John E. Sorrells, Jr., M.D., passed away Saturday, Dec.
5, 2020, in Lafayette, La., where he had been since evacuating for Hurricane Laura.
He was born in Lake Charles, La., on Sept. 26, 1937, he was 83 years old. He was a graduate of Lagrange High School and went to Louisiana College and
McNeese State University. He graduated Medical School at the Louisiana State University Medical Center in New Orleans, Louisiana in 1965. After completing medical school, he served in the United States Army as a Captain and was stationed in San
Antonio and later transferred to Shreveport, Louisiana. He then moved his family to his hometown of Lake Charles, Louisiana where he set up his solo Ophthalmology practice. He eventually joined the Eye Clinic of Lake Charles until he retired shortly
after the passing of his bellowed wife of 49 years, Marlene.
Dr. Sorrells was an avid outdoorsman who cherished passing on those traditions to his children, grandchildren and great grandchildren. He was also a musician and loved playing
the trumpet in the Lake Charles Community Band. He was a long-time member of the family at St. John’s Lutheran Church where he also played and sang in the choir. He was actively involved in Scouting and strived to live by the Scout Oath and Scout
Law.
Dr. Sorrels was preceded in death by his wife, Marlene Sorrells, his parents, Dr. John E. Sorrells and Bertha Gwin Sorrells, his brother, Robert Sorrells and his daughter-in-law, Donna Hannon Sorrells.
He is survived by his
sister, Gwin Sorrells Jones and her husband the Reverend Ross Jones. He is also survived by his children, grandchildren and great grandchildren. They are Cynthia Rice and her husband Jay Rice, John E. Sorrells, III, Teddy Paul Sorrells and his wife
Kelly Speed Sorrells. His grandchildren are Cynthia’s son Jason Barton and his wife Amanda Barton, Stephanie Dunker and her husband Jeremy Dunker, and Ted and Kelly’s sons Hayden Paul Sorrells and Ashton John Sorrells. His great grandchildren are
Jason and Amanda’s children Bryce Barton and Elyse Barton and Stephanie and Jeremy’s children Ethan Dunker and Abigale Dunker.
The family would like to thank their dear friend Barbara Marshall for her years of service with the family and
especially her care for dad. The family would also like to thank his recent caregivers, Travis Celestine, Karmyn Robertson, Nita Trailer and Mary Thibeaux along with the nurses and staff of St. Joseph’s Hospice. In lieu of flowers, the family asks
that you consider donating to the Lake Charles Community Band and/or St. John’s Lutheran Church.
Funeral service will be at 2 p.m. Saturday, Dec. 12, 2020, at Lake City Baptist Church under the direction of Johnson Funeral Home. The Rev.
Charles Miller will officiate. Interment will follow in Highland Memory Gardens. Visitation Saturday will be from 10 a.m. until the time of service in the funeral home.