Ronnie Charles Erath's Obituary
Ronnie Charles Erath, 74, passed away after months of illness on Friday, September 26'h, 2025 at St. Tammany Parish Hospital in Covington, Louisiana. He was born in New Orleans, Louisiana on December 14'h, 1950 at Touro Infirmary.
He is survived by his loving partner of 12+years, Malcolm G. “Mack” Maginnis, Jr. (74), his brother, Raymond J. Erath (78), his nearby closest cousin, Teresa Adams, and numerous other cousins.
He was preceded in death by his parents, Edna Marguerite Barrilleaux Erath (former Jefferson Parish Civil Service Magistrate) and Sidney Raymond Erath (WWII — ETO, U.S. ARMY — Purple Heart wounded Combat Veteran, and former VA Hospital PTSD / Touro Hospital encephalogram technician), as well as loving canine friends, Alex, and later Peneloply.
LIFE STORY: Ronnie grew up in the Carrollton / RiverBend neighborhood (as children, unknowingly only 2-blocks from Malcolm) of New Orleans, as well as in Metairie, La. He attended Chicago Design after high school and owned a floral shop near River Ridge, La. From that experience, “Mr. Ron Charles” became a professional Interior Designer for high-end homes in New Orleans, Metairie, San Antonio, TX, Las Vegas, NV trade shows, Mexico, and the Mississippi Gulf Coast. He was also an antique dealer on St. Charles Avenue and office assistant for his friend, Dr. Gary Carroll (D). His hobbies were home decorating, gardening, plants, sewing, sketching male art, and sometimes freely helping non-clients with his professional talent in their homes. Handsome, cute, fun loving, & popular, Ron enjoyed socializing with his many New Orleans friends. At one time, he was a member of a gay Mardi Gras Krewe and flamboyantly entertained at their ball. Later in life, Ron also enjoyed the eclectic, kinky fun of Southern Decadence with Mack as members of the Lone Star Rubber Corps. He and Mack also enjoyed several weekend getaways at Wildwoods Hideaway campgrounds.
Ron met his life partner, Mack Maginnis at The Phoenix on Elysian Fields Blvd in 2012. About 2014, Ron and Mack moved to Mack's townhouse apartment in Covington, La. w/brother Raymond. In 2016, Mack bought a modest 1960’s single-story brick ranch style house at 214 E. 8th Avenue in old Covington, which Ron worked very hard on to make a wonderfully aesthetic, comfortable, inviting, nest for He & Mack, naming it “Gray Gardens”, replete w/his signature decorative window treatments & antiques. Right alongside Mack's weekly lawn mowing at home, Ron daily kept up the gardens, plants, edging, weedeating, cooking, house cleaning, filing, and staying in touch w/distant and local friends, until his long undiagnosed / unexpected terminal illness this year. He is missed by many, including his older brother, but none more than his heart broken, deeply loving partner, Mack.
In lieu of flowers, it is requested that contributions in memory of Ronnie C. Erath be made to Crescent Care in New Orleans, local food banks, neighborhood gardens, public parks, or the YMCA.
Ronnie did not want a funeral, memorial, or services. But small gatherings friends to celebrate Ron's life are appreciated by his love, Mack.
E.J. Fielding Funeral Home has been entrusted with Mr. Erath's arrangements. The Erath family invites you to share thoughts, fondest memories, and condolences online at E. J. Fielding Funeral Home Guest Book at https://www.ejfieldingfh.com.
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