Obituary

You only live once…but if you do it right, once is enough.

His Beginnings

Our beloved John Odel Meche was born to the parents of Tilman and Loretta Meche on August 28, 1963, in Lafayette, LA.  On Monday, September 25, 2023, God in accordance to his sovereign plan called John home.

It was apparent that John Odel was a special child.  He was gifted and talented with many talents.  He played accordion with awesome confidence.  He made his bass guitar talk and dance.  The keyboard was one of his favorites.

Odel was a lifelong devout catholic. His personality and infectious laugh warmed the hearts of many and once he got you laughing the more jokes he told.  He always had something good to tell everyone. He enjoyed the simplicity of life, never to go above his means.

His Education and Career

John Odel attended elementary school in Lake Charles at Ray D. Molo Middle and Marion High School.  He graduated in 1982 from Marion High. After completing high school he acquired the trade of pipefitting.  Pipefitting was not enough for Odel, he then enrolled in cosmetology and barber school at Stage One.  After graduating from Stage One, he became self-employed at Meche's Salon where he was the barber.  He kept the senior mothers looking good with their old school roller set hair styles.  He was a dedicated entrepreneur.  He did not take much time off from work and his clients were so loyal to him.  He also had much respect for his client who kept his doors open.  He was a very proud and private person.

Blessed Life

After accomplishing his God given talents, he married his high school sweetheart, Sara Pat Ethridge and to this union two children were born, Ashley Renee, the apple of her parents eye and Lil John (Baby John).  Without a doubt Ashley was a daddy's girl.  Odel loved Ashley and wanted nothing but the best for her.  Life lessons were always shared and taught to her.  Celebrating others became natural for Odel.  John loved life and people.  He had a great love for music and often set up his instruments and had his own musical.  He enjoyed getting with his male musician friends on Sundays where they would have a good time. Odel had a passion for cooking and enjoyed making his favorite sauce piquant.  He was often called Q Daddy while on his grill.

Odel will be greatly missed especially at the dinner table at his mother-in-law's home.  Mrs. Ethridge as he fondly called her would make sure John had a seat at the table.

He was preceded in death by his parents, Tillman and Loretta Meche; his wife, Sara Pat and baby boy, John O. Meche, Jr.

He leaves in God's care to cherish his loving memory his daughter, Ashley Renee; his brothers, Murphy (Daphe) Meche, Lionel (Sandra) Meche, Linus (Danielle) Meche and Paul (Zarinha) Meche; mother-in-law whom he cherished like his mother, Gloria Orphey Ethridge; brothers-in-law, Albert (Geri) Richard and Leroy (Shari) Ethridge, Jr; sisters-in-law, Deborah Ethridge and Gloria (Robert) Ethridge Schexnayder; his Godson, Paul who is his baby brother; uncles, Venton (Uncle Nose) Citizen and Leroy Citizen and a host of nieces, nephews, barber clients, other family and friends. He also leaves to cherish Ashley's fiancé, Wendel Celestine and two aunts, Vina Green and Eva Handy.