Mary Ruth Harper's Obituary
Mary Ruth Wade Harper died Friday, June 12, 2009 at the age of 79.
Beloved mother of Lisa Harper-Cairns; loving grandmother of Jack R. Ramirez, Luke W. Ramirez, Hollie Ramirez Power, Kate Ramirez Kelley, Blake H. Cairns, Joel E. Cairns, Virginia “Jenna” Cairns, Madeline “Maddi” Cairns, Lara-Elise Cairns, Shannon E. Hicks, Brandon J. Hicks and Jason B. Hicks; great-grandmother of Jenna, Ryan, Austin, Jack and Callie Hicks, and Paris and Alona Power; and sister of Toye Cappel and Dorothy Masinter. She is also survived by numerous nieces, nephews and cousins. She was preceded in death by her husband of 55 years, Jack B. Harper; a daughter, Alona Harper Hicks; her mother, Myrtie Virginia Ammons Wade; her father, John Daniel Wade; and five sisters, Mable McKinney, Jessie McDaniel, Tina Paul, Alice Nye and Eddie Marie Wade.
A native of Negreet, LA and a resident of Mandeville, LA, she attended McNeese State University and played on the Girls Basketball team. In 1948, she won a National Beauty Contest sponsored by Ralph Edward’s Truth or Consequences Radio Program and Republic Pictures. After winning the contest, she left Lake Charles and went to Hollywood and played “The Pioneer Girl” in the movie “The Plunders”, starring, Rod Cameron and Forrest Tucker. In 1949, she was crowned Miss Houston and continued as a professional model. Later in life, she owned “Yoga by Mary” in Metairie, LA, where she taught Yoga for many years before moving to Mandeville, LA. Mary was a fun loving “trip” and she will be deeply missed by all whose lives she touched.
Relatives and friends of the family are invited to a Celebration of Christian Burial on Wednesday, June 17, 2009 at 11:00 AM at Our Lady of the Lake Catholic Church, 312 Lafitte Street, Mandeville, LA 70448.
A wake will be held on Tuesday, June 16, 2009 from 6:00 to 9:00 PM at E.J. Fielding Funeral Home, 2260 West 21st Avenue, Covington, LA 70433.
On Wednesday, visitation AT THE CHURCH will be from 10:00 AM until service time.
Interment will follow Mass at Garden of Memories Cemetery in Metairie, LA.
What’s your fondest memory of Mary?
What’s a lesson you learned from Mary?
Share a story where Mary's kindness touched your heart.
Describe a day with Mary you’ll never forget.
How did Mary make you smile?