Memorial services celebrating the life of Margie Grace Douglas Cruse will be held at 2:00 pm on Sunday, June 13, 2021 at Hixson Brothers Funeral Home in Jena with Brother Shad Tibbs and Gary Norris officiating. The family requests that visitation be observed at the Hixson Brothers Funeral Home in Jena on June 13, 2021 from 12:00 pm until the time of service at 2:00 pm. Burial will be at Woodland Memorial Cemetery in Jena under the direction of Hixson Brothers Funeral Home of Jena. Mrs. Cruse, 86, of Jena, passed from this life on Thursday, June 10, 2021 in Jena due to a long illness. Margie married Kenneth Rufus Cruse on December 20, 1954; they were married almost 65 years. Margie worked as a legal secretary from 1956 to 1990. She worked with many attorneys and judges over the years and loved the legal field. Also, she was the secretary/bookkeeper for East Jena Water System from 1984 to July 2020. She was appointed as Notary Public in 1961 by Governor Jimmy Davis and served in that capacity until death. In 1985, she was appointed by Governor John J McKeithen to serve on the Board of Elections Supervisors of LaSalle Parish, and held that position until 2021. Also, she served on the LaSalle Parish Democratic Executive Committee as secretary from 1985 until her death. She enjoyed cooking and spending time with her grandchildren. She was a member of East Jena Baptist Church where she served as Sunday school secretary and choir member for many years. She was involved in various ministries throughout the years and enjoyed assisting others. She was preceded in death by her parents, Willie and Jennie Belle Brown Douglas; husband, Rufus Kenneth Cruse; daughter, Melina Ann Cruse; sister, Shirley Harris; and brothers, Howard Douglas and Jerry Douglas. Those left to cherish her memory include her son, Kenneth Scott Cruse of Urania; daughter, Lori Cruse Gremillion (Guy) of Pineville; grandchildren, Tyler Scott Cruse, Mallori Bell Williams, and Peyton Bell; sister, Carolyn Douglas Keen (Lyndal) of Urania; brother, Roger Douglas (Pat) of Baltimore, Maryland; great granddaughter, Emmalyn Grace Williams; and a host of nieces and nephews. In lieu of flowers, memorial donations may be made to The Baptist Children’s Home in Monroe, or to St. Jude.