Margaret Lou Roybal Gutierrez was a daughter of noted potters Tonita and Juan Roybal. She was the sister of Marie Roybal and JD Royal.  She was young (only 10) when her mother passed away and in 1957 she married and moved to Santa Clara pueblo. She only began to make pottery in 1971 under the tutelage of her father. The designs were often influenced by the work of her father as well as her brother, JD Roybal.