Kinder -Ronald Michael Craiger, 75,  finished life's race and left to be with the Lord on December 9, 2021 following his long battle with cancer.  His funeral service will be held in the Benny Earl Pelican Memorial Chapel of Ardoin/Allen Parish Funeral Home on Monday, December 13, 2021 at 11 a.m.  Rev. Alfred Gibson will officiate.  Burial will immediately follow at Carter Cemetery under the direction of Ardoin/Allen Parish Funeral Homes.

The family will receive visitors at Ardoin/Allen Parish Funeral Home of Kinder beginning on Sunday evening from 5-9 p.m.  Visitation will resume Monday morning at the funeral home from 8 a.m. until the time of service.

Mr. Craiger was born in Lufkin, Texas on September 16, 1946. He moved to Lake Charles at a young age where he resided until 1984 when he moved to Kinder and was employed at the Hebert Law Firm. He was an EMT for several years and served as the Assistant Coroner of the Allen Parish Coroner's office. He retired as Chief Investigator at the Allen Parish Office of District Attorney in April, 2009 and went on to serve as Justice of the Peace of Ward Two. Ron served as Chairman of the Allen Parish Hospital Board of Commissioners, Trustee of Allen Parish Libraries and board member of Allen Outreach Substance Abuse Treatment and Rehabilitation in Oakdale. He was a member of the Masonic Lodge, Justice 449 F&M, Knights of Columbus, Louisiana Private Investigator's Association, the Louisiana District Attorney's Association, Friends of Father Flanagan Boy's Town, and United Association of Plumbers and Steamfitters Local 106 in Lake Charles, former Treasurer of U.A. Local 106, Chairman of U.A. Local 106 Federal Credit Union and Treasurer of the local Welfare Fund.

In all the years that he worked for and with Doug Hebert in the law office and District Attorney's Office, they never had a cross word. Doug allowed Ron to privately argue and tell him if he thought that he was wrong and Ron always accepted that Doug was his boss and made the final decision. Doug and Ron were not only long-time friends, but more like brothers. Ron adopted Doug's son, Dougie Hebert, III as his own. Ron's hobby and joy in life was helping others to whom he could never say "no."  He was excited about starting up a GED pilot program at the Kinder Jail with a vision of having such a program in all jails in Allen Parish when diagnosed with cancer. Ron loved telling others true stories of his life. Friend or foe, you knew where you stood with Ron; he believed giving his all to every endeavor he pursued.

Ron is survived by his daughter, Rhonda "Shelly" Lavergne and husband, Randy; his son, Ronald Craiger Jr. and his wife, Becky; 10 grandchildren, Cordelia Craiger, Casey Brown and wife, Kasey, Caleb Brown, Victoria Craiger, Ronald Craiger III, Nicholas Lavergne and wife, Brittany, Jacob Lavergne and wife, Sarah, Channing Lavergne and wife, Stephanie, Madison Chitty and husband, Tanner, McKenlie Perry and husband, Trent; and 4 great grandchildren, Lacey, Donte, Amelia and Silas.

Ron was preceded in death by his parents; his two loving wives, Paula Craiger and Eleanor LaFargue Craiger; sister, Tommye Jean Lavergne; and daughter; Donna Yvette Craiger.

Words of comfort may be sent to the family at www.ardoinfuneralhome.com or on Facebook-Ardoin/Allen Parish Funeral Homes.