Obituary

Visitation for Mrs. Rice will be held on Friday, May 24, from 4:00 p.m. -8:00 p.m., at Butler-Stumpff & Dyer Funeral Home, 2103 East 3rd Street, Tulsa, OK 74104.

Funeral services will be held on Saturday, May 25, 1:00 p.m., at  World Won For Christ Family Life Ministry, 2121 N Harvard Ave, Tulsa, OK 74115, followed by interment at Crown Hill Cemetery, Tulsa, Oklahoma.

July 4, 1942, Jim & Rosie Littlejohn welcomed a new baby girl. Born in Okmulgee, OK. Marguerite was the only surviving child of a set of triplets. She would be part of a large and loving family living in Bald Hill, OK. She had many happy memories of childhood, running through the woods, laying in the barns’ hayloft with her siblings to cool off. Racing their old horses down by the pond. Working in the garden with her mother, soft ball/picnics after church on Sundays. Racing with classmates to Lone Star school at the bottom of the hill.

The Littlejohn family relocated to Tulsa, OK. Marguerite attended Tulsa Public Schools. Graduating Class of 1961 BTW as an Honorary member.

Marguerite’s love and caring for others was always a part of her life. She began work as a trusted babysitter, hairdresser and worked with her best friend Francis Lucas at Wilson BBQ on Historic Greenwood.

Marguerite became a mother herself and she moved her family to Wichita, KS in 1969. She joined in union with Mr. Woodrow Cooper and for 12 years they would raise her five children and his only son.

She found employment with the Fourth National Bank. She would later be employed with Cessna Wallace Aircraft. Marguerite would later return to her first love, caring for children. She opened Home Away from Home Daycare and spent the next 25 years caring for children.

She would later marry Mr. Ulysses Rice. Their days would be spent on riverbanks, fishing and camping until his passing. After the loss of her husband, she would rejoin her family in Tulsa.

Her love for children continued and she once again opened a daycare. She would then become the guardian to 9 children that needed a home.

Marguerite joined Antioch Baptist Church under the leadership of Rev. J. C. Potter. Due to the illness of her eldest son, she would return to Wichita to help care for him. She would join St. James Church in Wichita, KS., until her health began to fail.

Known for her style and big fancy hats, “Queen Bee” became a name she wore with pride. She was also the peacemaker of the family, encouraging family to love and forgive each other and stick together. Every year she would have a big celebration for her birthday and all the family would head to Wichita to celebrate with her. Photography was also a passion; she always had a camera ready to capture family memories.

She loved to cook, she was wise, funny, supportive, kind, and a loving mother. Her greatest joy was having all her grandchildren visit for the summer. Marguerite always had a big smile and open arms for anyone in need. Over the years she would care for the sick, provide rides to school for single mothers without a car. Provide shelter for families of domestic violence. Her door was always open to anyone in need.

Marguerite is preceded in death by her parents, James & Rosie Littlejohn, Siblings: Carl, Felix, David, James Jr., Florence, Christine, Jamesella, Augustine, Shirley, Lavada, and Juanita; Son, Willis, Granddaughter, Yolonda Adams and Grandson, Anthony Jones.

She leaves to cherish her precious memories, her baby sister, Octavia Love of Tulsa, OK.; Her children: Anthony, Donald, Brian (Patricia) Littlejohn of Wichita, KS., Gary Cooper of TN, and Gwendolyn (Robert) Embry of Tulsa, OK; Grandchildren: Charles (Tracy) Rushing of Chicago IL, Keisha Littlejohn of GA., April (Lewis) Fennel, of TX., Marquita (BJ) Parker of TX., Brian Littlejohn of Wichita, KS., Michael Kennedy of Wichita, KS., and Josh Kennedy of Phoenix, AZ.; Children she raised: Elexia, Johnitta, Crystal, Johnathan Lancaster of Wichita, KS., and Aneela Kuan of Tulsa, OK.; 22 great-children, 14 great- great grandchildren, 3 sisters-in-law: JoAnna Littlejohn, Jennie Littlejohn of Tulsa, OK., and Cora Littlejohn of Okmulgee, OK; many nieces, nephews, and a host of family and friends who will truly miss her smiling face.