Loula “Lou” Richard Cooper-Meche

On Nov. 30, 2021, Loula (Lou) Richard Cooper-Meche passed away, peacefully, in her sleep.
Lou was born on July 21, 1931, in Lyons Point to Wilson and Viola Guidry Richard. She graduated from St. Michael High School in Crowley in 1948.
After high school she went to Lake Charles in search of work. That was where she met and married Troy Cooper in 1957. After Troy’s graduation from college, Troy joined the military and Lou became an Army wife.
As an Army bride and young mother, they lived in San Marcus, Texas, and Fort Rucker, Alabama, where Gina was born. Cherie was born 13 months later.
She flew by herself with her daughter Gina at 16 months old and Cherie at 3 months old to meet Troy at their station at Poitiers, France. They returned to the U.S. three years later to Fort Eustis, Virginia, Fort Benning, Georgia, back to Europe for 1 1/2 years in Frankfurt, Germany, and finally New Cumberland, Pennsylvania. Her daughters fondly remember that wherever they moved, Lou had their belongings unpacked and made a home within hours of arriving.
Following her divorce, she and her daughters moved back home to Crowley, where Lou trained as a beautician and opened her business, “Head Hunters”. Her daughters remember those as happy years, where in true Miss Lou style, she became the “cool mom’ to all their friends and their home became the hub of their social lives.
Once her girls were in college, Lou met and married her favorite dance partner in life, Emery Meche. Together they created a welcoming home full of wonderful aromas of Cajun food and the most competitive Bourre’ games ever played. Once in the door, she made you family.
She spent the last 15 months of her life living with her daughter Cherie and her partner Steve in Madison, Wisconsin, where she enjoyed the wildlife outside her window and particularly a bird garden, they made for her in the backyard.
She will be remembered with deep love and affection as a great dancer, lover of Cajun music, a wicked card player and her way of making strangers feel like family.
Miss Lou is survived by her daughters Gina Cooper Neumeyer of Crowley, and Cherie Cooper Smith, (Steve DeMarb), of Madison, Wisconsin, as well as her one granddaughter, Kathryn “Katie” Neumeyer Schmaltz, (Jason Schmaltz) of Crowley; and two great-granddaughters, Ella, and Greta. She is further survived by her many Meche stepchildren, grandchildren, and great grandchildren.
She was preceded in death by her parents; her brother Russell; and her husband Emery Meche.
Pallbearers will be Mike Smith, Adam Smith, Troy Meche, John Guidry, Ronnie Spell and Barry Meche.
Honorary pallbearers will be Steve DeMarb, Jason Schmaltz, Terry Guidry, Raphael Meche, Chuck Vondenstein and Neil Schexnaider.
The family wishes to thank Heartland Hospice Madison, Wisconsin, for their amazing care and support, her wonderful caregivers and Southwind Nursing and Rehabilitation.
A Mass of Christian Burial will be held at 10 am Thursday, Dec. 16, at Immaculate Heart of Mary Catholic Church in Crowley.
Officiating for the services is Father Clint Trahan, pastor of Sacred Heart of Jesus Catholic Church in Port Barre.
The family is requesting visiting hours to be held Wednesday from 2 p.m.to 8 p.m. with a rosary being recited at 6 p.m. and Thursday from 8 a.m. to 9:30 a.m. at Geesey-Ferguson Funeral Home in Crowley.
Entombment will be in St. Joseph Mausoleum in Rayne.
Condolences may by sent to the family by www.geesey-ferguson.com.
Arrangements have been entrusted to Geesey-Ferguson Funeral Home of Crowley.