Marie Louise"Mary Lou"DeMarco Williams

A graduate of St. Joseph's Academy and Baton Rouge Vocational Technical School, she was a loyal retired employee of the Louisiana State Police, a loving mother, grandmother, great-grandmother, aunt, great-aunt and very special friend. Marie passed away at her home, with family and friends by her side, at 7:25 p.m. Friday, Feb. 6, 2009. She was 85 years young and a lifelong resident of Baton Rouge. Visitation at Rabenhorst Funeral Home, 825 Government St., on Sunday, Feb. 8, from 6 p.m. to 8 p.m. Visitation continues at the funeral home on Monday from 9 a.m. until religious services at 11 a.m., conducted by Bobby Achord. Interment in Roselawn Memorial Park. Preceded in death by her husband, Eugene Albert "Mickey" Williams Jr.; father, Joseph V. Roy Sr.; mother, Claudia LeBlanc Roy; brother, Joseph "JV" Roy; sister-in-law, Glenda M. Roy; stepson, John Allen Williams; and her faithful furry canine friend, Janice. Survived by her loving son and daughter-in-law, Roy Keith and Kathleen-S. DeMarco; three stepdaughters and two stepsons-in-law, Eunice and Joey Frosch, of Zachary, Elaine and Emmett Worley, of Brusly, and Deborah Ann Williams, of Alexandria; grandchildren, Holly Marie and Emmett Worley Jr., Candace and James Frosch; great-granddaughter, Nova Marie Turk; special nieces, Vicki Roy Holden and Teri Roy Copponex; great-nieces and great-nephews, Blaire and Scott Holden, Keri and Drew Copponex; and special family friends, Barry Cedotal and Randy Dawson. Aside from Mary Lou's love of family, faith and friends, she had a deep devotion to the Louisiana State Police. Most of her adult life was spent working at Louisiana State Police in Baton Rouge, where she was hired in 1956 on a probational basis as a clerk. From her first day on the job, she knew she had found her home, and began working her way up the career ladder to become the administrative assistant to the Superintendent of State Police, where she remained working under 14 different superintendents, and served in the same capacity to five successive superintendents. She always had a smile for those who crossed her path, and helped many state troopers climb the ladder of success. After her retirement in 1993, as the State Police Executive Officer with nearly four decades of dedicated service to the state, she spent her time with her loving husband and extended family and friends When asked about her success at the State Police, Mary Lou would always smile and respond, "Every new colonel kept me around because I knew where all of the State Police skeletons were hidden." Pallbearers will be Russell DeMarco, Barry Cedotal, Keith and Drew Copponex and Scott Holden. Honorary pallbearers are Tommy Holden, Randy Dawson, George Harvey and Bill Lang. The family would like to thank Dr. David Hanson for his years of compassionate care, and his nurse practitioners, Judy and GiGi; Mary Lou's precious Jessica and the staff of LHOA; Dr. Gregory Henkelmann and the staff of Mary Bird Perkins Cancer Center, Dr. Ted Kemp and Cocoa and the staff of St. Joseph's Hospice. In lieu of flowers, as she was an animal lover and would always help her furry friends, Mary Lou would love to have donations made to CAAWS, 6357 Quinn Drive, Baton Rouge, LA 70817.