Felicia Ann Smith, 62 years old, passed away Saturday, Jan. 14, 2023. She was born on March 9, 1960, to Bobby Gene and Tollie Young Gillard in Lake Charles, La., and remained a life-long resident of Southwest Louisiana.
Felicia graduated from LaGrange High School and served as branch manager and loan officer for many years. She received national recognition for her outstanding performance over the course of her career. She attended St. Theodore Catholic Church in Moss Bluff, La.
She enjoyed the outdoors and especially enjoyed boating in the lakes and rivers near her home. Later, she developed a passion for crochet. Her friends and family will certainly cherish her intricately crafted gifts. She passed this skill onto her daughters. She loved plants, flowers and outdoor photography. She truly loved the holidays and gatherings with family and friends. In particular, she looked forward to gift giving. She still wrapped and mailed everything herself.
She loved the beach and cherished memories of times spent along the Gulf of Mexico. Her favorite place to travel, however, was along the Southern Coast of California, in particular, Catalina Island.
Felicia loved her family fiercely. She was a huge supporter and protector of her children, who were the center of her life. She was so very proud of her children and grandchildren. She was very close to her parents. Felicia was witty, vibrant, smart, and confident. She had a strong presence and could always make you laugh, even when she wasn’t well. This strength and humor accompanied her to the end.Those left to cherish her memory are, her parents; her son, Kevin Reeves (Jessica); her daughters, Angela Reeves-Abitbol (Dave) and Dr. Dawn Weiss (Randy); her grandchildren, Kane, Jace and Jackson Reeves, Hunter Thibodeaux, and Nora Weiss; and her brother, Bobby Gillard Jr. (Sandra).
A Mass of Christian Burial will be celebrated at 10:30 a.m. on Thursday, Jan. 19, 2023, at St. Theodore Catholic Church in Moss Bluff. Father Aubrey Guilbeau will serve as Celebrant. Burial will follow in Whittaker Cemetery under the direction of Johnson Funeral Home. Visitation will be at Johnson Funeral Home of Lake Charles on Wednesday, Jan. 18, 2023, from 5 p.m. until 7 p.m. with a rosary being recited at 6 p.m. Visitation will resume on Thursday morning at St. Theodore Catholic Church from 9:30 until the start of the funeral mass at 10:30 a.m.
Words of comfort to the family may be expressed at www.johnsonfuneralhome.net.