Marie "Jeanie" Leray

Marie Jeanette (Jeanie) LeRay, of DeRidder, LA, passed away on Friday, February 4, 2022, at the age of 75.

Jeanie was an English teacher for the first half of her adult life. In 1983, she left her teaching career to help her husband run their pharmacy and Hallmark stores.

Jeanie was born to Kenneth Harrison and Eleanor Ruth Muse on October 13, 1946. After graduating form Scottsboro High School in 1965, she obtained her degree from Auburn University, Magnum Cum Laude.

Jeanie was born and raised in Scottsboro, AL. She was a member of the First United Methodist Church Youth. She was a Girl Scout, including being chosen as a Regional Representative, and a Girl Scout leader, as a young adult. She was named Alabama’s Maid of Cotton in 1968 and went on to place in the top five, nationally. She was an avid reader, a life-long learner and a gifted teacher. Jeanie was a breast cancer survivor, survived a fall that left her shoulder completely shattered, and subsequently rebuilt and through it all, showed her loved ones how one overcomes with grace and humor. Jeanie loved attending Grace Church, over the last year. She generously donated, yearly, to the Alzheimer’s Foundation, St. Jude’s Hospital, and Breast Cancer Research/M.D. Anderson. She had a passion for traveling the world with George. She loved learning the local cultures, experiencing the historical places she had read about, but especially loved meeting the beautiful people. Her greatest joy was laughing with and being silly with her grandchildren and great grandchildren.

Jeanie is preceded in death by her beloved husband, George LeRay; her parents, Kenneth Harrison and Eleanor Ruth Faulkner Muse.

Those left to cherish her memory are her daughters, Meredith Michelle Arceneaux of Lewisville, TX, Adrienne Jeffery Lacy of Deridder, LA; brother, Frank Grady Muse Calloway and Jaquie of Northampton, England; sisters, Jane Allender and Ted of McGrady, NC, Jeranne Muse and Michael Jones of Gurley, AL; grandchildren,  Ashley McShan and Ray of Rosepine, LA, Joshua Clark and Anna of Ragley, LA, Emily Clark and Tyler Badgette of DeRidder, LA, Matthew Mansco and Mayzie of DeQuincy, LA, Kenneth Mansco of Moss Bluff, LA, Zoe Arceneaux of Lewisville, TX;  eleven great grandchildren; three nieces, three nephews and a host of family and friends.

Visitation will be held on Thursday, February 10, 2022 from 5:00 PM to 9:00 PM at Myers Colonial Funeral Home in DeRidder, LA. Celebration of Life service will be Friday, February 11, 2022 at 10:00 AM, also at Myers Colonial Funeral Home. Pastor George Lee Glass will officiate the service. Pallbearers will be Joshua Clark, Matthew Mansco, Kenneth Mansco, Ray McShan, Michael Clanton, Jr. and Randy Larken. Honorary Pallbearers will be Jimmy Hicks, Ted Allender and Earl Roulaine. Burial will follow at Beauregard Cemetery in DeRidder, LA.