Mary Lou McEachern Rountree was born in Port Sulphur and graduated from Port Sulphur High School, class of 1966.  She attended LSU and studied English  and Art.  During her senior year at LSU she married her college sweetheart, Jim Rountree. They have three children and five grandchildren with one on the way. Mary Lou has been a high school teacher most of her life, teaching either English, Art, or Art History. She is an award-winning artist whose work has been exhibited in regional and national galleries. Among her awards are:  Best of Show, Best Professional Painting, Louisiana Festival of Art.  Louisiana Watercolor Society, LSU Union Gallery, Best of Louisiana Women Artists, and Peoples Choice Award.