Catherine Marie Trahan

Today we celebrate the life of Catherine Marie Trahan who went home to be with her Lord and Savior on Thursday, June 13, 2019. She was the widow of Danous Trahan of Vinton, whom she married in 1946 and who died in 1988, and the mother of one daughter, Mary Trahan, now Mary Makarios, who resides in Los Angeles, California.

Born in Sulphur, Louisiana, on Nov 5, 1928, to Clen Sonnier and Mary Ann O’Brien Sonnier, Marie had one older brother, Joseph G Sonnier, who later earned a doctorate in education and was also over 90 when he passed away only a few years ago. She also had a baby sister named Ava June, who died in infancy.

Upon marrying Dan, Marie became an Air Force wife and traveled widely because of his military assignments, living in England, Japan, Turkey, Florida, North Dakota, Texas, and Michigan, making lifelong friends especially while living in Izmir, Turkey. When Dan retired from the Air Force, he and Marie returned to his native Vinton to live, later moving to Lake Charles and building a camp on Longville Lake.

After Dan’s death, she moved permanently to the cabin, which was virtually destroyed by a fallen tree during Hurricane Rita. That was a life-altering event for her. In a good way! She had been taken under the wing of James and Lucy Barrow, who she attended First Baptist Church of Longville with for a number of years. Lucy arranged for her to stay at the home of her parents, Robert and Norma Burleigh, in Ragley. After six months, she bought a mobile home that was kept on their beautiful country property just across the yard from them. She attended the nearby St. Pius X Catholic Church.

She passed away in the tender care of Robert and Norma Burleigh, after living with them again for six months as her health declined. Truly they, along with their children James and Lucy Barrow, Corey and Peggy Burleigh, Stephanie and Donny Leger, Gracie and Martin Torres, and Marshall and Kassie Burleigh, plus 14 grandchildren and three great grandchildren, became her second family. They embraced her with love and increasing support as she grew older and eventually fell ill with a series of mini-strokes and then breast cancer. They delighted her in so many ways and they appreciated her for who she was. She in turn loved them all and doted on the youngsters. She always did love children.

Marie was known for her fondness for travel; for her lovely soprano singing voice, which she contributed to church choirs whenever she could take part; and for her beautiful handicrafts (especially crochet). She also enjoyed assembling jigsaw puzzles, her favorite subjects being those with Christian or patriotic themes. She had a simple faith and a strong trust in God. Most of all, He blessed her with a loving and generous heart and many dear friends to fill it over the years.

She is survived by her daughter, that beautiful second family described above, her sister-in-law Betty Sonnier, several sisters-and brothers-in-law on her husband’s side of the family, as well as numerous nieces and nephews and several godchildren.

Services will at Hixson Funeral Home of Moss Bluff on Friday, June 14, 2019 at 3:00pm, with Rev. Stuart Graves officiating. Visitation will be on Friday at the funeral home from 1:00pm until the time of the service. A Rosary will be at 2:00pm, before the service begins. Burial will follow at Magnolia Cemetery in Ragley. Words of comfort may be shared with the family at www.hixsonfuneralhomes.com.

In Loving Memory of my Mom