Mary Alice Buzzell

Beloved, beautiful mother, daughter, sister and grandmother known as "Mar Mar," Mary Alice went to live with Jesus after an extended illness at 6:52 p.m. Wednesday, March 2, 2011, at her home in Baton Rouge. She was surrounded by her loving family. She was born Sept. 15, 1946, to John E. and Margie Sibley Coxe, of Walker. She is survived by her parents; four children, Joanna Lynn Jackson Haynes and her husband, John Darling Haynes, John Ross Buzzell and his wife, Kelley Heroman Buzzell, Analyn Elizabeth Buzzell and George Taylor Buzzell; two grandsons, John Darling "Blue" Haynes Jr. and Jackson Joseph Haynes; a sister, Lynn Coxe Graham; brother, John E. Coxe Jr.; and beloved granddogs, Allie Haynes and Scarlett Buzzell. She was preceded in death by her husband, Fred L. Buzzell; maternal grandparents, R.W. "Babe" and Myrtle Sibley; paternal grandparents, James Ross and Mary Alice Coxe, and Mary G. Coxe; and numerous Coxe aunts and uncles. Mary Alice was a vibrant, active member of the community, including the Baton Rouge Symphony, until she began her long-fought battle with MELAS, a mitochondrial disease, six years ago. She was valedictorian of her class at Walker High School and graduated with honors from LSU where she was also a member of Chi Omega sorority. She was a pianist for Friendship United Methodist Church in Walker during her youth and was an active member of First United Methodist Church in Baton Rouge for many years. Mary Alice loved small children and taught elementary school for many years. She was a beautiful person, inside and out, with a brilliant, memorable smile who never met a stranger. She had many, many friends. She loved her Lord Jesus Christ and is now secure in his arms. She will be dearly missed here on earth until we see her again in heaven. Visitation at First United Methodist Church, 930 North Blvd., on Monday, March 7, from noon until the funeral service at 2 p.m., conducted by the Rev. Chris Andrews. Burial afterward at Roselawn Cemetery, 4045 North St. Arrangements by Rabenhorst Funeral Homes, 825 Government St. Pallbearers will be Mary Alice's godson and nephew, Bryce Douglas Beals, and his father, Charles Douglas Beals, first cousins, L.N. Coxe Jr., William E. "Bill" Coxe and Richard Arnold Brooks and nephew, Jordan Chaney Coxe. Special thanks to April Tyler for her many years of loving care for Mary Alice, and to Tricia Granier and Sherry Reynolds for their compassionate care in her final days. The family prefers memorial donations be made to help with research to United Mitochondrial Disease Foundation, 8085 Saltsburg Road, Suite 201, Pittsburgh, PA 15239,www.umdf.org" target="_blank" rel="nofollow">http://www.umdf.org">www.umdf.org.