Annette passed away on March 31, 2022, at the age of 74. A long-time resident of Baton Rouge and native of Plaquemine, Annette grew up along Bayou Plaquemine on her parents' small farm. She learned to sew from her mother at an early age and became an active member of the 4-H Club, which provided many achievement opportunities. In her youth, Annette inspired those who knew her by always striving to be the best she could be and accomplish her goals. She played saxophone and clarinet in the school band, and was a majorette for Plaquemine High School. She was named Miss Iberville (1964), Sugar Queen in New Iberia, and Yam Queen in Opelousas. She graduated in 1965 at the top of her class. She went on to attend Louisiana State University and studied Home Economics. During her college years, she worked as an intern for Iberville 4H, won the LSU Danforth Ag Senior Fellowship at Ralston Purina in St. Louis, attended AYF American Youth Foundation Camp Miniwanca in Michigan, and was a student teacher at Broadmoor High School. After her graduation in 1969, she studied human relations at St. Louis University. She joined her husband in Bangkok, Thailand and Seoul, South Korea while he was working for Ralston Purina Company. At the American School in Bangkok, Annette taught home economics, science, and was the costume designer and production director for a production of her favorite musical, The King and I, at the Seoul Foreign School in South Korea. After returning to the U.S., Annette taught sewing at Stretch & Sew Fabrics in Fort Wayne, Indiana. In 1976, she opened a Stretch & Sew Fabric store in Baton Rouge, which became Fashion Fabrics in 1983 and AllBrands.com in 1996. Annette was always a part of the family owned and operated business. Singing was the joy of Annette's life. She sang with the Baton Rouge Chorus of Sweet Adelines, the University United Methodist Church Choir, where she was a church member, and the Baton Rouge Symphony Chorus in addition to being on the founding board of Opéra Louisiane and the LSU Opera Board. Over time, Annette and her family hosted nine mostly international students in her home while serving as a board member and host family for the International Hospitality Foundation at LSU. The first student who came 20 years ago from Mauritius is now a legal officer at the United Nations in NYC. She has hosted five young Malaysian singers who graduated from LSU in vocal performance. Annette was a loyal patron of the LSU School of Music, the LSU College of Agriculture, LPB, Opéra Louisiane, Baton Rouge Food Bank, and the Salvation Army. She was a loving mother of four, grandmother of five, is dearly loved and will be missed by all her family and friends. We are grateful for all of the time we shared. In our hearts and minds she will be with us always. She is preceded in death by her parents, Frederick Elbert Repp, Sr. and Edith Annette Mayon Repp. Annette is survived by her husband of 53 years, John Marvin Douthat, her children, Yvonne Marie Hartinger (Virgil Albert Hartinger), Robert Charles Douthat, Barbara Annette Douthat, and John Frederick Douthat (Courtney Ramirez Douthat), her grandchildren, Joseph Xaver John Hartinger, John William Douthat, Alexander Robert Douthat, Stephen Christian Ramirez, and Landon-Michael Truman Ramirez, and her brother, Frederick Elbert Repp, Jr. (Elizabeth Claire Lovell Repp). The Memorial Service will be held on Sunday, April 24 at 2 p.m. in University United Methodist Church's Riley Chapel (3350 Dalrymple Dr., Baton Rouge, LA 70802) followed by a reception in the Fellowship Hall. In lieu of flowers, donations may be made in Annette's name to University United Methodist Church or to the charity of your choice.
