Margaret Elizabeth Roberts

Margaret Andrus Roberts passed away on October 24, 2016 at the age of 94. She was born in Ragley, Louisiana in 1922 and lived in Southwest Louisiana most of her life. She graduated from Beauregard High School at the age of 16. In 1941, Margaret received the very first diploma awarded from Lake Charles Junior College – later to be named McNeese State University. She then attended Southwestern Louisiana Institute which later became the University of Louisiana at Lafayette.

Margaret was always a hard worker and held many interesting jobs throughout her life. During World War II, she worked as a civilian employee at Harlingen Army Airfield. After the war she continued in government employment in Memphis and later Washington, D.C. Margaret then returned to Lake Charles and worked for the District Attorney’s office where she met her future husband Deputy Sheriff Richard Roberts. She was a civilian employee at Chennault Air Force Base, an accomplished Legal Secretary for law firms in Lake Charles and Executive Secretary for the Imperial Calcasieu Planning Commission. After retirement, she started her own business, Lake Area Marketing.

Margaret was a life-long member of First Baptist Church of Lake Charles and a Sunday School teacher for many years. She was active in the American Legion Auxiliary and served a term as Louisiana State President. Margaret was well-known by friends and family as a great cook. She won the first American Press recipe contest and later assembled a cookbook that was cherished by a select few who received a copy.

Even though she resided in Texas the last few years of her life, Margaret’s heart was still in Louisiana. Everyone who met her soon learned about her home state. She loved Lake Charles, McNeese, Popeye’s Chicken and the New Orleans Saints. With her Saints blanket on her bed and her Drew Brees poster on her wall, she watched her Louisiana teams every chance she got. The highlight of her recent years was being honored as a Golden Scholar and first graduate during McNeese’s 75th anniversary celebration.

Margaret Roberts is survived by two sons, Dick Roberts Jr and wife Becky, and Mark Roberts Sr.; grandchildren Trey Roberts and wife Kristin, Drew Roberts and wife Juliana, Mark Roberts Jr and Mallory Roberts; and seven great grandchildren.

Her memorial service will be held at 11:00 AM on Friday, October 28, 2016 at the Johnson Funeral Home Chapel. Reverend Darrell Spencer will officiate. Burial will follow in Prien Memorial Park. Visitation will be at the funeral home on Thursday from 4:00 PM to 8:00 PM and continue on Friday from 8:00 AM until the start of the service.