Emily was born on February 24, 1926 in Lake Arthur, Louisiana to Clopha and Olezema Guillory Conner. She was one of nine children in a modest home that, as she put it, “always had lots of love”. She married Vernace Billy Gothreaux on November 6, 1943 and together they raised 5 children while living in Sweet Lake, Lake Charles, Franklin, and Eunice before moving to Welsh, Louisiana. She was a faithful member of Our Lady of Seven Dolors Catholic Church for many years. As a parishioner, she sang in the choir, served on the Parish Council, taught religious education to high school students in her home, and was a lifetime member of the Catholic Daughters. She was a porcelain china artist whose beautiful creations adorn the homes of all her family and many, many friends. She enjoyed writing about and teaching others to paint and was a member of the Louisiana Porcelain Art Guild. She loved cooking and baking for her family. She treasured spending time with her children and grandchildren and hosted “camp Gothreaux” for many summers. Christmas and Easter were her favorite holidays. She was also an original member of the Golden Girls – a fun-loving group of widows from the Welsh area who knew how to pass a good time and were famous to anyone who knew anything in Welsh!
Left to cherish her memory are her loving children and their spouses. Her son Earl Gothreaux married to Janis of Lake Charles; her daughter Evelyn Daigle married to James of Eunice; her son Lynn Gothreaux married to Janet of Eunice; her daughter Glenda Chapman married to Deacon Wayne Chapman of Welsh; and her son Gregg Gothreaux married to Alisa of Lafayette.
She is also survived by these adoring grandchildren and their spouses: Doug, Todd, Kimberly, Jimmy, Michelle, Kristin, Billy, Aaron, Missy, Amy, Erica, Justin, Conner, and Eliza Grace. Great grandchildren include: Krysten, Hunter, Amie Grace, Anna Kay, John Alex, Drew, Allie, Andrew, Elisabeth, Patrick, Nicholas, William, Matthew, Andy, Catie Claire, Georgia Glynn, Mackenzie, Hailey, Kelsie, Landon, Cameron, Austin, Gavin, Maggie, Emily, Lanie, Joshua, and Noah. Great, great grandchildren include Brylee & Jayden.
She is survived by her siblings, Donelda Casteel of Sulphur and R.B. “Bob” Conner of Westlake and numerous, cherished nieces, nephews, and friends.
She was preceded in death by her parents, her husband Billy, and her siblings: Nolan Conner, Margaret LeBert, Amos Conner, Alberta Freston, Elmer Conner, and Melba Kull.
Pallbearers will be her grandsons; Doug Gothreaux, Todd Gothreaux, Jimmy Daigle, Billy Gothreaux, Aaron Gothreaux, Justin Chapman and Conner Gothreaux.
Visitation will be at Hixson Funeral Home in Welsh from 4pm until 9pm Wednesday, April 11, 2018 with a rosary at 6pm and resume Thursday at 9am until time of service. A Mass of Christian Burial will be celebrated at Our Lady of Seven Dolors in Welsh at 1pm. Rev. Alan Trouille will officiate. Emily will be laid to rest next to Billy at Prien Memorial Park Cemetery in Lake Charles following Mass. Words of comfort may be shared with the family at www.hixsonfuneralhomes.com
