Luwesta “Lou” Ann (Carter) Simien

Luwesta “Lou” Ann (Carter) Simien, age 69 of Austin, Texas, battled for over thirty-years with rheumatoid arthritis. She finally succumbed, ultimately losing her fight, and passing away on Sunday, December 14, 2014. Although her disease would eventually cause severe damage to much of her body, her faith in God remained undiminished, and she continued to believe that one day she would be healed. She is survived by her mother, Cecilia Carter of Beaumont, Texas; her brother, William James Carter of Port Arthur, Texas; three children, H. James Simien of Memphis, Tennessee, Debra Milton and Therry Simien of Austin, Texas; her sister-in-law, Eva Carter; her daughter-in-law, Dorothy Simien; her son-in-law, Robert Milton; her niece, Tiffany Carter; her three grandchildren, Marreon Simien, Ashley Simien and Christopher Taylor; and great grand daughter, Elizabeth Grace Simien. Lou also leaves behind a large extended family of cousins, friends and other relatives.

Born in Beaumont, Texas on October 25, 1945, Lou was one of two children of Willie and Cecilia Carter. Along with her brother, James Carter, Lou attended Blessed Sacrament Catholic School and Church. Known by classmates and church members alike for her beautiful soprano voice, Lou then attended Lamar University after graduating high school in 1963. Majoring in music, she enjoyed traveling and performing with the university choir before leaving school to marry and start a family. After relocating to Baytown, Texas, Lou made a home for her children by working various jobs such as teaching music in the Goose Creek Independent School District and in Montgomery Ward’s jewelry department as a salesperson. As her health began to decline, Lou still worked, often two jobs, to provide for her family. Upon becoming bedridden, Lou relocated to Austin, Texas to live with her daughters.

Over a nearly two year period, Lou worked with physical therapy, to first graduate to a wheelchair and then to a quad-walker and finally to a walking cane. After regaining her independence, she continued to do what she did best, provide after-school care for her grandson, Christopher, providing meals and love while her daughter, Debra attended nursing school. For her work, Christopher gave her a new name, “MoMo.” Lou became bed bound two more times in her life, each time relearning how to walk. The last period, she fought to regain her strength so that she could assist her brother, James, in the care of their elderly mother who had taken ill. Often living with her mother for six to eight weeks at a time, Lou proudly provided meals, company and compassion for over five years. When rheumatoid arthritis finally moved into her lungs, her health worsened dramatically with Lou spending nearly 15 of the last 24 months in hospital care before entering hospice just one month ago.

Lou’s daily display of resilience, determined attitude, and unshakeable faith in an all-merciful God was both deeply moving to witness, and simply inspirational to everyone that met her. Her life was a long illustration of one very important lesson: Each day your will can get you up for one more day, to work one more day, to breathe one more day and to love one more day. Her family was her proudest accomplishment and she was determined that it would be her lasting legacy. We will always love her and her memory will continually remind us that though the body may fail, the spirit is everlasting.