Pat Evans

Born in Nonacourt, France and bearing the name Rose Lucienne Augustine Guincestre, she later in life became known best as Lake Charles ’beloved Mrs. Pat. At only 18, she met United States Airforce Serviceman, Tim Evans. They married in France and had their first child before moving to the United States. She left her beloved France, for a new country that she would come to call home and a life that she would build with her husband with hard work, her incredible spirit and zest for life and of course, her love of people. While she left France and was only able to return once, France never left her heart and of course her precious French accent that earned her the various nicknames she carried, including the very special nickname her great grandbabies gave her, “Mawmaw French”.

While she had no formal education past high school, she taught herself to read, write and speak English. She was born to lead and a strong woman who was never scared of rolling up her sleeves and working hard. She owned and operated three successful businesses in Lake Charles over a 40 year span – La Normandie Lounge, Dave’s Oyster House & Grill, and Mrs. Pat’s Pub & Deli. It is during that time that she became known as Lake Charles ’beloved Mrs. Pat. However, at this time she was also a wife, mother and grandmother and great grandmother to those she held most dear. Her three children, Paulina, Penny and Dave, all followed her into the restaurant business and continue to honor her legacy and commitment to our beloved Lake Charles through Luna Bar & Grill and NinaP’s Café.

She loved her friends and they certainly loved her, but the great love of her life was her family. While she worked long hours each week to provide a wonderful life for her family, a life that she could have only dreamed of as a child living in war-torn France, she never missed a beat with her family. Attending every birth, birthday, baptism, confirmation, countless ball games, dance recitals, weddings, and more special events than we can mention, she truly shined as the family matriarch. She also loved Sundays where family and friends gathered to eat and dance from lunch until the sun went down. She loved to cook her amazing “French dinner” which was never offered in her restaurants and reserved only for her family where she would set a beautiful table for us to gather and indulge in the meal she prepared with so much love.

After losing her first husband, Tim, whom she was married to for 35 years, she married Marty Gillert, whom she affectionately referred to as “My Marty”. Together with their pups, Maggie and Fifi, they shared the last 25 years together which was filled with mawmaw’s good food, a lot of fun and of course

an incredible amount of love that they shared. Marty gave her so much care and love through her years with Alzheimers and in her final few days, he never left her side.

She was an exceptional woman and she lived an exceptional life. She danced, smiled, laughed and loved her way through this beautiful, yet heartbreaking thing called life. She deeply loved her family and friends with her whole heart. She gave herself and her entire life to enriching her family and friends and she left us all with the gift of learning to dance in the rain. While her journey ends here on earth, we know it begins in heaven where one day we will here that beautiful French accent as she exclaims “my baby” and runs to greet us where we will have hugs and kisses from her for eternity.

Those left to cherish her memory are, her husband, Martin “Marty” Gillert; her children, Paulina Evans Siebarth (Jud) and Dave Evans (Nanette); her son in law, Mike Fontenot; her step-children, Sarah Gergen and Pete Gillert; her grandchildren, Tiffany Ashley, Nikki LaFuria, Fallon Witherwax, Devin Fontenot, Darbi Fontenot, Derek Fontenot, Cassidy Evans, Ella Evans and Ian Evans; along with 12 great grandchildren.

She was preceded in death by her parents, Eugene and Julienne Augustine Guincestre, her husband, Timothy D. Evans and her daughter, Penny Evans Fontenot.

Pat’s funeral service will be held at 1:00 PM on Wednesday, January 17, 2024 in the Johnson Funeral Home of Lake Charles Chapel. Deacon Harold Nixon will officiate. Burial will follow in Consolata Cemetery under the direction of Johnson Funeral Home. Visitation will be at the funeral home on Wednesday from 10:00 AM until the start of the service at 1:00 PM.