BELL CITY — Barbara Erin Gahn Theriot, born June 10, 1924, daughter of Robert and Fannie Singleton Gahn, passed away in a local hospital, Saturday, Oct. 8, 2022, at the age of 98.
Barbara graduated from Mamou High School and Southwestern Louisiana Institute. She was a teacher in Evangeline parish for three years, one of those years in which she was principal. She moved to Bell City and taught at Hayes Elementary and Bell City High School for 20 and a half years. During her years in education, she served as the Elementary 4-H leader, Director of program activities for PTA, and was the Honorary Mother of the FHA. Her love for her community and Bell City High continued far beyond her retirement years. She was also a member and former president of the Calcasieu Parish Library Board.
Barbara, or Maw, as many knew her, was very devoted to her family and extended family and loved spoiling them all, including her “adopted grandkids” at Bell City High School. She enjoyed watching and supporting her grandchildren and great-grandchildren in all of their endeavors and was extremely proud and supportive of all Bell City High School academics and athletics.
She was a faithful member of St. John Vianney Catholic Church in Bell City, where she served as Eucharistic Minister for many years, and Our Lady Queen of Heaven in Lake Charles. She and her husband spent the last 3 years at Villa Maria Retirement Home where she loved having her family visit, praying the rosary, and going to the chapel. The family wishes to thank the caring staff and residents at Villa Maria for their loving care and support as well as Memorial Hospital ER and ICU.
Barbara is survived by her three daughters, Kathy (John) Hicks, Margo (Glenn) Hoffpauir, and Beth (Bill) Compton; sisters-in-law, Adelaide Gahn, Ida Myrle Aucoin, Emma Lou Theriot; nine grandchildren, Laura Waller, Erin Hudson, Stephanie (Stephen) Slagle, TJ (Laura) Hoffpauir, Katy (Rhea) Shields, Amy (Brian) Treme, Sara Compton, Jessica (Jeff) Aguillard, Roby (Shellie) Compton; 20 great-grandchildren; numerous nieces and nephews.
She was preceded in death by her parents, husband of 73 years, Clarence Theriot; siblings, Robert Gahn Jr. (Elda Mae, Marie), Dennis Gahn (Jeanne), Tommy Gahn (Ethelie), Terry Gahn (Beverly), Roland Gahn; brothers-in- law, Dennis Theriot Jr., Sidney Theriot, Herman Theriot, Raymond Aucoin, and Rheagan Shields (great-granddaughter).
A Mass of Christian burial will be held on Thursday, Oct. 13, 2022, at 11 a.m. in St. John Vianney Catholic Church, Bell City, the Rev. John Payne, Celebrant. Burial will follow in Lorrain Derouen Cemetery under the direction of Johnson & Brown Funeral Home of Iowa. The Rosary will begin at 9 a.m. with visitation to follow. Pall bearers will be Paul Gahn, Joey Gahn, Rhea Shields, TJ Hoffpauir, Brian Treme, Don Aucoin, Roby Compton, Jeff Aguillard, and Phil Aucoin. Honorary pallbearers will be her great grandchildren.
In lieu of flowers, donations can be made to St. John Vianney Catholic Church, St. Nicholas Center for Children, or charity of your choice.
Words of comfort may be shared at: www.johnsonandbrownfuneralhome.com
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