Anne Hartley Bagot Meric, age 91, died peacefully on Thursday, April 30, 2020.Born December 22, 1928, she is survived by T. Sellers Meric, her loving husband of 70 years, and by her four children: Betsie Meric Gambel, Debbie Meric Ford (Terry), Tommy Meric (Mina Eagan) and Emily Meric Serpas (Hank III, deceased). “Mimi” was adored by her nine grandchildren: Gregory Gambel (Krista) and Meric Gambel (Page); Katherine, Amy and Terry Stephen Ford; Hartley Meric Crunk (Blair) and Thomas Meric (Caroline); and Hank and Sellers Serpas, and six great grandchildren. She was preceded in death by her parents, Anne and James Bagot and her sister, Emily Bagot Kuebel (Robert). Anne’s mother, Mama Bagot, lived with the Meric family for over 30 years after her husband died at a young age.
One of the First Families of Virginia, Anne was born in Richmond and moved with her family to New Orleans as a young girl. She attended Ursuline Academy, McMain High School and LSU, where she was a member of Kappa Delta Sorority. She and Sellers enjoyed a full life centered on family. Their Lakewood South home welcomed countless friends of all ages, many of whom considered Anne their second mother, and Monday night dinners at the signature round glass dining table included many.
Anne was a board member of Raintree House and active in the Mothers’ Club of New Orleans Academy. She treasured being one of the Fantasticks, a group of girl friends from high school who took every occasion to celebrate, especially at their annual Mardi Gras luncheon in the French Quarter. They even bought a 30-year time share in Cancun when they were in their 60s, prompting Sellers’ comment that they should call themselves the Optimists!
As a young professional, Anne worked at IBM where, her husband teases, she opted to buy clothes rather than stock with her salary. Then motherhood came quickly, with four children in five years.
Anne’s life with Sellers and the children revolved around activities at the Southern Yacht Club, sailing on the Bamsy and Riptide and enjoying weekend excursions on the High Tide exploring the barrier islands in the Mississippi Sound. When Hurricane Katrina displaced them from their home which bordered the 17th Street Canal, they lived on the High Tide for 18 months in Lacombe Harbor. As soon as Anne got a washing machine, life in close quarters was just fine!
Anne loved entertaining at their Mandeville “co-op” home, Happy Knoll, which became a beacon for sailors in the region, and at their home at Henderson Point near Pass Christian, MS, where on any given weekend, multi generations gathered to sail, swim, waterski, play tennis, fish, and, of course, eat and drink. She even had her own skiff, the Crab Lady. Anne’s joie de vivre fostered a household of camaraderie, whether guests stayed for a day, a week or longer. Bacon and eggs every morning, dinner “cook offs” and the annual Easter Egg Hunt included everyone as part of the family.
Anne Hartley’s life was always about others, never about herself. Beloved by everyone she met, she lived life to the fullest, always smiling and laughing, even in her waning days when she was too fragile to move. Her love of life, her boundless joy and her precious friendship will be missed by all who knew her.
The family wants to thank her sitters and Hospice at Chateau de Notre Dame for their care.
A private funeral mass will be held, Saturday, May 2, at 11:00 am, at Greenwood Funeral Home with interment at Lake Lawn Mausoleum. Mass will be broadcast live on Greenwood Funeral Home’s Facebook page. https://www.facebook.com/greenwoodfh/videos/
In lieu of flowers, the family asks that donations be made in Anne Meric’s name to the charity of choice.
Please visit www.greenwoodfh.com , to download the Funeral Mass program, share your thoughts, fond memories and condolences.
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