J.T. Platt

James Thomas Platt, Sr., 93, of Lake Charles passed away on Tuesday, January 26, 2021 in Baton Rouge.

A native of Monroe, J.T. was a longtime resident of Lake Charles. He, and his wife Auty, were longtime members of First Baptist Church of Lake Charles where he was a deacon and a choir member for many years. He was very active in the community and served on the Library Board for Calcasieu Parish. He also served for a time on the Board of Trustees of Louisiana College.

At the age of 17, he worked on building the USS Orlick which is docked in Lake Charles. Then studied drafting at Louisiana Tech and was certified as an architect by correspondence courses. He was an architect and designed numerous buildings and homes in south Louisiana and Lake Charles, including the Lake Charles Civic Center. One home he designed started out as ideas on a napkin. Another was designed for friends who lost their home in a fire. That same design was used again as the backbone of a new house for his daughter and her husband.

Preceding J.T. in death are his parents, Robert Walter and Lelia Mae Byargeon Platt, as well as his 8 siblings. He leaves to honor and cherish his memory, his wife, Auty Leach Platt, Lake Charles; two sons, J.T. Platt, Jr., Vancouver, B.C.; and Tim Platt and his wife, Angi, Farmers Branch, Texas; two daughters, Nona Platt, Glendale, Utah; and Debbie Harris and her husband, Buddy, Orange, TX, and numerous grandchildren and great grandchildren and nieces, nephews and extended family.

He went by many names: JT, Sweetheart, Daddy, Dad, Pops, Uncle JT, Uncle J, Pappaw, and Sugardoodles. His favorite, by far was Pappaw. He loved his grandkids and great grandkids. They made him smile.

He had a season coaching a little league baseball team, the Packers. Never won a game but they had a lot of fun.

J.T. and Auty were band boosters for several years while three of their children were band members at Lake Charles High School. Never missed a game. And they attended all the all-class reunions up until last year. Although they never attended LCHS, they were Wildcat fans through and through.

He was a jokester and loved telling jokes, especially Boudreaux and Thibodeaux jokes. His kids were amused growing up.

J.T. was a loving, caring, and giving man. You can tell that by the people that loved him, not just his family.

As to J.T.’s wishes, his remains were cremated under the direction of Johnson Funeral Home of Lake Charles. Due to the pandemic, no immediate gathering or memorial service is planned.