Mary Lou Bowman Riker

Mary Lou (Bowman) Riker, of Baton Rouge, Louisiana passed away peacefully on July 28, 2026 at BR General Hospital surrounded by family and friends.

Mary Lou attended Sacred Heart, St. Joseph Academy and Delta Business College before working in the hotel industry at the Capitol House Hotel where she met her husband, Thomas Riker. Together they worked for AC Lewis Realty as managers of the Savoy Plaza Apartments. During their marriage of 47 years, they were actively involved in their parish church, Our Lady of Mercy. Mary Lou had a devotion to the Blessed Mother and always prayed her rosary with special intentions for anyone she knew who needed prayers.

She loved hosting holiday gatherings. She was known for her love of cooking, especially her fig cookies and cornbread dressing, which were favorites of her friends and family. Her love language was gift giving and she always had something to give others. You couldn't leave her house empty-handed.

She was devoted to her family and is preceded in death by her husband Thomas Riker and her parents Byron George and Mary Bowman.

She is survived by her daughter Sherri (Montagnino) and husband David and her daughter Mary (Coghlan) Riker. She is also survived by the biggest joys in her life, her grandchildren, Gabrielle (deGraauw) and her husband Michael, Emma Coghlan and Carson Coghlan.

She is also remembered with great love by her best friends Suzie Harlan and Denise Skillern, her goddaughter Roxanne Loreno, her bonus daughter, Amy Mims and numerous friends and relatives.

Pallbearers will be Carson Coghlan, Lee Crow, Michael deGraauw, Mark Loreno, David Montagnino and Phillip Skillern.

Visiting hours will be held on Monday, August 3rd from 9:00am-10:00am. A Funeral Mass will be celebrated by Father Cleo Milano immediately following at 10:00am both held at Our Lady of Mercy Catholic Church 445 Marquette Avenue, Baton Rouge, LA. Burial to follow immediately at Resthaven Gardens of Memory 11817 Jefferson Hwy, Baton Rouge, LA.

The family would like to thank the doctors and nurses of the BR General Bluebonnet ICU, especially Nurses Amelia, Anna and Antoinette who we will always be grateful to for her care.

In lieu of flowers, the family requests that donations may be made to Our Lady of Mercy Church or Our Lady of Mercy School and St. Joseph Abbey.

Family and friends may sign the online guestbook or leave a personal note to the family at www.resthavenbatonrouge.com.