Theodore "Ted" Trahan, Jr.

Theodore “Ted” Trahan, Jr., 90, passed away peacefully on Monday, May 27, 2024 in a Lake Charles hospital. He was born on January 20, 1934 in Johnson Bayou, Louisiana, to Theodore “Sid” Trahan, Sr., and Annie Romero Trahan.

After graduating from high school, Ted was drafted into the Army in 1956 and proudly served his country until 1962. His tours would take him to many countries including Germany and the Netherlands. After being honorably discharged, Ted returned home to begin a longtime career as a heavy equipment diesel mechanic. He also owned and operated multiple businesses in the oil and gas industry.

After retiring in 1997, Ted began his second career in 2004 in what would become to him the most rewarding and satisfying job he would have, serving as the groundskeeper and custodian at Bell City High School. He would continue this job for the next 18 years until his second retirement at the age of eighty-seven. Even into his eighties, he could be seen regularly on the tractor or lawn mower. He took great pride in maintaining the school grounds to keep the school campus in immaculate condition. “Mr. Ted,” as he was so commonly known to everyone at school, loved visiting with the faculty, staff and students each day. Mr. Ted was always an early riser and made sure there were multiple pots of fresh hot coffee ready for the staff when they arrived each morning.

Ted was a kind and gentle man who thoroughly enjoyed spending time with his family, and enjoyed going out to eat, especially seafood. In 2005 he purchased a camp on Toledo Bend near his brothers’ camps and enjoyed spending time with them reminiscing about the past. He loved spending time with his grandchildren and telling them stories. His most precious moments were spending time with his beloved wife of 48 years, the love of his life, Becky. After his second retirement in 2021, he could not wait for her to get home each day from work to ask her what took her so long to get home although she worked only 5 minutes away. He cherished her from the first day they met and they would spend the next 48 years of their life together.
Those left to cherish his memory are his beloved wife, Rebecca “Becky” Benoit Trahan; his sons, Randy (Delena) Nunez, Scott (Felisha) Nunez, and Bradley Trahan; and his daughter, Lori (Vince) Theriot; and his seven grandchildren; five great grandchildren; and his sisters, Linda (Ron) Vining, Elaine (Sonny) Carter, and Faye (Paul) Brier.

He was preceded in death by his parents; and his sister, Georgia (Kenneth) McRight; and his brothers, Nathan, Armand, and Carroll Trahan; his grandson, Jarrett Nunez; and his sister Leanna (Melvin) Broussard.

A Mass of Christian Burial will be celebrated at 10:00 AM on Friday, May 31, 2024 in Our Lady of Good Counsel Catholic Church, located at 221 Aqua Dr., Lake Charles, LA. Rev. Paul Jussen will serve as Celebrant. Burial will follow in Grand Lake Community Cemetery under the direction of Johnson Funeral Home of Lake Charles. Visitation will be at the funeral home, located at 4321 Lake Street, beginning at 4:00 PM on Thursday evening and continuing until 8:00 PM, with a rosary being recited at 6:00 PM. Visitation will resume on Friday morning at 9:00 AM and continue until leaving in procession to the church.

Pallbearers will be Kane Nunez, Jason Leonards, Aaron Montgomery, Kullen Mancil, Marvin Trahan and Michael Lewis.

The family would like to give special thanks and gratitude to the many great nurses and staff at Lake Charles Memorial Hospital including Dr. Kohler, Dr. Courville, Dr. Choucino, and Dr. Broussard.