Obituary of Mrs. Marjorie Howell Funderburk McKeithen, Caldwell Parish, 
Louisiana
Submitted by Kim Wise
Source: Riser Funeral Home
Date: August 27, 2004



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Obituary:  Mrs. Marjorie Howell Funderburk McKeithen
March 26, 2004

Services for Mrs. Marjorie Howell Funderburk McKeithen, age 84,
of Hogan Plantation, Columbia will be held at 11 a.m. Friday, March
26, 2004 from the First United Methodist Church in Columbia with
Rev. Howard Hudson officiating.  Interment will follow in the McKeithen 
Family Plot on Hogan Plantation.
    
Mrs. McKeithen was born on August 30, 1919 to the union of 
Aaron J. and Katie Lee Howell Funderburk and died Wednesday,
March 24, 2004 at her residence.
    
Mrs McKeithen graduated from Winnsboro High School in 1936
as the salutatiorian of her class.  She later graduated with honors 
from Louisiana Tech with a bachelor's degree in mathematics and
education.  She was a member of the founding chapter of what is 
now Sigma Kappa Sorority.  She taught school in both Jena and
Columbia before marrying John McKeithen in 1942.
    
She became First Lady for two terms under the governorship of
John McKeithen, 1964 to 1972.  She was known as a gracious and
elegant hostess, and a fine ambassador for the State of Louisiana.
At the time of her arrival in Baton Rouge, the Register of Baton
Rouge described her as follows:  "Marjorie McKeithen is a one-time
mathematics teacher, ardent outdoors woman and mother of a 
family whose ages range from twenty to six.  Made no mistake
about it, slim-figured Mrs. John McKeithen is Southern to her graceful 
fingertips, and for the record, is completely successful in all 
departments of her life.  The 49th First Lady of Louisiana, who will
begin her service as the chatelaine of the state's executive mansion
on May 12, [1964] is a dark-haired, dark-eyed beauty with a completely 
natural charm for winning people, a deep core of inner serenity, a 
bubbling gayety which warms family and friends, and all of the
femininity expected of a successful Southern woman."
    
Survivors include her son: La. Secretary of State, W. Fox McKeithen 
of Baton Rouge, her daughters: Rebecca Ann McKeithen Hamilton of Kunming, 
China, Melissa Sue McKeithen Cummings of Columbia, Pamela Clare McKeithen 
Plummer of Monroe and Jenneva Maude McKeithen Borders of St. Francisville, 
her grandchildren: Marjorie Ann McKeithen, Marianne May McKeithen Garon,
Sarah Katherine Hamilton, John Andrews Hamilton, Hannah Elisabeth 
Cummings Springer, Jesse Barnes Hamilton, Russell O. Cummings, III, 
Rebecca Ann McKeithen, Jonathan Ray Vining, Laura Grace Cummings Schmutz, 
Jennifer Leigh Plummer Lord, John Jesse McKeithen, III, Jeremy Joel Vining, 
Robert Casey Plummer and Jason David Vining, her great-grandchildren: 
James Ford Murray Garon, Jesse Fox McKeithen Garon and Larrah Elisabeth 
Springer, and her brother: William Aaron Funderburk of Monroe.
    
Pallbearers will be John Andrews Hamilton, Jesse Barnes Hamilton, Lt. 
Russell O. Cummings, III, Jonathan Ray Vining, l0lst Airborne, Lt. Cpl.
John J. McKeithen, III, USMC, Spc. Jeremy Joel Vining, 82nd Airborne, 
Robert Casey Plummer and Jason David Vining.
    
Her favorite Doctor and son-in-law: Dr. Russell Cummings, II,
was be honorary pallbearer.
    
She was preceded in death by her parents, her husband: Former
Governor John J. McKeithen and her son: Jesse Jay McKeithen.
    
Visitation will be Thursday from 5 p.m. until 7 p.m. at Mrs. Mc
Keithen's residence, 141 Hogan Plantation, Columbia, LA.