Jimmy Fontenot

James B. “Jimmy” Fontenot, 64, was called to his heavenly home on Wednesday, May 4, 2022, following a bravely fought battle with cancer.  Jimmy was born and raised in Lake Charles, LA, where he graduated from Barbe High School in 1975. With his love for sports, Jimmy grew up playing baseball, basketball, and football. Small in stature, he was fast as lightening. At Barbe, he played on the varsity basketball team all four years.

Jimmy attended McNeese State where he pledged Kappa Sig. He stayed an extra two years to ensure his fraternity brothers were okay and so he could continue to play rec ball. There, he met the love of his life, Donna, known by his brothers as Donna Belle. After graduating, the two tied the knot. Two of Jimmy’s greatest joys were his girls, Katy and Kelly. Jimmy coached their softball teams, hosted slumber parties, always made sure the pantry was stocked for their friends and made sure they knew they were his hero. Jimmy was a city boy with the beach being one of his favorite places on earth, but he also learned to embrace his country roots at his in-laws’ ranch out in West, Texas. Some of the family’s best memories were made at both.

Jimmy worked at Northrop Grumman as Senior Principal Quality Analyst. He was there for 30 years. Having to wear more hats than one, he made sure everyone was treated fairly and with respect. His coworkers became family, and his family is forever grateful for the love and support they have shown them.

Jimmy’s four grandchildren made his last seven years the best!  Known as “Burt,” he filled their time together with as much fun as any child could have. He finally got his boys and the girls had him wrapped around their fingers.

Jimmy will be greatly missed, but he has left a legacy to all he knew that can’t be matched. When you hear loud music, watch an LSU game, or go to the beach; his family asks that you celebrate him and live your life to the fullest.

Those left to mourn his loss and cherish his memory are his loving wife of almost forty years, Donna Jones Fontenot; two daughters, Katy Fontenot Miller and husband Jason and Kelly Fontenot Campbell and husband Dayne, all of Lake Charles; his mother, Carrie Fontenot Richard and husband Lee; his mother-in-law, Ida Mae Bouquet Jones; four grandchildren, Griffin James Miller, Nora Beth Miller, Sadie Mae Campbell, and Cohen Scott  Campbell; two sisters, Donna Babineaux and husband Ronnie of Lake Charles and Cheryl Spreafico and husband Bill of Gluckstadt, Mississippi; nieces, Bethany Ellender and husband Derrick and Kami Gentry and husband Monte, all also of Lake Charles; three nephews, Michael Spreafico and wife Elizabeth of Union, Mississippi, Tony Spreafico and wife Lori of Madison, Mississippi, and John Spreafico and wife Reagan of Oxford, Mississippi; and beloved great nieces and nephews.

He was preceded in death by his father, Burtney Fontenot; his father-in-law, Gerald Desmond Jones; his brother-in-law, Lee Matthew Jones; and two nieces, Allison Hollingsworth and Laurie Ann Spreafico.

A Mass of Christian Burial will be held at 1:00 p.m. on Friday, May 6, 2022, at Our Lady Queen of Heaven Catholic Church under the direction of Johnson Funeral Home.  Msgr. Daniel Torres will officiate, and Father Nathan Long will concelebrate.  A rosary will be recited at the funeral home at 10 a.m., followed by visitation from 10:30 a.m. until 12:20 p.m., at which time a eulogy will be given prior to leaving for the church.  The family encourages friends who will be joining them at services to wear purple and gold or anything LSU in memory of Jimmy and his love for “the purple and gold.”  Cremation will be entrusted to Johnson Funeral Home.

Pallbearers will be Michael Spreafico, Tony Spreafico, John Spreafico, Monte Gentry, Derrick Ellender; Scott Liggio, Kim Martin, and Bryan Stutes.  Honorary pallbearers will be Dayne Campbell, Jason Miller and Jake Garland.

The family would like to express their grateful appreciation for the compassionate care given their beloved Jimmy to his awesome hospice nurses, Katherine DeVillier and Callie East from Amedysis Hospice, to the dedicated staff of The Gift Sitter Agency, and to Boudreaux’s Drugs and Carmichael’s Medical Equipment for their faithful service during the time of Jimmy’s illness.