Marilyn was preceded in death by her parents, her older sister, Betty Jane Folse Lewis Bennett, her son, Robert Lee Emery IV and her four husbands, Robert Lee Emery III, Herrick Johnson (“Buddy”) Lane, Jr., Robert Edward Williams III, and Bruce William Merrill.
Marilyn attended Holy Name of Jesus school throughout her elementary and high school years and went on to graduate from Sophie Newcomb College in fine arts. She then worked as a drafts-person for an oil company until she assumed the demanding role of homemaker and mother. In 1967 Marilyn began working as an elementary teacher in the New Orleans public schools while attending night and summer classes to earn her second degree in education. After attaining that goal, she served as a special needs teacher for 16 years in the New Orleans Public Schools, until her retirement. Then she and her husband, Buddy Lane, began a new chapter in their lives, relocated to Point Clear, Alabama and built a home on the Grand Hotel golf course. Marilyn and Buddy were married for 35 years, until his death; and after Buddy’s passing Marilyn eventually found new love through the game of Bridge and married Bob Williams. Following Bob’s death in 2014 she moved to Nashville to be near her daughter, Nell, where she
met and ultimately married Bruce Merrill, with whom she spent most of her remaining three years.
A devout Catholic and most gracious hostess, Marilyn had a way of making those she cared about feel special. A good friend described her best, writing “Marilyn gives more and expects less in return than anyone I know. She is so good she nearly makes me want to be a catholic, although I don’t think her faith is the only thing that makes her special. She just is and doesn’t even know it.”
Marilyn is survived by her younger sister, Mary Margaret Folse
Hillery Babin (Hunter), her children; Michael Folse Emery, Nell Bernadette Emery Adams (Mark), Giddings Mabry Emery (Lisa), her seven grandchildren, Cyrus McCoy Adams II, Nell Jennings Adams DeVoe (Elliott), Herrick Lane Adams, Clayton Pierce Adams, Herrick Louis Emery, William Chandler Emery, Leland Michelle Emery and a multitude of nieces and nephews.
A visitation for Marilyn, will be held on Friday, July 31, 2020 at 10:00 AM in Holy Name of Jesus Catholic Church, 6367 St.
Charles Avenue, New Orleans, LA 70118, followed by a Funeral Mass at 11:00 AM. A private internment for family will take place in The Garden of Memories Cemetery, 4800 Airline Drive, New Orleans, LA 70001. In lieu of flowers the family would be grateful for donations to Holy Name of Jesus School 6325 Cromwell Place, New Orleans, LA 70118.
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