Local Obituaries
for Families in Lake Charles, Louisiana
Nelson Joseph Matt
Sep 1, 2017
Iowa – Nelson Joseph Matt, 94, passed away Friday, September 1, 2017 in a local hospital. Nelson was an Army veteran of WWII he served in the 503rd paratrooper regiment in the pacific theater. While he was in the pacific his unit fought in New Guinea and the Philippines. They were most famous for Jumping on Corregidor and taking back...
Lawrence James "Jimmy" Trahan
Aug 31, 2017
Iowa – Jimmy Trahan, 63, passed away on Thursday, August 31, 2017. Jimmy was born in Lake Charles on August 4, 1954 to Rixby and Irene Trahan. He was a graduate of Iowa High School. He was a member of CFMA and enjoyed playing music and puzzles. Survivors include his mother, Irene Babineaux Trahan; sons; Samuel Trahan and wife Crystal,...
Mindy Elizabeth Lavoi
Aug 31, 2017
Mindy Elizabeth Lavoi, 44, of Houston, TX, died on Thursday, August 31, 2017 in a Houston hospital.
Â
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.
Â
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.
Â
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.
Â
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.
Â
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)
Â
John Carroll Manning entered into eternal joy of the Lord on August 29, 2017.
Â
John had a muscular disease similar...
Roger Steven Leblanc
Aug 29, 2017
 Â
Roger Steven LeBlanc, 68, of Lake Charles, LA, died on Tuesday, August 29 at his home, with his wife and children by his side.
Â
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.
Â
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.
Â
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
Â
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.
Â
Michael enjoyed fishing, reading and traveling. He also enjoyed playing his electric guitar. Michael was a member of Our Lady Queen of...
John Floyd Faul
Aug 28, 2017
Iowa – John Floyd Faul, 86, passed away Monday, August 28, 2017 in his residence surrounded by his loving family. Floyd was born in Lawtell on June 5, 1931 to the late Jean-Baptiste Faul and Mary Virginia LaGrange Faul. He was a truck driver and a member of Teamsters Union 969. He was an amazing carpenter and owner of Faul’s...
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
Â
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.
Â
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.
Â
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...
Linda Vezina Haverkamp
Aug 26, 2017
Linda Kay Vezina Haverkamp, 60, of Moss Bluff, LA, died on Saturday, August 26, 2017 in her residence.
Â
Mrs. Haverkamp was born January 3, 1957, graduated from Sam Houston High School and lived most of her life in Moss Bluff. Linda loved the beach, shopping and enjoyed riding motorcycles. She also enjoyed searching for antiques, collecting cookie jars and...
Angela Ann Young Soileau
Aug 26, 2017
Iowa – Angela Ann Young Soileau, 52, passed away in the comfort of her home Saturday, August 26, 2017. Angela was born in Lake Charles on July 11, 1965 to the late Gerald and Barbara Johnson Young. She was a member of the Church of the Promise and loved making people laugh. Her greatest joy was spending time with her...
Carol Escoubas Fortenberry
Aug 26, 2017
    Carol Escoubas Fortenberry, 75, went to be with the Lord Saturday morning, August 26, 2017 after being lovingly cared for by her family, along with the teams at Stonebridge Assisted Living in Sulphur, LA, and Brighton Bridge Hospice. Born September 4, 1941 in Sulphur, she was the first born to her parents Louis Arthur (Art) and Lois Cole King.  She...
Sandra Rae "Sissy" Spears
Aug 26, 2017
Sandra Rae "Sissy" Spears was born on December 5, 1968 in Oakdale, Louisiana, the daughter of John Ray and Joye Brannon Spears and passed away August 26, 2017 in Fenton, Louisiana. She was a graduate of Sowela Technical College and attended McNeese State University and was a nurse for twenty years. Sissy enjoyed playing games on her phone, listening to...
