Hixson Welsh

08/16/2025

Please view the obituary and service information below for Mary Miller Foreman.

Celebrate the life of Mary Foreman, leave a kind word or memory and get funeral service information care of Hixson Welsh.

07/25/2025

Honoring Service, Compassion, and Community: The Story of Chastity Domingue is featured in today’s Employee Spotlight

Chastity Domonique’s life journey is a powerful testament to service—both in uniform and in her community. A self-proclaimed “Army Bratt,” Chastity was born at Fort Campbell, Kentucky, and raised in the close-knit town of Vinton, Louisiana. A 2006 graduate of Vinton High School, she has never lost sight of her roots and continues to give back to the very place that helped shape her.

Chastity’s love for animals—especially horses—was a fixture of her upbringing and remains one of her greatest passions. But it was her deep sense of duty that led her to serve 10 years in the United States Army National Guard. As a Communications Specialist, she worked with radios and computers, and even served in an aviation unit supporting helicopter operations. During her service, she was activated for numerous disaster relief efforts and played a key role in training soldiers in equipment handling and deployment preparation.

Following her military career, Chastity attended McNeese State University where she studied psychology and sociology, initially aspiring to become a medical examiner. However, life took a more personal turn. After losing three grandparents and two uncles, Chastity found herself on the client side of funeral services. The meaningful experiences she had working with funeral directors during that difficult time inspired her to help others in similar situations.

In 2022, she joined Hixson Funeral Homes as an Assistant Funeral Director. Now, she brings her empathy and dedication to families in Vinton, Sulphur, and across Southwest Louisiana—helping them create heartfelt services that honor their loved ones’ memories.

Outside of work, Chastity is a devoted mother to 15-year-old twins, Regan and Riley. She finds joy in attending their extracurricular events and was a proud Girl Scout leader for Troop 195 for eight years. Her creative side shines through in her photography—she once worked as a racing photographer at Delta Downs racetrack in Vinton—and she also loves party planning, crafting, and exploring new foods and restaurants.

Chastity’s adventurous spirit is apparent in her love for outdoor activities. Whether it’s tent camping, kayaking, horseback riding, hiking, biking, mud riding, fishing, shooting, or archery—she’s always up for an adventure. You’ll also find her browsing flea markets and thrift shops, indulging in her passion for unique finds and local treasures.

In addition to her role at Hixson Funeral Homes, Chastity works part-time at the Ward 7 Recreation & Community Center in Vinton and serves as a team member for Pick-A-Kid, a nonprofit organization that provides school supplies to local children in need.

Looking ahead, Chastity dreams of completing her master’s degree in counseling and starting a grief counseling program with a special focus on helping children navigate loss. With her experience, compassion, and unwavering commitment to others, there's no doubt she will continue making a meaningful impact wherever she goes.

Chastity Domonique is a shining example of how one person’s passion for service—both in and out of uniform—can touch countless lives.

07/18/2025

https://www.dignitymemorial.com/obituaries/welsh-la/don-romero-12456923

Celebrate the life of Don Romero, leave a kind word or memory and get funeral service information care of Hixson Welsh.

07/17/2025

When someone we love passes, it’s not the big things we miss most. It’s all the irreplaceable little things that made them special. It’s the details that matter most.

When someone we love passes it's not the big things we miss most. It's all the irreplaceable little things that made them special. It's the detail that matte...

07/02/2025

https://www.dignitymemorial.com/obituaries/welsh-la/randal-benoit-12435944

Celebrate the life of Randal Benoit, leave a kind word or memory and get funeral service information care of Hixson Welsh.

06/20/2025

Meet Mika Collins, the subject of our next Employee Spotlight, with a Heart for Service Rooted in Her Hometown

Mika Collins is a proud native of Lake Charles, Louisiana, where she has spent the majority of her life. Though she spent some of her early years moving around Southwest Louisiana and Southeast Texas, it was in Lake Charles that she found her roots—and her calling.

A graduate of LaGrange High School, Mika continued her education at SOWELA Technical Community College, where she earned a degree in Process Technology. Like many, her career path took a few turns before she found her true passion. She worked as a Menu Service Specialist for Waitr and later at Cousin’s Restaurant, gaining valuable experience in hospitality and service—skills that would later serve her well in a different capacity.

Throughout her life, Mika has always had a heart for giving back. Known for her warm, calming presence, whether volunteering at Abraham’s Tent to serve meals or helping deliver holiday dinners to the elderly and shut-ins, these quiet but impactful efforts reflect her deep commitment to helping others while giving back to her community.

It’s this enduring sense of compassion and community that eventually led Mika to her current role as a Family Service Counselor for Highland Memory Gardens, Prien Memorial Gardens, and Hixson Funeral Homes. When the opportunity arose, Mika knew it was exactly where she was meant to be. For the past two years, she has found profound fulfillment in guiding families through some of their most difficult times, offering comfort, support, and a steady hand when it’s needed most.

In addition to her professional life, Mika is a proud mother to her teenage daughter, who brings her joy, inspiration, and purpose each day. Balancing motherhood and a meaningful career has only deepened Mika’s understanding of love, responsibility, and resilience.

Outside of work, Mika enjoys the balance of being a homebody with a love for travel. She has journeyed to places like Ireland, San Francisco, Colorado, Key West, and Chicago—each trip a meaningful chapter in her story. One of her most cherished adventures was an eight-state motorhome trip with her family, an experience full of laughter, exploration, and lasting memories.

A lover of music and food, Mika often attends concerts featuring some of her favorite artists like Alanis Morissette, Matchbox 20, Counting Crows, Stevie Nicks, and Billy Joel. She also enjoys dining at local restaurants—especially Mexican eateries, where she can unwind with a good margarita.

Today, Mika is right where she belongs—serving her hometown with empathy, grace, and unwavering dedication. In her own words, there’s no time people need help more than after the loss of a loved one, and she’s honored to be someone they can count on during that time. For Mika Collins, being a Family Service Counselor isn’t just a job—it’s a calling fulfilled.

05/30/2025

A Life of Compassion, Dedication, and Service is highlighted in today’s Employee Spotlight on Kimberly Varner.

Kimberly Varner's journey is a testament to lifelong dedication, compassion, and a deep-rooted desire to serve both people and animals alike. Though born in California, Kimberly's Louisiana story began when she was just three weeks old, as her family relocated to the small town of Pitkin. She was raised in nearby Oakdale, where her strong work ethic and nurturing spirit began to blossom early.

From a young age, Kimberly took on responsibilities with maturity beyond her years. Babysitting and other odd jobs paved the way for work in fast food restaurants, grocery stores, and through temporary staffing agencies. No matter the task, she approached every opportunity with determination and a willingness to help others.

Kimberly's early dreams centered around animals. A lifelong animal lover, she once aspired to become a veterinarian. This passion was clear even before her beloved childhood pony, Sandy, stole her heart in the second grade. She enrolled in pre-veterinary school to pursue this goal, but life had a different calling in store.

While in college, a conversation with a fellow student enrolled in mortuary school sparked a profound interest in funeral service. The more she explored the profession, the more she realized it aligned with her deep compassion for people. Kimberly came to understand that her purpose could be found in supporting individuals through one of life’s most difficult experiences—the loss of a loved one.

With clarity and commitment, Kimberly shifted her focus and enrolled at the Commonwealth Funeral Institute in Houston, Texas. She excelled in her studies and graduated with honors in 2000, ready to begin a new chapter in service.

Kimberly launched her funeral service career in Oak Grove, located in West Carroll Parish, Louisiana. For 15 years, she compassionately served families in the area, offering comfort, guidance, and professionalism in times of grief. In 2015, she brought her talents and empathy to Sulphur, Louisiana, joining the Hixson Funeral Home family at Hixson-Sulphur Memorial Funeral Home.

Since then, Kimberly has become a trusted presence in the community, serving families across the region with unwavering dedication. Currently, she is based at Hixson’s Ryan Street Funeral Home, continuing her mission to provide care and dignity to every family she serves.

Outside of her professional life, Kimberly is just as passionate and committed to her family and hobbies. She enjoys sewing, crocheting, reading, cooking, baking, and horseback riding. Her greatest joy, however, comes from spending time with her husband, mother, two sons, and daughter—her greatest support system and the heart of her world.

Kimberly Varner’s life reflects a unique blend of compassion, resilience, and a heartfelt calling to help others. Whether through her early dreams of caring for animals or her accomplished career in funeral service, Kimberly continues to touch the lives of those around her in profound and meaningful ways.

05/12/2025

Last week, Hixson Funeral Home generously provided 46 large pizzas, 18 large salads, and drinks to the nurses at Christus Ochsner St. Patrick Hospital (main and lake area campuses) and Lake Charles Memorial Hospital in honor of Nurse's Appreciation Week. A heartfelt thank you to Tony's Pizza for supplying all the pizzas and salads.

04/30/2025

From the Farm to Funeral Service: Bryce Thompson's Journey of Compassion and Community is the focus of today’s Employee Spotlight.

Raised in the heart of DeQuincy on a hardworking family farm, Bryce Thompson’s journey into funeral service is a story rooted in tradition, compassion, and community. As a young boy, Bryce spent his days tending crops like corn and watermelon and caring for a wide range of animals—horses, cows, pigs—including a particularly beloved pig named Charlotte, who, much to everyone’s surprise, became something of a house pet. These early years on the farm instilled in Bryce a strong work ethic and a deep sense of empathy that would later define his professional calling.

Growing up in a large family, Bryce attended numerous funeral services throughout his childhood—all held at the trusted Snider Funeral Home in DeQuincy. These experiences left a lasting impression. While most young people might find such occasions somber or overwhelming, Bryce saw them as meaningful moments of reflection and connection. He recognized the crucial role a compassionate presence can play in times of loss, sparking a lifelong interest in serving others through funeral care.

That realization eventually led Bryce to pursue a career in funeral service. After high school, he joined Hixson Funeral Homes in 2018—a firm that had long partnered with the very Snider Funeral Home where his understanding of the profession first began. Determined to provide the same comfort he had once received, Bryce went on to graduate with honors from Commonwealth Funeral Institute and earned his Funeral Director's License in 2021.

Since then, Bryce has been a dedicated presence at Hixson Funeral Homes, known not only for his professionalism but also for his distinctive approach to funeral planning. His talent lies in crafting personalized, one-of-a-kind services that celebrate the unique life of each individual. From floral arrangements to thematic displays, Bryce ensures that every detail reflects the spirit of the departed, bringing solace and beauty to grieving families.

Beyond his work, Bryce leads a vibrant life filled with creative pursuits. He enjoys cooking, interior decorating and design, and can often be found exploring flea markets and antique shops in search of hidden treasures. A true Southerner at heart, he also has a passion for marksmanship and enjoys time spent at the range shooting pistols and rifles.

Bryce Thompson’s path from farm life to funeral service is a testament to how early life lessons—hard work, compassion, and community—can come together to shape a person’s purpose. Today, he continues to serve Lake Charles and surrounding communities with the same grace and dignity that first inspired him, one meaningful service at a time.

04/22/2025

We join our community in mourning the passing of Pope Francis. We have traditional prayer cards available to pick up free of charge at our Ryan Street Funeral Home if you would like to come and get one. We also have an electronic version in PDF Format. If you would like the electronic version, please let us know, and we will be happy to send you one.

04/17/2025

From Gospel Songs to Serving Souls: Today’s Employee Spotlight focuses on the Journey of Jordan Mothershed from DeQuincy.

A native son of Louisiana, Jordan has dedicated his life to uplifting others—whether through song or service. Born and raised in the close-knit town of DeQuincy, he still calls it home today, sharing life with his wife Amanda and their son Christian. Deeply invested in his hometown, Jordan is an active member of the local Chamber of Commerce, reflecting his passion for community and connection.

Jordan's journey of service began not in a chapel, but on a stage. While attending McNeese State University, he was the lead singer in a Southern Gospel quartet known as The Southern Plainsmen. His rich voice and heartfelt performances carried him across Louisiana, Texas, Idaho, and Washington, along with cruises in Alaska and The Bahamas, bringing music and ministry to audiences far and wide. This early chapter in his life helped shape his ability to connect with others and comfort through presence and voice—skills that would serve him well in his future career.

After earning his bachelor’s degree, it was a member of his church family who recognized Jordan’s gentle spirit and deep compassion, encouraging him to consider funeral service as a calling. Inspired by that suggestion, Jordan began working for Hixson Funeral Homes in 2013. What started as a new opportunity quickly became a passion. With a heart full of empathy and a natural ability to support others in their most difficult moments, he earned his Funeral Director’s License in 2015 and rose to the position of Assistant Manager by 2017.

Today, Jordan is known not only for his professionalism and care in directing funeral and memorial services but also for his voice—still a source of comfort and beauty. He is often asked to sing during services, a request he always honors with humility and grace. For Jordan, it’s just one more way he can serve those in need.

When he’s not guiding families through loss or leading a service with song, Jordan enjoys life’s simpler pleasures: spending quality time with Amanda and Christian, attending live concerts, and getting away for family vacations. His story is one of heart, harmony, and home—a testament to the difference one person can make when they live to serve others.

04/14/2025

This past Sunday, Hixson Funeral Home was a proud sponsor of the Heart of Hospice Butterfly Release 2025. Our staff barbecued over 200 hamburgers to hand out along with chips and water to all attendees. We look forward to it next year!