Marguerite Kirksey

Marguerite Holladay Kirksey, formerly of Huntingdon, Tennessee, passed to her Eternal Home on Monday, March 16, 2020, a few months shy of her 96^th birthday.  She is survived by her children, Gerald (Susan) Kirksey, Jim (Cheryl) Kirksey, Melinda (Gary) Bowers and Sandra (Randy) Allen; her grandchildren, Heather Kirksey, Marshall Kirksey, Emily (Liz) Kirksey, Laurel (Eric) Waller, Chris (Audrey) Kirksey, Daniel (Jennifer) Allen and Eric (Laura) Allen.  She is also survived by three great-grandchildren, Eli Allen, Ethan Allen and Maggie Kirksey – they were the lights of her life during her later years.  Her husband, Leon Kirksey, two children that died in infancy, and her parents, Ira and Tolie Holladay, predeceased her.

 Marguerite loved her church, Huntingdon (TN) Missionary Baptist, where she worshiped for almost 70 years. She sang in her church choir until her 95^th birthday when she moved to The Courtyards Senior Living in Oak Ridge, Tennessee.  She made many more friends at The Courtyards and enjoyed singing at worship services there.

 Mrs. Kirksey owned Personal Touch Florist for many years and loved to make and deliver flower arrangements to families celebrating special occasions and remembering loved ones.  She was a fixture at local funeral homes, always offering a word of comfort to the bereaved.  Her love of flowers carried over to her love of gardening and she and Leon always raised a big garden which fed her family during the, sometimes difficult, winter months.

 Born shortly before the Great Depression to a poor farming family, Marguerite was not able to get as much education as she wanted, but continued learning throughout her life.  She loved to read the daily newspaper and any book or magazine that she could put her hands on.  She made sure that all her children graduated from college.  She witnessed so much during her life from the Great Depression, through World War II, Korea, and Vietnam wars. She saw technology change from battery powered radio to FaceTiming her great-grandchildren in her later years.

 Due to the COVID-19 virus outbreak, a private burial will be held in New Hope Cemetery, Yuma, TN.  A celebration of Mrs. Kirksey’s life will be held at Huntingdon Missionary Baptist Church, when conditions are safe for her many friends to attend.  Additional information will be provided later.  Memorials may be made to Huntingdon Missionary Baptist Church, the American Cancer Society, or the Marguerite Kirksey Crafts Fund, The Courtyards Senior Living, 300 Briarcliff Avenue, Oak Ridge, TN 37830.

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