Marion Kay Strange Knowles

Funeral services for Marion Kay Strange Knowles, age 64 of De Soto, Missouri and formerly of Columbia, LA will be at 2:00 PM on Thursday March 10, 2022 from the Columbia chapel of Riser & Son Funeral Home. Interment will follow at the Mt. Pleasant Cemetery, west of Columbia. The Strange Knowles Family will host visitation on Wednesday March 9, 2022 at the funeral home, located at 7131 U S Highway 165, Columbia, LA from 5:00 PM until 8:00 PM. On Thursday visitation will be from 10:00 AM until time of service.

Marion Kay was born on September 15, 1957 to her parents, the late Robert "Bob" Strange and Maggie Spillers Strange, and she passed from this life on Thursday March 3, 2022 in De Soto, Missouri, surrounded by her family, following an extended illness which she fought bravely every step of the way. 

We celebrate the memory of Marion Kay, sharing the gift her life was to us, the blessings that came with it, and to share the pain her passing causes us all. In combining the happiness she brought into our lives, and the grief of her absence together, we may lessen our sorrow by remembering the joy she shared with us all.

Marion was a devout Southern Baptist, and a child of God. She was only 64 when Jesus called her home, and it is so very hard to say goodbye. We wish that we had more time but knowing that her pain and struggles are at an end helps us to rejoice in the knowledge that she is now with the lord and at peace. Even though she is gone from this earth, the legacy of love and light she instilled in each one of us every day will remain forever. The ways she touched our lives cannot be counted, but I ask you to keep those memories alive by sharing them with our family and with one another.

Marion Kay was an expert nutritionist serving Louisiana’s state school children where she retired from the federal government with over 30+ years of service and at the rank of GS-15, which is a magnificent lifetime achievement. To add perspective to this accomplishment, she reached the top limit of the GS ranking scale which equates her position to that of a full bird Colonel in the military and one step away from being a senior executive. Marion was also a professional photographer, and her skill was highly sought after for weddings, school events, family gatherings and a myriad of other occasions where only the highest expertise would do, and she loved every moment. It is because of that love and devotion to her craft that our family has a nearly endless supply of cherished memories. Our only regret is that she did not let us hold the camera as often as we’d have liked to so that she could have been included in more. Still, we know that for each photo we have, she was on the other side smiling.

She also loved to draw and paint, and her appreciation for those hobbies were no less than her photography, which have again left us with a fortune of memories and reminders of her happiness. Marion loved the outdoors, and one of her favorite pass times was to ride her John Deer tractor and to mow, a wonderful example of her ability to find joy in anything.

Marion is survived by many family members and friends, and she loved all of them without measure, but her pride and joy was her daughter Angela, son in law Chris, and her grandchildren Tristen, Gavin, Ethan, and her brother Preston. Other beloved family members include but are not limited to Melissa Joy, Matthew, and Kay Kay. Marion’s love was not only reserved for her biological family, she equally loved her honorary grandchildren Wesley, Jessica May, Joshua, and at the heart of our family Joel and Arleen Kelley, Ms. Linda, and daughter Paula. The amount of family and friends who loved and were touched by Marion cannot all be stated here, but we will all share in cherishing her precious memory.

In closing it must be stated that it is impossible to account for the sheer amount of love, laughter and happiness Marion brought into the lives of us all. She will be missed dearly, spoken of often, and her memory never forgotten. The world is a poorer place without her in it, but we will continue to treasure her in our hearts for as long as we live.

A very special  and sincere thank you to Kay Kay for her love and service to our family in our most trying times, it was invaluable and will not be forgotten, thank you. 

Serving as pallbearers will be Chris Kelley, Tristen Frederick, Matthew Strange, Charlie Amos, Wesley Humphries and Larry Hatten.