MICHAEL P. MARAIST

Everyone has a Mike Maraist story: stories of his quiet generosity, of his kindness, of saving people’s homes or businesses, of a midnight dash. His family likes to tell the story of how Mike came into the world with a bang, quite literally, among celebratory fireworks on July 4, 1947 in St. Martinville, LA. It was anything but Independence Day for his parents, the late Louis Francis Maraist, Jr. (Popee) and Gertrude Melancon Maraist (Mimi), who patiently endured his many childhood pranks. The family moved to Morgan City in 1954, and Mike soon made new best friends and launched fresh hijinks, but his mischief was always quickly forgiven on account of his unpretentious charm and the restorative chores he’d undertake to appease Mimi after each curfew-breaking stunt.
Mike attended University of Southwestern Louisiana, graduating in 1971 as a finance major, a letterman in track, and a member of the Phi Kappa Theta fraternity. He was hired right out of college to serve as a correspondent banker at Houston National Bank, where he travelled to meet with bankers across the state of Louisiana. Few could resist his pitch-potential clients became life-long friends as Mike remembered their stories: who’s kid was struggling in math, who to share a dirty joke with, and who to ask about Sunday’s sermon. When Mike decided that it was time to get off the road, he was recruited to Acadiana Bank in Eunice in 1971 at age 24 to become the youngest bank president in the U.S.
Mike beamed with love and pride for his family. He carried their stories with him everywhere: to work, to the camp, to the golf course, on the long drives he so cherished. In 1979, he married Patricia Saloom, who remained one of his best pals until the end. The following year, he welcomed his first child, Clare Grace Maraist. Over La Fonda’s lunches and cross-country drives, Mike taught Clare how to crack a quick-witted joke, while she taught him how to belt a proper karaoke tune. A testament to how much he believed in her-because Mike believed in people-he supported and guided Clare through the complex development of the former Manderfield School in Santa Fe, a town he adored. Mike married Naomi Angelle in 2001 and greeted his son, Michael Auguste “Gus” Maraist, the following year. Through Mardi Gras balls and football games, hunting excursions and design enterprises, they opened their home to all and filled it with love and laughter. Mike relished every opportunity for a father-son adventure, whether stalking birds in Argentina or spending a quiet day on the river; and while he delighted in family tailgating afternoons at Cajun Field and Tiger Stadium, he reserved his heartiest cheer for #6 on the Blue Gators football team.
Throughout a lifetime of deft business ventures, Mike’s most enduring investment was in people. He sought to enrich and empower the people he did business with. He was a consummate mentor and freely shared his profound intellect and creative approaches to management and finance during weekly lunches with his colleagues in which, he quipped, he’d “hear their confession.” His varied businesses include Timco Services Inc., Le Triomphe Golf & Country Club, Prime Electric, Starr Power Tongs, as well as a bevy of storage facilities, thoroughbred race horses, restaurants, and electrical relays and industrial controls. Among the many boards he served on or chaired were the UL Foundation, Hospice of Acadiana, Our Lady of Lourdes Hospital, and Home Bank, for which he served as chairman from 2005 to 2020. Mike’s business associates routinely expressed awe at his financial dexterity, his ability to carve out deals and safeguard financial futures when no one thought it possible. Even more: they marveled at his humility, his warmth, his loyalty, and his sincerity. A tribute to his love of savvy finance solutions, Mike endowed the University of Louisiana at Lafayette’s Maraist Financial Services Lab in honor of his family and with an eye to future generations.
Although he is most acclaimed as a businessman, at heart Mike was a father and a husband who loved and sought in everything to celebrate his wife, his children, and his parents. When terminally ill, Popee asked each of his five children to promise to care for the family in his absence. Mike embodied and lived out this promise; he took care of people, not just his family, but everyone. Mike possessed an inner spark that dazzled anyone in his presence. He treated everyone with dignity. Whether you were a CEO or a cashier, a banker or a busboy, he looked you straight in the eye with genuine attention and warmed you up with a greeting and grin. That’s how we wish to remember him: with his sly smile and his “hey, little darlin’,” swooping in for a bear hug to render you aglow in the light of his charm.
A Memorial Mass will be held on Wednesday, April 3, 2024 at 2:00 PM in the Cathedral of St. John the Evangelist in Lafayette, for Michael P. Maraist, 76, who passed away on Wednesday, March 20, 2024.
The Very Reverend Chester C. Arceneaux, VF will be the Celebrant of the Memorial Mass and officiate the services.
Following the Memorial Mass, a visitation & celebration of Michael P. Maraist's life will be held at Le Pavilion at Parc Lafayette, 1913 Kaliste Saloom Rd, Lafayette, LA 70508.
Survivors include his beloved wife of 22 years, Naomi Angelle Maraist, his two children, Clare Grace Maraist (Tim Terell) and Michael Auguste “Gus” Maraist; his siblings, Louis F. Maraist Jr. (Sandra Day), Mag Maraist Ritchey, Kathryn Maraist Krachmer (Jay), and Liz Maraist.
He was preceded in death by his parents, Louis Francis Maraist Jr. and Gertrude Melancon Maraist.
Pallbearers will be Scot Ritchey, Louis Maraist III, Dr. Jay Krachmer, David Maraist, Clint Adcock, Michael Paul Maraist, Carroll Angelle, Ezra Angelle, Ashton Angelle, Dr. Don Harris, Tim Terell, Mark Guidry, Danny Saloom, Zack Saloom, Jesse Saloom, Miles Eldredge, Dr. David Baker, Allan Durand, Gerald deLaunay, Brent Stolzenthaler, Ronald Fremin, Bart Fremin, Charlie Hardy, HJ Flesner, Nick Kinchen, Jeff Gossen, Jim Gossen, Chris Rader, Anthony Galler, Tyron Picard, Charlie Melancon, and Cecil Little.
Readers will be Sara Ritchey and Jill Krachmer Mott.
Giftbearers will be Jack Troutman-Ritchey, Amélie Maraist, Ethan Vagi, Ellie Vagi, Emme Vagi, Louis Maraist IV, Bijou Purpera, Landry Mott, and William Ritchey.
Vocalists will be Laura Huval and Charie Angelle Johnson. Organist will be Patrick Melancon.
In lieu of flowers the Maraist family asks that you perform an act of kindness and generosity in his honor. Additional ways to celebrate Mike are by contributing to the Mike Maraist Memorial Fund at the Ascension Episcopal School (https://tinyurl.com/ktmzxu8t) or send checks to 1030 Johnston St. Lafayette, Louisiana 70501; or to the UL Lafayette Foundation to support the newly established memorial fund, the Michael P. Maraist Endowed Chair in Finance, https://bit.ly/maraist, or send checks to P.O. Box 44290, Lafayette, LA 70504.
View the obituary and guestbook online at www.mourning.com
Martin & Castille Funeral Home - DOWNTOWN, 330 St. Landry Street, Lafayette, Louisiana 70506, 337-234-2311