Muriel L Bates

On Thursday, Sept. 20, 2012 at 8:55 a.m., our precious mother passed from this world. She was a force of nature and brought joy to every life she touched. She was dearly loved by all who knew her. She was a lady in every way but loved to have fun. She did many things and all of them well. She was a great cook and an advocate for the elderly. As a Nursing Home Administrator, she was loved and respected by her staff, the residents and their families. She ran a tight ship and earned the admiration of the entire medical community. She was born in Avoyelles Parish on January 11, 1925 and was one of 69 first cousins on just the Lemoine side. She was a great athlete, playing softball and basketball. She held a state record in shot put that was not broken until she was well into her sixties. She was an amazing dancer and when she and her brother Audrey took the floor to jitterbug, everyone stood back to watch the show. She was a ferocious Tiger football fan and she and our dad had season tickets for over 40 years. They never missed a game. They treasured the memory of being in the stadium and witnessing Billy Cannon's legendary run. She expected our best, but her love was unchanging and unconditional if we failed. Her life was a prayer and every task, no matter how mundane, was done with joy. She was a tigress in her care for us. She always had our backs and was the first one at our sides if we were hurt in any way. She was fierce, beautiful, strong, loving and loyal. She was incapable of subterfuge or duplicity of any kind. What you saw was what you got. She was completely real. Though she had a long and wonderful life, we wish we could have had her longer. She outlived her husband, all of her siblings and most of her friends. She was ready to meet God and could not wait to see her beloved husband and brothers and sisters. We were so blessed to have her as a mother, grandmother and great grandmother. We will miss her every day of our lives. She was preceded in death by her husband, Charles E. Bates; her parents, Henri Jean Baptiste Lemoine and Procedese Angelle Novo Lemoine; her siblings: Audrey Lemoine, Byrdie Lemoine Gauthier, Norvin Lemoine and Mildred Lemoine Laborde. She is survived by her daughters, Marsha L. Bates and Sandra and Paul Napoli; her grandchildren, Darrel Hudson, Karl and Renee Hudson, Dawn Martinez, Amy Ieyoub, Nicole and Arthur Murray and Brennan and Joy Ieyoub; her great grandchildren, Joshua and Nathan Martinez, Kristina and Emily Hudson, Nicolas Bazan IV and Antonia and Lila Murray. Pallbearers will be Brennan Ieyoub, Karl Hudson, Joshua and Nathan Martinez, Paul Napoli and Arthur Murray. Honorary pallbearers are Nicolas Bazan IV, Mark and Bruce Laborde, Michael and Bobby Gauthier and Keith Lemoine. We wish to thank the staff of St. Joseph's Hospice for the compassionate care they provided, allowing us to keep her in our home. We also want to thank Cindy, Deshea and Alvin for their help with Mom's care. Visiting and a rosary will be held Sunday the 23rd from 4 p.m. to 7 p.m. at Greenoaks Funeral Home on Florida Boulevard. On Monday the 24th, visiting will be at 11 a.m., followed by the service at noon in the Greenoaks chapel. Burial in Greenoaks cemetery will follow immediately after the service. A light has gone out in this world, but we know she will illuminate the Heavens with the joyful presence of her soul.