Mary Meador

Laugh as long as you breathe, love as long as you live, her lifetime goal to live by.

A resident of Baton Rouge, Louisiana, died on September 16, 2023 at 2:40 am at her home. She was 93, born on November 2, 1929 in Gilbert, Louisiana and a long time resident of Baton Rouge. She was preceded in death by her college sweetheart, Robert J. Bob Meador, one of LSU’s greatest athletes. They were married fifty years before his death. They were both followers of Jesus Christ, both taught Sunday School and Training School, loved their family and church, Istrouma Baptist, and raised six children. Mary Sue Disch Meador was survived by a daughter, Jan Nell Meador and husband, Dr. Steven Ripple; three sons, Robert Jr. and wife Wendy Reuther, Richard Dean and wife Teri Schaeffer, Russell Elton and wife Laura Lisenby, one daughter-in-law, Catherine Meador Alford and husband James Alford, one son-in-law, Gary Champagne and wife Teresa Cox, and one sister, Nettie Jean Disch McCulley. Thirteen grandchildren and twenty-four great grandchildren; Shelly Lauren Ripple and husband Kyle Rogers, Kate Frances Ripple and husband Jayme Cramer, Ryan James Meador, Weslee Joseph Meador and wife Dr. Danielle Songy, Sarah Catherine Clayton and husband Matt Dyson, Kimberly Grace Meador and husband Stephen Hinton, James Daniel Meador and wife Kaitlin Groeneweg, Jeremy Dean Meador and wife Katelyn Garrett, Mitchell Randolph Meador, Michael Francis Meador and Lauren Leigh Meador, Blake Gabriel Champagne and Joel Patrick Champagne. In addition to her husband, she was preceded in death by two children, Billy Randolph (Randy) Meador, and Frances (Fran) Meador Champagne, one grandchild, Kyle Edward Ripple, parents Willie Joseph and Ella Sue Harris Disch, grandparents Dr. Henry J. and Nettie Blackmon Disch, Samuel Meredith and Mary Webb Harris. She graduated from Istrouma High School where she was a cheerleader, attended LSU where she was also a cheerleader and graduated from Baton Rouge Business College. She was certified as a substitute teacher and worked at many Baton Rouge and Zachary schools. She taught dancing and acrobatics. She taught swimming for many years and especially enjoyed teaching at the Louisiana School for the Blind and the school for the Hearing Impaired. She is a member of the LSU and Cheerleader Alumni Association. She served over 42 years on the Baton Rouge Recreation Park Commission Program Committee and received an award for her volunteer work; Former member of Inter-civic Council and Past President of the Pilot Club of Baton Rouge, a member and past president of the Baton Rouge General Medical Center Mid-City and Bluebonnet Health Center Auxiliary and was a volunteer since 1976, member of the Baton Rouge Retired Teachers Association, a member of the LSU Textile Museum, an active member of the LSU Alumni Association and the LSU Foundation, Associate Member of the Baton Rouge Music Club, an active member of the Istrouma Baptist Church and Sunday School since 1943. She loved her church and her volunteer work, reading, biking, dancing, tennis, all LSU sports, and attending sporting events, especially the ones her children, grandchildren and great grandchildren are involved in. Visitation services will be held on Wednesday, September 20th at 9:00-11:00 am at Istrouma Baptist Church, followed by funeral services at Istrouma Baptist at 11:00 am conducted by Pastor Tim Keith and Pastor Jeff Williams. In lieu of flowers, memorial donations may be made to Istrouma Baptist Church, 10500 Sam Rushing Drive, Baton Rouge, LA 70816, LSU Alumni, LSU Foundation, or the LSU Textile Museum.