Mary Ellen Price

Mary Ellen was born on June 28, 1930 in Greenville, Mississippi, to Rhena and Whitson Clements and passed away on May 18, 2021. During her childhood, the family moved often due to her father’s occupation and Mary Ellen attributed her outgoing personality to the fact that she had to make friends quickly wherever they went. She liked to share stories of growing up during the Depression when times were hard and people were grateful for simple things. One such story is that of a man who lived with them for a time and taught her how to play poker at a young age, a gift for card playing that she would enjoy for many years. She attended Ward-Belmont Women’s College in Nashville, Tennessee, where she learned business skills which would prepare her for a career after college. She also enjoyed music lessons and was a talented singer and pianist. Mary Ellen loved to tell the story of having Joanne Woodward, the actress, as a roommate and also got to sing on stage with Minnie Pearl, a famous country singer in Nashville. From Nashville, she moved to New Orleans with her parents and went to work for Shell Oil Company as the secretary to one of the executives. It was there that Mary Ellen met Jere Price, a salesman and young businessman, who would become her husband of 66 years. Another story she loved to tell is that of his proposal to her in the Sazerac Bar at the Roosevelt Hotel. In 1952, they were married at St. Agnes Catholic Church in Baton Rouge, Jere’s home town, where they would stay and raise their family of four children, Ken( Jere K. Price, JR.), Leigh Ellen, Paula and Greg. They later became lifelong members of St. Aloysius Church and school where they all attended. Jere and Mary Ellen started a business together which would become Moody-Price, Inc. and remains that name today. Although Mary Ellen was a smart businesswoman, she felt that her main job was to take care of her home and children. An excellent cook, she loved to have everyone over for family dinners as her family grew to 13 grandchildren and 4 great grandchildren. She and Jere enjoyed traveling and spending time in some of their favorite places, like New York City and Pensacola Beach, Florida where they had a home for many years. Mary Ellen moved to Hammond, Louisiana, to be nearer to her daughter Leigh Ellen after Jere died in 2018. There, she was lovingly cared for by the staff at Landmark Nursing Home and, later, Oak Park Village Assisted Living Facility where she was loved by all who knew her. In her final days, we heard many stories about how Mrs. Mary, as they called her, would keep them hopping with her sassy wit, strong will and generosity. A special thank you to the nurses, caregivers, sitters and angels who blessed Mary Ellen along her journey and comforted her family with grace and dignity. Mary Ellen is preceded in death by her parents, her brother, numerous friends and her beloved husband, Jere. She is survived by her children: Dr. Jere Kenwood Price, Jr. and wife Cassie; Leigh Ellen Price Shafer and husband Duane; Paula Price Cahill and husband Mike; Gregory Brian Price; thirteen grandchildren and four great grandchildren; and Martha Robertson, a beloved friend. Visitation will be at Rabenhorst Funeral Home, 825 Government Street, Baton Rouge, LA, from 11:00 am until 1:00 pm, on Friday, May 21, 2021 followed by the funeral service at Rabenhorst. Interment will follow at Roselawn Memorial Park. Pallbearers: James Price, Brad Shafer, Matt Pittari, Mike Cahill, Christopher Price and Duane Shafer. In lieu of flowers, please donate to Fleur de Life Foundation for Modern Hospice. 15781 Professional Plaza, Hammond, LA 70403.