Arthur "Art" D. Mouton

A Mass of Christian Burial will be held Friday, August 9, 2024 at 3:30 pm in the church hall at the Cathedral of St. John the Evangelist for Arthur D. “Art” Mouton, who passed away on August 4, 2024. He was 79 years old. Father Chester Arceneaux, rector of the Cathedral, will be the celebrant of the Mass and conduct the funeral services. Dan DeBaillon will be the lector; Giselle, Simone and Evelyn Mouton will be the gift bearers. Interment will follow the mass in St. John Cemetery. 

Visitation will be held in the church hall prior to Mass between the hours of 1:30 - 3:30 pm. A reception will follow the services at the Petroleum Club. 

Art was born in New Orleans, LA, on March 13, 1945, but returned to Lafayette with his family later that same year and remained a proud life-long resident of this fair city until his passing. For most of his elementary school years, he was a student at Cathedral Elementary School, and graduated with the Cathedral High School Class of 1963. He remained close friends with many in this remarkably close-knit class throughout his life. He attended USL after graduation, and pledged Kappa Sigma fraternity in 1963, again maintaining close ties with his Kappa Sig brothers until the end. He graduated from USL in 1967, with a Bachelor's Degree in History, and then entered Tulane Law School to pursue his JD degree. He interrupted his studies at Tulane to enlist for active duty in the U.S. Army in February 1969, rather than be drafted. He was always proud of his military service during the Vietnam War era, and was especially proud to have served as an enlisted man. He underwent basic training at Ft. Polk and then advanced individual training (AIT) at Ft. Lee, Virginia - Quartermaster School. At Ft. Lee, he became an honor graduate, double promoted to Specialist 4, early into what is today lovingly referred to as the “E4 Mafia”, learning to run an NCR 500 computer in a Direct Support Unit. After receiving orders to Vietnam, he was diverted to Ft. Lewis, Washington, where he became a proud member of the 3rd Squadron, 3rd Cavalry, at Fort Lewis. “Brave Rifles! Veterans!” Their motto is “Blood and Steel”. He eventually received a promotion to E5 and an Army Commendation Medal on discharge as a legal clerk for the 3rd Squadron, 3rd Armored Cavalry Regiment.

After completing his commitment to the U.S. Army in 1971, Art chose LSU Law School to complete his law school studies and graduated in 1972. He joined his father Wm. H. “Bill” Mouton and his brother Billy Mouton as they opened their family firm in 1972, under the name of Wm. H. Mouton Law Offices. Art liked to say that he practiced law with his father, Bill, until his death in 2002, and his brother, Billy, until 2012 when Billy went fishing. In 2012, Art joined the Davidson/Meaux Law Firm as “Of Counsel” where he, in his own words, “worked with a fine bunch of very good attorneys”. He worked until the end of his life, only stepping down when forced to by his heart attack on June 22, 2024. 

Art became a Ham Radio Operator at age 15, in 1960, with his call letters K5FNQ, and talked to the world a lot more than he talked to his wife, much of the time. As a HAM, he participated in DX Century Club; contact and confirmation of contacts (QSL cards); attained Honor Roll on both mixed modes and CW (Morse Code); and communicated with all countries except for North Korea. He served as Past President of the Lafayette Amateur Radio Club. 

Art loved all things Mardi Gras. He was a 40+ year member of Les Brigands de Lafayette and the Krewe of Gabriel, where he faithfully and joyfully rode at dawn with King Gabriel’s Float Riders every year on Mardi Gras Day, from 1979-2020, most of those years on the legendary Float #13. In 2002, the noble tribe of the Krewe of Attakapas honored him by selecting him to reign as their 34th King Lacassine. This was an honor he always cherished. 

Art was fascinated with all battles of WWII. A highlight of his great interest was visiting the graves of his two uncles killed in the War, Jerome Mouton (his father’s brother), at Margraten, in the Netherlands; and Arthur Blair (his mother’s brother whom he was named for) at the Henri-Chapelle American Cemetery and Memorial in Belgium.

Art married his college sweetheart, Cathy Haydel Mouton, in 1968; he is survived by his beloved wife of 56 years; son, Daniel E. Mouton and his wife, Jenny, of Burke, VA; son, Guy W. Mouton and his wife, Stephanie, of Naperville, IL; and daughter, Jeanne M. Arnaud and her husband Rémi, of Sainte-Colombe-pres-Vernon, France; his grandchildren, Colette Mouton, Giselle Mouton, Claire Mouton, Simone Mouton, Evelyn Mouton, Cécile Arnaud-Mouton, Ariane Arnaud-Mouton & William Arnaud-Mouton; his brother, William Hugh “Billy” Mouton & his wife, Ramona; his sister, Marguerite Taylor & her husband, Rob; his “baby sister” Blair Lockwood; and his sister-in-law, Margaret H. Blazek & her husband Rev. Scott R. Blazek. 

He was preceded in death by his parents, Bill & Marguerite Mouton; his brother, Jerome E. Mouton; his father-in-law, George W. Haydel; his mother-in-law, Merle Arnaud Haydel; his brother-in-law, Steve Haydel; and two beloved grandbabies Angelie Mouton & André Arnaud-Mouton.

With thanks to becoming a confirmation sponsor, Art renewed his dedication to his Catholic Faith in 2018. Fr. Chester Arceneaux, rector of the Cathedral of St. John the Evangelist, served as his mentor and spiritual guide. Thanks and blessings to you, Fr. Chester! Art cherished and relished his Catholic faith, which comforted him greatly.

His family wishes to thank Laurie Dupuis Guidry, who faithfully served as his administrative assistant or "Girl Friday", for 26 adventure-packed years, whom he lovingly referred to as “his Pest”. We also wish to thank his amazing medical team who valiantly worked to save his life following his heart attack on June 22: Dr. Ziad Ashkar, nephrologist; Dr. Philippe Prouet II, oncologist; the cardiology team at CIS; and, the dedicated nursing staffs on the 9th, 10th and 8th floors of Ochsner Lafayette General Medical Center. Last but not least, Art’s family wishes to thank his beloved sister, Marguerite M. Taylor, who went above and beyond the call of duty and was by his side every step of the way at the end of his life.

Pallbearers are: Kirk Blazek; Rob Felder; Marcus Guidry; Daniel Lockwood; Dillon Lockwood and Ben Mouton. Honorary Pallbearers are: Keith Blazek; Rob Taylor; James Joseph Davidson III, Glenn Edwards; and the attorneys & staff at Davidson/Meaux.

In lieu of flowers, the family requests you consider donations to the Cathedral Historic Preservation, 515 Cathedral Street, Lafayette, LA 70501; or to Hospice of Acadiana, 2600 Johnston Street, Suite 200, Lafayette, LA 70503.

Online condolences may be made to the family by scrolling to the guestbook below.