Cecil Luke Raggio

Cecil Luke Raggio, 92, of Groves, passed away peacefully on Tuesday, July 12, 2011 at his home with family by his side. He was born on January 7, 1919 to Charles and Lily LaCour Raggio in Lafayette, LA.

Cecil served in the Army Air Force during WWII as a B-29 Tailgunner. He married Mary Manuel in 1969 and they moved to Sabine Pass in a home that Cecil had built. The two lived in Sabine Pass until 2008 when they moved to Groves. Cecil retired from Gulf in 1979 as an Electrician Foreman after 39 years of service. He was a member of St. James Catholic Church and he loved to fish, hunt, garden, raise cattle after he retired, any type of carpentry work and enjoyed anything outdoors. He was a very hard worker and put his all into everything he worked on. He was the President of the Fraternal Order of Eagles in 1989 and 1990.

Cecil is preceded in death by his parents; first wife, Clotilde Broussard Raggio; 5 brothers and 1 sister.

His survivors include his wife, Mary Raggio of Groves; 3 daughters, Carole and husband John Faulk of Port Arthur, Clo Ellen and husband Michael Montondon of Port Arthur, Connie and husband Dr. David Strauss of Victoria; 3 sons, Jerome Vidrine and wife Sande of Cottageville, WV, John Vidrine and wife Linda of Orange, Jacob Vidrine and wife Tonya of LaBelle; 12 grandchildren; 14 great grandchildren and 2 great great grandchildren.

A Gathering of his Family and Friends will be held on Thursday, July 14, 2011 from 5:00 p.m. until 8:00 p.m. with a rosary being recited at 6:00 p.m. in the Grammier-Oberle Funeral Home Chapel, Port Arthur.

A Mass of Christian Burial will be at 2:00 p.m. on Friday, July 15, 2011 at St. James Catholic Church with entombment following at Greenlawn Memorial Park under the direction of Grammier-Oberle Funeral Home, Port Arthur.

The family would like to express a kind word of thanks to the staff of Odyssey Hospice with special recognition to April, Terri, James, Nan, Trisha and Amber. We appreciate the loving and special care you gave our loved one.

In lieu of flowers, the family suggests that memorials be made to Hughen School, 2849 Ninth Avenue, Port Arthur, TX, 77642.