Mary Ann Autrey Grogan, affectionately known her whole life by family and friends as Nan or The Matriarch, passed away suddenly on April 5th, 2023. She was 96 years old and the last of the World War II generation in our family. Nan was born on October 10, 1926, to the late Ulric Samuel and Mary Francis Fortune Autrey, SR.  She was married to the late Martin James Grogan, Jr. and together they had three children, Martin James Grogan III, deceased, Nancy Grogan Naremore, deceased, and survived by John Gary Grogan and wife Cynthia.  She was predeceased by her brother Ulric Samuel Autrey, JR., great granddaughter Caroline Murrell and her beloved dog Spanky.

Nan was a 1943 graduate of C.E. Byrd High School.  Nan was a member of ST.  John's Catholic Church.  She was involved in numerous civic organizations and charities in her younger years.

Our Matriarch had eight grandchildren.  Heather Katz, Rebecca Modica, Marti Murrell, Stephen Naremore, Jonathan Grogan, Courtney Revett, Kathryn Kilpatrick and Noelle Gibson.  She had twenty-one great grandchildren and four great great grandchildren. That is thirty-three descendents without mentioning the spouses, niece, cousins, and in-laws who she loved and who loved her.  She relished her role as the matriarch of our family.  Nan was a talker, storyteller and kept her family laughing from all of her stories and adventures. She was so proud of her family and knowing so many generations.

Nan loved being a hostess and traveling with family and friends.  In particular, she loved the Florida panhandle beaches and Sanibel Island.  Nan had many adventures and traveled all over the United States and Mexico.  She went parasailing in her 50's and was still road tripping in her 90's.

At her own request Nan's body was donated to the LSU Health Center for anatomical research.

A service for Nan will be held at Aulds Funeral Home at 7849 E. Kings Highway Saturday, April 15th at 1:00 PM.  In lieu of flowers please make a donation to the Shriners Children Hospital online at shrinerschildren.org.  or to your charity of choice.

If tears could build a stairway and memories a lane.  I'd walk right up to heaven and bring you home again.