. Mrs. Brown worked as a Switch Operator...
Peggy Grady
Aug 26, 2017
Peggy Jane Driver Godley Grady, 85, of Lake Charles, LA passed away peacefully with family present on August 26, 2017.
She was born in Osceola, AR to William Joshua Driver, Jr. and Peggy Fox Driver. Peggy Jane attended Gulf Park College for Women in Gulfport, MS. Later she was a Kappa Kappa Gamma at the University of Mississippi...
Melvin Slaven
Aug 26, 2017
Melvin Slaven, 93, of Sulphur, LA went home to be with his Lord and Savior, Jesus Christ on Saturday, August 26, 2017.
Mr. Slaven was born and raised in Mt. Herman, LA and has lived most of his life in Lake Charles. In his early years he was part of the Soil Conservation Corps helping farmers build terraces...
