Melvin Joseph Thibodeaux

Melvin Joseph Thibodeaux, 78, of Lake Charles, LA died at 8:15 PM in a local care facility.

Mr. Thibodeaux was born January 15, 1935 in Branch, LA and lived most of his life in Lake Charles, LA. He worked as a roughneck for a number of years and later as a tug boat captain and truck driver, and most recently worked as a painter. He enjoyed cooking, fishing, hunting and wood carving; making his own sailboats and sharing them with his family.

Mr. Thibodeaux is survived by his companion and fiance'e, Mary Lois Elliott of Lake Charles; sons, John Paul Thibodeaux, John Carroll Thibodeaux and wife Stephanie, and Leveince Lee Thibodeaux and wife Joan, all of Albany, LA; daughter, Cathy McCarroll of Abbeville, LA; brother, Joseph Thibodeaux of Lake Charles; sisters, Elvena Marie Brison of Houston, TX, Betty Ogea of Lake Charles, Zelma Spell of Westlake, LA and Yvonne Johnson of Many, LA; twelve grandchildren; and eight great-grandchildren.

He was preceded in death by his parents, Olide and Azalee Thibodeaux; sisters, Rita Estes and Rena Lognion; and brothers, Martin, Elton, and T-Ray Thibodeaux.

His funeral service will be at 1:00 PM on Saturday, May 11, 2013 at the Johnson Funeral Home Chapel. Father Bennie Wego will officiate. Burial will follow in Prien Memorial Park. Visitation will be at the funeral home on Friday from 4:00 PM to 9:00 PM with a rosary at 6:00 PM and continue on Saturday from 8:00 AM until the start of the service.