Michael Daniel Giles

Michael D. Giles, 79, of Lake Charles, passed away on Friday, April 11, 2025. He was born in Lake Charles on July 21, 1945, but traveled the United States as an Air Force brat until the family returned to Lake Charles for good in 1961.

From his father, he inherited a love of duck hunting and anything water-related. He worked as a lifeguard in young years and was scuba diving even before being old enough to certify. He and his dad brought a boat up that sank in Lake Charles and enjoyed it for many years after.

After LaGrange high school, he worked as an Operator at Cities Service as well as enlisting in the Army National Guard for a term of 6 years. He went to Waco, TX and studied radiology as well as getting his private pilot's license. He started off his real-life careers as Director of Radiology at St. Patrick's hospital, back when the first big machines came to town. He didn't care much for management, so he returned to school and earned his Chemical Engineering degree at McNeese. He moved up to Ohio with Westvaco Paper company. Not a bad place, but not home, so when he had the opportunity to move back to Louisiana, he jumped on it. From engineering, he moved on to an antique shop then his ultimate love, Mike's Dive Center. He was a certified Underwater Naturalist, Underwater Photographer, Night Diver, Equipment Specialist and Search & Recovery Diver. He led many dive groups down to a little piece of heaven called Coco View Resort in Roatan, home to the world's second largest barrier reef. He enjoyed diving until he retired and took up partying with the Krewe of Noblesse. He had so much fun with Mardi Gras, over the years serving as a Duke and then as King.

Through it all, though, he continued his love of duck hunting with family and friends. When illness started making it difficult for him to get to hunt, he was pampered by cousins Glen Ward, Tommy St. Romain, Thomas St. Romain and numerous other St. Romain men. He loved and appreciated them all dearly.

Through the last 30 years, he had one very special, loyal woman by his side. Shirley Witherwax was there to take care of him when needed, party with him when possible (until she wore him out), and basically just spoil him rotten. He was blessed to have her.

He was a member of numerous clubs (had the cowboy chaps and everything) and was a proud member of the Marine Corps League of Louisiana. He was honored to be part of 21-gun salutes at veterans funerals.

He was preceded in death by his sister, Meleene Giles, his parents, Melvin and Charleene Ward Giles, his nephew Adam Brasher, and brother-in-law David Erickson. Left to wonder what to do with all his treasures are his sisters Melinda Erickson of France, Melissa (Missy) Giles of Lake Charles, nephew Matthew Erickson (Julie) of Pensacola, Fl, Danielle LeContre (Fabrice) of France, and Lauren Stutler (Christopher) of Spring, TX.

A public viewing will begin at 5:00 PM and last until 7:00PM Thursday, April 17, 2025, at Johnson Funeral Home, 4321 Lake St. Lake Charles, LA. 70605. The Funeral Service will take place, Friday, April 18, 2025, at 10:00 AM at Johnson Funeral Home, where friends and family are invited to celebrate his life. Cremation services will follow the funeral at a later date.