Michael Lawrence Sowell

“So, God Made A Farmer”

Michael Lawrence Sowell, 54, of Lacassine passed away Sunday, June 27, 2021 in the comfort of his home.

Mr. Sowell was a native of Kilbourne, LA, lived most of his life in North Louisiana and in 2006 made Lacassine, LA his home.  He was a graduate of Kilbourne High School where he was a talented baseball player.  Following graduation, he studied at Louisiana Tech University.  He worked doing what he loved, farming his family land; made up primarily of Sweet Potatoes, Cotten, Soybeans, various fruits and vegetables.  He worked these fields for more than twenty years.  Mr. Sowell later worked for JP Morgan Chase and Company where he received an award for Outstanding Performance.  Upon his move to Southwest Louisiana, he began his career as a temp working his way to management and into a Supervisor position for Motion Industries, formerly, Drago Supplies.  He was an avid outdoorsman, enjoyed gardening, camping, RVing, hunting and grilling.  Amongst his greatest times was his annual birthday festival event, the Cochon de Lait cook alongside his husband and father-in-law, at his sister’s house on the bay.  Mr. Sowell was a unique man of tradition, strong verbal opinion and dry sense of humor.  He will be most remembered for his kind heart and beautiful blue eyes.

He leaves to honor his memory, husband of  21 years, Branden Ardoin of Lacassine; mother, Dianne Bye Sowell of Kilbourne; two sisters, Sonja Bradford (Gary) of Kilbourne and Mitzie Sowell (Mary McCollum) of Gulf Breeze, FL; nieces, Kinley Bradford and Madilyn Bradford; great-nephew, Jack Bradford; mother-in-law, Theresa Goudeau Ardoin of Round Rock, TX; two sisters-in-law, Jillian Ardoin (Alejandro Ruiz) and Lindsey Ardoin of Round Rock, TX; nieces-in-law, Kaiya Ruiz and Amelia Orvis and  nephew-in-law, Ronan Ardoin.

He was preceded in death by his father, James Edward “Jim” Sowell; father-in-law, Frank Joseph Ardoin; paternal grandparents, J.C. and Eunice Sowell and maternal grandparents, Leslie and Edna Bye.

Memorial services will be at 12:00 PM Saturday, July 03, 2021 at Water’s Edge Gathering Church under the direction of Johnson Funeral Home.  Reverend Tony Bourque will officiate.  A gathering of his family in friends will be from 10:00 AM until the time of service in the church.

Memorial donations may be made to the Water’s Edge Food Pantry at 2760 Power Center Pkwy, Lake Charles, LA 70607 or watersedgegathering.com/give.