Dr. Paul Keith Nabours

Dr. Paul Keith Nabours, 77, of Lake Charles – known as Keith to many and as Uncle Doc to his lucky nieces and nephews – passed away at home among family on Monday afternoon, June 10, 2024.

Keith was born in Lake Charles on May 30, 1947, as the eldest child of William Paul Nabours and Elvina Jacobs Nabours. He graduated from LaGrange Senior High School with the class of 1965 and from McNeese State College in 1969. He went on to complete training with the first class of the LSU School of Medicine in Shreveport in 1973. Inspired by a rotation at Glasgow Royal Infirmary (Scotland) during medical school, Keith returned to Glasgow for five months of residency at its Southern General Hospital. He completed his psychiatry residency at the University of Arkansas for Medical Sciences in Little Rock in 1976 and was in private practice as a psychiatrist until his retirement in 2012. He was fascinated by how the mind works and loved the depth of personal interaction in psychiatry. In his work, Keith was beloved by colleagues and patients alike.

Keith was known for his exceptional memory for details of personal experiences as far back as early childhood, and his extensive genealogical research was much enhanced by his direct accounts. Deeply connected to his home, roots, and family, Keith also brought a grander experience of the world to all who knew him through his travels abroad, from Soviet Russia and across Europe to Mexico; his broad-ranging curiosity and love of books; his taste in the arts, including many beautiful things collected for his own home and shared as gifts to others; and his incredible cooking of everything from traditional family recipes to global cuisines, with many wonderful meals hosted in his home.

Keith was perhaps above all known for his gentleness, gentility, patience, and considerate manner. He was a skillful, soothing, and compassionate listener – a confidante not only to patients but also to those closest to him. He had a special way of making children feel as acknowledged and respected as adults. He was a one-of-a-kind person with a wonderful sense of humor and is already profoundly missed by all to whom he was close.

He was preceded in death by his parents, his beloved sister Joyce Hungerford, and his brother Jim Nabours. He is survived by his brother Dr. William Carl Nabours and wife Brenda Nabours; his sister Nanette Martinez; and by the nieces and nephews who loved him like a father: Joyce’s children Will and Rachel Hungerford; Carl’s daughters Karli Nabours, Chelsi Nabours Barfield and husband Robert Barfield, and Ali Nabours; and his grandnephews, Chelsi and Robert’s sons Finn and Fletcher Barfield. He is also dearly missed by his lifelong friend Dr. Robert Harper and wife Mary.

Keith requested no public memorial service. In lieu of flowers, it was his wish that any memorial tributes be made in the form of donations to the McNeese State University Foundation for the Frazar Memorial Library. Online donations may be made at https://mcneesefoundation.org/giving-form/ – select “Frazar Memorial Library” from the designation list. Checks made payable to the McNeese Foundation may be mailed to: Box 91989, Lake Charles, LA 70609, with note “Keith Nabours” in the check’s memo line.