Emrey Harp

Our extraordinary mother, Emrey Harp, passed away on September 11, 2024.

She was born Beryl Emrey Liles on June 6, 1930 in Bastrop, Louisiana to the union of Nelson Pickett Liles, M.D. and Sarah Beryl Mary “Maisie” (nee Emrey) Liles.

She grew up in Bastrop enjoying all the attention bestowed upon the youngest of four children. It was there that she developed a love for the outdoors – horseback riding on their Tennessee Walking Horses, gardening, quail hunting and fishing. She loved following her father everywhere he went - swimming, listening to Gospel singing at the church behind their house and accompanying him on house calls. These are memories that would last a lifetime and were the source of many wonderful stories she liked to tell. Her mother and father gave her the greatest gift of all, a love for family.

She attended Bastrop High School and graduated from LSU with a Journalism degree in 1951. While attending LSU she was a member of the Kappa Delta Sorority.

On June 5, 1954 she married her high school sweetheart, Eldred Lee “Red” Harp. Their early marriage consisted of frequent moves around Louisiana, due to Red’s position with LP&L. During this time they welcomed two daughters, Laura and Susan. After the passing of Red, she relocated to Baton Rouge to be closer to her children and grandchildren.

She loved to reminisce on the trips she took with her family, often reminding her grandchildren about all of the fond memories she had. She would complete daily crossword puzzles which helped keep her memory sharp - down to remembering every family member's birthday, even extended family. Her love for dogs and animals passed down for generations and she always loved to get pictures and videos of their adventures.

“Mem” or “Aunt Em” loved her family deeply. She and Red started the annual Liles family reunion in 1981. This has resulted in a large, close-knit group of people who can’t wait to get together every year and this tradition continues today. Her habit of telling her family, “How much you mean to me”, “You don’t know how special you are to me”, or “I love you so, so much” every time she talked to you will be greatly missed and is part of the legacy of showing love that she leaves to all of us.

Emrey will be lovingly remembered by her children, Laura Liles Harp Simoneaux and husband Kirk John, and Susan Emrey Harp; by her three grandchildren, Bradlee John Simoneaux and wife Kelley Jean Brooks (Mary Brooks, Wheeler John, and William “Wells” Newell), Taylor Nelson Simoneaux, Amanda Clare Simoneaux Bock and husband Tayler Miles (Tucker Miles, Turner Milton, and soon to be born Emrey Clare - named after her great-grandmother), and many nieces and nephews that she adored.

She is preceded in death by her beloved husband, Eldred Lee Harp, her parents Dr. Nelson Pickett Liles and Sarah Beryl Mary Emrey Liles; her brother, Dr. William Burchall Liles and his wife, Sara Frances Hinkle; her sister, Maisie Monica Broyles and her husband, Dr. Joe Edison Broyles; her brother, Nelson “Buddy” Emile Liles and his wife, Ernestine Gowan; her granddaughter, Kelly Liles Simoneaux; her grandson by marriage, Layton Cole Crawford; her nephew Richard Desmond Liles.

Pallbearers are Bradlee John Simoneaux, Taylor Nelson Simoneaux, Tayler Miles Bock, Stephen Edward Broyles, Jr., Matthew Stephen Chappellie, Patrick Nelson Broyles, Nelson Robert Liles, Thomas Barrett Liles, William Bartling Liles, MD, James Clarence Lopez, Jr. and Jon Daniel Trickett.

Honorary Pallbearers are Kirk John Simoneaux, Joseph Edison Broyles, MD, Joseph Nelson Broyles, MD, Stephen Edward Broyles, Charles Michael Chappellie, Arthur Emrey Liles, MD, Douglas Nelson Liles, MD, William Jerome Burchall Liles, Jr., MD, James Clarence Lopez, John Fletcher Redman, MD and William Robert Trickett.

The funeral will be held at All Saints Anglican Church at 4201 Forsythe Ave. on Tuesday, September 17th. Please join us at 10 am for a friends and family breakfast reception in Woods Hall. The church service will begin at 11 am and burial will immediately follow at Mulhearn Memorial Park at 623 Highway 80 E.

Reception to follow burial, all friends and family are welcome.

In lieu of flowers, we request donations be made to The Layton Crawford Scholarship in Mechanical Engineering at Louisiana Tech University. https://securelb.imodules.com/s/810/rd/interior.aspx?sid=810&gid=1&pgid=340&cid=860&dids= 153