Marjorie Lois Hughen McKinney passed away peacefully in her home in Vici, Oklahoma Monday morning, July 2, 2012. After moving from Shreveport last year, she had resided with John and Linda French, her niece and her niece's husband. Also in the home were Kendre Rushing, John and Linda's granddaughter, and Mac Carter, a friend who assisted greatly in caring for Marjorie and her needs at all times.

Marjorie Lois Hughen was born at home on December 5, 1928. She was the third and only female child born to Herman Otis and Vera May Hughen. Of her two older brothers, the oldest, Herman Osler Hughen, had predeceased her arrival. Her remaining brother was Otis Leon Hughen and he was two at the time of her birth.

Childhood was pretty typical at the time, not unlike that of the other residents of the small town of Jonesboro, Louisiana. Due to the period of time, families often took in older family members where food, clothing and other necessities were rationed and shared. Her father was often away at work, sometimes at great distances, while her mother and grandmother took care of home and the children. They went to church regularly and lived simply, walking whenever they needed to go anywhere outside of the home. They didn't own a car during this time. Most families didn't.

Marjorie loved animals, particularly cats. This fondness cost her at an early age. In about the first grade, she contracted a case of ringworm in her hair from playing with a stray kitten. Her head was promptly shaved so that her scalp could be treated. Her mother crocheted her a small hat to cover her tiny bald head. Her hair gone and having to wear the hat for lack of hair was traumatic enough for a little girl. But then there was this boy named James in her class. Unfortunately for Marjorie, he sat right behind her in class, and he loved tormenting her about her "condition." His favorite pastime was taking a pencil and sticking it in the holes of her hat to irritate her. Of course this upset her, and she ran home crying and told her big brother. The end result of this scenario was that her protective big brother found the offender, discussed the situation with him behind the school and then ended up in the principals office. But then, that's what big brothers are for. Right?

There was another time when Marjorie and Otis had this friend across the street from where they lived. All of the kids got this bright idea of tunneling their way under the street from one house to the other. It was an ernest idea whose time expired quickly after they realized just how much work this was going to be. I think it happened after they dug a lot of dirt and found they were going nowhere quickly. It seemed crossing the street was easier after all.

The family moved to Shreveport in the summer of 1943. Marjorie was a bit disturbed by this because she quickly learned that, though school took eleven years in Jonesboro, she now would have to go twelve in Shreveport. What did she ever do to have this extra year tacked on? More than that, they lived in the mid-town area of Shreveport and Marjorie went to high school on the west side. This necessitated taking not one, but two trollies in order to get to and from school. The same was true of church. The family still did not own a car and gas was being rationed even if they had owned one. It meant walking or using the trolly system. Life seemed to have been a lot less complicated to her when they lived in Jonesboro.

Later, Marjorie met her future husband, William Harold "Bill" Malray, through her church. The two were married and welcomed two beautiful children, Marion Evon and LaVera Ruth.

In her lifetime, Marjorie worked for the telephone company, as a secretary, and later as a meteorological technician for the Untied States Weather Service. She had friends and family who will miss her terribly.

She is survived by her brother, Otis Leon Hughen, her two daughters, Marion Evon Malray and LaVera Ruth Potter, numerous grandchildren and great grandchildren, as well as a niece and nephew who loved and respected her for the witty, gentle lady she was, the one who spoke very softly with a long southern drawl.