Margie Lee Labby

Margie Lee (Wood) Labby was born in the railroad town of Coushatta in Red River Parish, Louisiana on August 15, 1928, to Marlow Otto “M.O. - Dip” Wood and Cleaver “Vesta” Coleman. When she was three years old her mother passed away, later M.O. married Alta Sanderson Wood, Alta raised Margie as her own. Margie graduated from Dutchtown High School and then attended business college. 

After she attended business college she worked and lived in various locations in Louisiana and Texas. She met and married John Fretwell, Jr. in Baton Rouge with whom she had three boys, David, Mark, and Frank.

In 1968 she married Eugene William “Gene” Labby and together with the three boys they started their new life in Leesville, LA.  In 1984 they purchased Beauregard-Vernon Funeral Homes in DeRidder and Leesville which became Labby Memorial Funeral Homes after Gene passed in 1999. She continued to work full-time at the funeral homes until the Labby family sold the funeral homes in 2017.

Margie was a very beloved member of the Pilot Club of Leesville for more than thirty years and was a past president. 

With her life of public service through the funeral homes and the Pilot Club she will always be remembered as a quiet lady (Gene was the talker) but had such a servant’s heart and compassionate spirit about her. If she knew that she could help someone she would, and it gave her much joy. Matthew 25:40. She was an organizer and kept the funeral home books meticulously the old school way with pencils and ledgers and her much loved typewriter.

She passed away Tuesday, January 9, 2024, at 5:40 PM. Margie lived 95 years, 25 more than God’s promised 3 score and 10. Margie went home with a smile on her face and a glimmer in her eye. We can only imagine what she was seeing. God is so Good!!

Her funeral service will be at 2 pm, Wednesday, January 17, 2024, at the First United Methodist Church in DeRidder, where she has been a member since 1974. Rev Jon Tellifero and Rev. Laraine Waughtal will be officiating. Family and friends may visit the church from 12:00 pm until 2:00 pm before her funeral service. She will be buried at the Beauregard Cemetery in DeRidder, Louisiana. She was preceded in death by her parents; husband of 38 years, Eugene “Gene” Labby; son Mark and daughter-in-law, Carmen Labby; and daughter-in-law Dannah Hayes Labby.

Left to cherish and honor Margie’s life are her sons, David Labby of DeRidder and Frank and wife Lisa Labby of Leesville; her siblings, James and wife Dorothy Wood, Brenda Wood and Cleaver Wood all of Princeton, LA; Grandchildren, Bethany Labby Rolater, Jeremy Labby, Lisa Batson Cook, Zachary and wife Sidney Labby, Jesse Camelin, Alida Chamberlin, Analisa Camelin and MaryGrace and husband, Kirk Duhon; great grandchildren, Makyla, Ariana, Kaedon, Leila, Piper and  Mallory Rose; great-great grandchild, Brantley; along with numerous nephews and nieces.

Memorial donations should be made to First Methodist Church of DeRidder.