PAUL “PETE” E. BARIA

1928-2021

Paul “Pete” Edwin Baria, age 92, passed away Monday, the 22nd of February 2021, after complications from pneumonia. A loving husband, father and grandfather, he will be dearly missed by his family, friends and caregivers.

Pete was born in Gulfport, MS on the 23rd of August 1928, and was the youngest of five. Much of his youth was spent on the water sailing, shrimping, and oystering. Pete’s father worked for the railroad and took in family members from all across the country during the Great Depression, filling Pete’s childhood home with lots of cousins, aunts and uncles. The family later relocated to Hattiesburg, MS.

Early in his adult life, Pete learned to travel the world. He enlisted in the U.S. Army at the age of 18 and was stationed in Seoul, South Korea as a supply sergeant before the war. He received his honorable discharge and attended Mississippi State College on the GI Bill, earning a B.S. in Petroleum Geology. In 1951, Pete went to Venezuela as a Geophysicist with Socony Vacuum of Venezuela (Mobil) where he worked on seismic crews laying geophones through thick jungle and across streams and rivers filled with anaconda and caribes (piranha). In Caracas, Pete met his future wife Mary, an ex-pat who had grown up in the Exxon oil camps. In 1954, Pete joined Conorada Petroleum Corporation as a Geologist in Libya taking him into many remote areas of the desert. Later that year, Mary joined Pete in Tripoli where they were married. Their daughter Nancy was born there. In 1956, Pete returned with his family to Caracas where they lived for 4 years while he worked for Conoco. During that time their younger daughter Marcie was born.

Pete’s career with Conoco took him around the world. In 1961 on a business trip to Ethiopia, Pete survived a plane crash into a river, suffering second degree burns on his hands and forehead. As a testimony to his courage, he would continue to travel worldwide in his job from homes in NYC, Houston and Westport, CT. In 1963, he attended the Harvard Business School’s PMD program.

In 1969 the family moved to London, England where Pete established an international oil company, eventually acquiring concessions in the North Sea, Africa and the

Far East. In 1972, he joined Zapata Corporation and remained in London until the family’s return to Houston in 1980. In 1986, Pete retired from his position as Chairman and CEO of Zapata Exploration. Mary had been diagnosed with metastatic breast cancer, stage 4 and their lives became centered around her care. Pete navigated her care for almost 18 more years. He became a longtime volunteer at St. Luke’s hospital with Mary. After Mary’s passing in 2004, Pete remained in Houston to be close to family.

Pete is predeceased by his beloved wife Mary Murphy Baria, his parents George Emory Baria and Pauline Chastang Baria and his siblings George Emory Baria Jr., Joseph Murry Baria,

Aline Baria Butler and Julia Baria Showers, his nephew Paul C. Baria, and his nieces Pauline Butler and Julia Mount. He is survived by his daughter Marcelite Baria Bristol, son-in-law David A. Bristol, Jr, and granddaughters Louisa Christine Bristol and Isabelle Marcelite Bristol all of Houston, TX, and his daughter Nancy

Baria Richards of Savannah, GA and granddaughter Mary Bryarly Richards and grandson Andrew Ward Richards of Washington, D.C.; He is also survived by his nephews Larry Baria of Jackson, MS, Jack Showers of

Lafayette, LA, Murry Baria of El Macero, CA and his nieces Lynn Baria of Corpus Christi, TX and Emory Bradley of Ponchatoula, LA.

Our thanks to Pete’s wonderful caregivers Nory, Neri and Jovi who kept him safe and healthy.

A private family gathering will be held at a later date at St. Martin’s Episcopal Church.

An avid reader, Pete turned to audiobooks after developing macular degeneration. In lieu of customary remembrances, please make a donation to Friends of Spring Branch Memorial Library, 930 Corbindale St., Houston, TX 77024; St. Martin’s Episcopal Church, 717 Sage Road, Houston, TX 77056; or to the charity of one’s choice.

Mary Louise Emrich, of Houston, Texas, died from congestive heart failure at her home on Wednesday, the 3rd of March 2021.

Mary Louise (known as “Mazie” to those from her youth), was the loving wife to Bill, of Dallas, Texas, and mother to sons Bill Jr. and Charles. Her sons, daughterin-law and grandchildren were with for her birthday just a month prior to her passing. She was 96.

Mary Louise was born at home in Vicksburg, Mississippi, on the 31st of January 1925, to Charles and Mary Wright. She attended public schools through high school and graduated from Carr Central High School in 1942. She then briefly attended

Ole Miss before transferring to LSU where she studied sociology and was a member of the Kappa Delta sorority, and became a life-long Tiger fan.

After college, Mary Louise returned to Vicksburg where she worked at the Waterways Experiment Station where she met Bill. When he arrived at Mary Louise’s house for their first date, Bill was wearing a Stetson, but she refused to go out with him until he took the hat off, and he never wore it again. Things went smoothly after that, and they were married on the 4th of August 1950.

Shortly after, Bill’s 434th Army reserve battalion was called up to serve in the Korean conflict. The day after their first Christmas together, he left for South Korea and Mary Louise again returned to Vicksburg. While there, she gave birth to their first son, Bill Jr., who was born on the 19th of May, 1951.

Once her husband returned to Vicksburg, after a year and a half in the army, Mary Louise and Bill left with their young family for work in

West Virginia and Massachusetts. After three years of cold weather, they returned to the South to Mobile, Alabama, where they lived for six years. While there, Mary Louise had their second son, Charles, on the 25th of August 1957.

In 1962, Mary Louise and Bill moved again, this time to New Orleans, Louisiana, where they lived for 15 years. While Bill worked, Mary Louise was kept very busy participating in neighborhood events with her close friends and taking care of her two rambunctious munchkins.

In 1977, they moved to their final home in Houston. With her children grown and on their own, Mary Louise became more active socially and joined several community organizations. She was particularly engaged with Bayou Bend where she met many of her lifelong friends and served as a docent for many years. Mary Louise was also a member of the Kappa Delta Alumni Group, the Brown Thumb Garden Club, the Museum of Fine Arts Houston, The Petroleum Club and St. Martin’s Episcopal Church.

Mary Louise and Bill enjoyed spending time with family, and particularly having their grandchildren visit and watching them grow. They also enjoyed traveling in the United States and abroad and just being with friends at home.

Mary Louise is survived by her son Bill Jr. and his wife Lady of Huntsville, Alabama, and son Charles of Houston. She is also survived by her grandson, Joshua Emrich and his wife Lisa of Grapevine, Texas, and by her granddaughter, Rebekah Emrich Wharton and her husband David of Atlanta, Georgia; along with five great-grandchildren. She was preceded in death by her dear husband Bill; her parents, Charles Randolph and Mary Elizabeth Wright; and by her grandson, Ethan Emrich.

A memorial service will be conducted at four o’clock in the afternoon on Friday, the 12th of March 2021, at St. Martin’s Episcopal Church, 717 Sage Road in Houston, and will be available to live stream at https://stmartinsepiscopal.org/funerals/.

At a later date, the family will gather for a private inurnment at Cedar Hill Cemetery in Vicksburg, Mississippi.

In lieu of customary remembrances, the family requests with gratitude that donations in Mary Louise’s memory be directed to Bayou Bend, or to the charity of one’s choice.