Ernest Lilton Leleaux

Ernest Lilton LeLeaux passed away on Saturday, October 20, 2012 at the age of 83. He lived only seven days following his wife Fran's passing on Saturday, October 13, 2012. It is our belief they are together on a heavenly bayou catching big white perch. Ernie's fish would be the biggest but Fran is catching four to his one. May your shiner buckets always be full and the stringer heavy. We love you PawPaw and Nina!

Ernie was a native of Southwest Louisiana, born in the community of Manchester in 1928 at the beginning of the Great Depression. He worked the farm along side his nine brothers and sisters. As a child he was known as Lilton or Luke. Drafted into the Army, Ernie served as a drill instructor at Ft. Leonard Wood, Missouri during the Korean War. Upon discharge from the Army, he worked in Memphis and met and married his wife of 58 years Fran. Together they lived and worked in Chicago for Mars Candy Company moving home to Lake Charles in 1964. Ernie and Fran owned and operated Stop N Shop Grocery at the corner of Lake and McNeese Streets for 30 years. Ernie worked hard and enjoyed himself fishing and spoiling dem' babies, his term of endearment for his grandchildren and great-grandchildren.

Those left to honor his memory are his two sons Stephen LeLeaux and wife Cindy of Lake Charles, Mark LeLeaux and wife Susan of Lake Charles; seven grandchildren, Ashlee LeLeaux Milazzo and husband Joe of Katy, Texas, Amanda LeLeaux Hilliard and husband Trey of Lake Charles, Laura LeLeaux Briley and husband Dusty of Lake Charles, Bryan LeLeaux and Olivia Schmaltz of Lake Charles, Arinn LeLeaux Helms and husband Josh of Lake Charles, Zachary LeLeaux of Lake Charles, Grace LeLeaux of Lake Charles; eight great-grandchildren, Kirston Mitchell, Kassidy Mitchell, Campbell Lemons, Jade Briley, NormaGail Dedear, Adeline Thibodeaux, Dylinn Thibodeaux, and Kainen Hilliard. His sisters, Theresa LeBouef of Lake Charles, Myrna Romine and husband Floyd of Lake Charles, Lorraine McRight of Glenmora, and Audrey Panek of Elk Grove, Illinois.

His Funeral Mass will be at 10:00 AM, Tuesday, October 23, 2012 at Our Lady Queen of Heaven Catholic Church. Reverend John Huckaby will officiate. Burial will be in Consolata Cemetery under the direction of Johnson Funeral Home. Visitation will be from 5:00 PM until 8:00 PM, Monday, and continue from 8:00 AM until 9:30 AM Tuesday in the funeral home.