Gladys Whatley

Gladys Geneva LeBlanc Whatley, 92, passed away at 4:24 AM on Monday, October 3, 2022 in a local care facility.

Mrs. Whatley was born January 9, 1930 in Gueydan, LA, lived in the Lake Charles / Moss Bluff areas from 1949 until moving to Vinton in 2006.  She was a longtime member of St. Theodore Catholic Church.  She, along with her husband, were charter members of the CFMA for over forty years, where she enjoyed teaching others to Cajun dance.  She enjoyed sewing and was an excellent seamstress, making many outfits for her family and for Mardi Gras festivities.  Mrs. Whatley was a member of the Krewe de Les Cajuns, where she served as queen numerous times.  She also enjoyed camping and began the Cajun Campers group.  She enjoyed breeding Pugs for several years and had a lifelong love of hunting and fishing.   For a number of years, Mrs. Whatley provided in-home childcare, but her true passion in life was always for her family.

Mrs. Whatley is survived by her sons, Joe Adams (Dianne) of Moss Bluff, Michael Whatley (Dianna) of Athens, TN, and Kenneth Whatley (Tina) of Reeves; daughter-in-law, Ramona Whatley of Vinton, LA; brothers, Herbert LeBlanc (Melba), Clifford LeBlanc (Laura) and Wilbert “T-Will” LeBlanc (Ginger); sister-in-law, Peola LeBlanc, all of Kaplan, LA; fourteen grandchildren; thirty-three great-grandchildren; and one great-great-grandchild.

She was preceded in death by her husband of fifty-six years, Eugene Whatley; parents, Jeneus and Estelle LeBlanc; son, Thomas Wayne Whatley; brother, Floyd LeBlanc; sisters, Jeanette Hardy and Jane Landry; and grandchildren, Tessa Adams, David Adams, and Garry Shuff.

Her Funeral Mass will be held at 1:00 PM on Friday, October 7, 2022 at St. Theodore Catholic Church.  Father Aubrey Guilbeau will officiate.  Burial will follow in Ritchie Cemetery in Moss Bluff.  Visitation will be at Johnson Funeral Home of Moss Bluff on Thursday from 4:00 PM to 9:00 PM, with a Cursillo Rosary at 6:30 PM.  Visitation will continue on Friday at the funeral home from 10:00 AM to 12:45 PM.

The family would like to extend a special word of thanks to Harbor Hospice and to High Hope Care Center for the excellent care and compassion given.