Mary Lou Pierson Brown

Yes

After high school, I went to SMU in Dallas for 2 years and then transferred to LSU in l964. Phil and I met at LSU during Jambalaya Jamboree in 1965 and we married March 25, 1967.

Because Phil was U.S. Air Force, we have lived around the country: San Antonio (68-74), Cincinnati (74-77), Lake Ridge, VA (77-86), Farmington, Utah (86-90), Wright Patterson AFB, Ohio (90-92), Honeoye Falls (Rochester), NY (92-2003); happily at home in Natchitoches since fall 2003.

I had my own typing/transcribing business in our home while we lived in the Washington D.C. area. Then I worked for Clarke American check printers in Utah and Ohio, where I was the plant accounting manager in Columbus, Ohio. I left that position when we moved to Rochester, NY where Phil went to work for Eastman Kodak, and I worked for Xerox 11 years in consumables contract marketing. We both retired from those companies in 2003 and moved back to Natchitoches.

Phil and I have both spent lots of time volunteering over the years, and we have enjoyed doing that in Natchitoches. We are very involved with Habitat for Humanity, and Phil has been Treasurer of APHN (Association for Preservation of Historic Natchitoches) -- yes, a man on the APHN Board! We're members of First Presbyterian Church and stay busy with their activities. I'm involved with the Children's Historic Tour which is a wonderful experience for all the 3rd graders in Natchitoches Parish each September.

I remember wonderful times on the band bus. When I ran for (and was elected) FBLA state and national treasurer, Mrs. Lewis and so many classmates helped us make signs, cotton bales out of little wood blocks, signs on small Tabasco bottles, etc. The trips to Washington D.C. and Cincinnati for the National FBLA conventions were highlights -- and very interesting that during our years in the Air Force, our family lived in both of those places.

A favorite story is about a Christmas Festival week-end when "Miss Physical Culture of Louisiana," Sherry Boucher (pronounced Butcher)and her parents were at my house. Bob Dixon and a bunch of friends were there. At the end of the evening when the Bouchers were leaving, Bob said, "Good night, Mr. and Mrs. Slaughter."