John Dee Becton

John Dee Becton, 62, of Lake Charles died at 2:00 AM on Wednesday, August 17, 2011 in a local care facility.

Mr. Becton was born in New Orleans, LA on June 9, 1949. He was raised in Westlake where he was a graduate of Westlake High School. He then moved to Moss Bluff where he lived for the next 30 years. After graduating, he served in the U.S. Navy from 1967 to 1969, having served in the Vietnam War aboard the USS Weiss.

In his younger years, Mr. Becton worked as an operator at Firestone before being employed by the Westlake Police Department. He started his career with the Calcasieu Parish Sheriff Department in 1975 on patrol and moved to detective in burglary and theft in 1976 then became the supervisor of the narcotics division until 1986 before becoming the owner and operator of Becton Investigative Services from 1986 until 2004. Mr. Becton returned to the sheriff department in 2004 as a detective in Vice until 2008, when he retired.

He co-wrote "Louisiana Law RS2005", which calls for the licensing of a private investigator in the state of Louisiana. Mr. Becton was a member of the National Association of Legal Investigators and a past President of the Louisiana Private Investigators Association from which he received the Louisiana Private Investigator of the Year award.

He was an avid hunter and bass fisherman and was a member of the Big Cypress Bass Hustlers and the Lake Charles Archery Club. He especially enjoyed the time he spent with his family and grandchildren.

Those left to cherish his memory are his loving wife, Linda Baier Becton of Moss Bluff; three children, Wendy Becton of Moss Bluff, John Briggs Becton of Westlake, and Mark Edgous Becton and wife Kristia of Moss Bluff; and two grandchildren, Carolyn "Niki" Lee of Moss Bluff and John Michael Becton of Westlake.

He was preceded in death by his parents, Ethel and Rev. Alfred Dee Becton.

Funeral services will be held at 10:00 AM on Saturday, August 20, 2011 in the Johnson Funeral Home Chapel. The Rev. Luke Liechty will officiate. Burial will be in Magnolia Cemetery in Westlake, LA. Visitation will be on Friday from 11:00 AM until 9:00 PM and will continue on Saturday from 8:00 AM until time of services.