Melinda Antoon Cormier passed from this world on Wednesday, Oct. 19, 2022.
Her professional career as an artist began in high school when she sold her first painting, however her deep fascination with art began literally at birth. She painted under the name M. Antoon in homage to her family, who encouraged and fostered those early artistic efforts.
Born in El Dorado, Ark., to the late Beckie and James J. Antoon Jr. Melinda earned her BFA from Louisiana Tech. She, and her late first husband Myron McFillen, operated a pioneering fine art gallery in SWLA for 16 years. She taught art privately, through the public school systems, and at McNeese State University. She helped create the Artisans’ Gallery, was curator-installer at the Imperial Calcasieu Museum, and worked extensively with designers, other artists, and many arts and cultural organizations. Her own body of work includes pieces in watercolor, acrylic, pastel, multimedia assemblage. Her pieces can be found in private, public and corporate collections all over the U.S., in Canada, in Mexico and in France.
Melinda lived the creative life to its fullest and embraced the beauty of light, color and shadow in art. She cherished her childhood in Arkansas exploring the natural beauty of the outdoors. Nature in all its shapes and forms inspired much of her work. Her joy and creative energy engaged her friends and acquaintances; she did not know a stranger, and was friend to all. Her cheerful nature and engaging personality would brighten any day. She was cherished in life and will be missed by many.
She leaves her husband of 19 years, author and historian Adley Cormier of Lake Charles. She leaves her Antoon family, James Joseph Antoon III and his wife Marsha of El Dorado, Ark., and Jon Marcus Antoon and his wife Cathy of Conway, Ark. She leaves her niece, Clair Antoon Newton, her husband Greg and their son Graham; nephews, Foster Antoon, and James J Antoon IV and his wife Shelley and their children.
She leaves her McFillen/Wittler family, Terry McFillen and wife Alice, Amy and Amanda McFillen, David Edwards and his children, Mike Wittler and his wife Lurchel and their daughters. She leaves her friend from college days, Ken Mackey; and her “sisters-in-spirit,” Catherine Hart, Caroline Molitor Guilott, Leslie Berman, Susan Miller, Cindy Washington and Carolyn Woosley.
Visitation will be Saturday, Oct. 22, at Johnson Funeral Home, 4321 Lake Street, Lake Charles, La., from 1 p.m. to 5 p.m. An “I remember Melinda” memorial hour will begin at 4 p.m. with Joy Pace as moderator. A second visitation will be scheduled in El Dorado, Ark., at a future date.
In lieu of flowers, memorials may be directed to the Hurricane Recovery efforts of the Lake Charles Little Theatre founded 1926; 813 Enterprise Boulevard, Lake Charles, LA 70601.
Words of comfort to the family may be expressed at www.johnsonfuneralhome.net.