Obituary of Marjorie Louise Alexander
Angels heralded the arrival as God welcomed his faithful servant Marjorie Louise Okeson Alexander into heaven as she passed away peacefully in her home in Tulsa surrounded by family on Wednesday, July 5, 2023. Marjorie was a native Tulsan and was born at Morningside Hospital on January 23, 1938. She was married to her high school sweetheart, Dr. John R. Alexander, who preceded her in death. Marjorie was a devoted daughter to her parents James B. and Mildred Okeson and a loving mother to her six children, Stephanie, Paul, Jim, Cindy, Karen, and Tom. She was a proud graduate of Will Rogers High School in Tulsa and as a lifelong Sooner fan, attended the University of Oklahoma.
Marjorie brought color into the world through her music and laughter and cherished the moments when her home was full of love with family, friends, and neighbors. She dedicated her life to raising and caring for her family and continued that commitment until she took her last breath. Marjorie was a reassuring presence in her family’s life whether it was in classrooms as a homeroom mother, a Brownies leader, softball coach, attending concerts and school musicals, in the stands as a loyal fan at football games and keeping score at baseball games, driving from swim class to gymnastics and piano lessons, standing in line for the famous Grimes Bean Chowder lunches, organizing birthday parties and summer vacations that crossed the country, to forming search parties with other mothers for the latest Star Wars figure, to supporting the love of her life and his professional accomplishments or with her signature smile of encouragement - from life’s milestone moments to the mundane, she did it all and more.
Her love knew no bounds, from welcoming students from abroad into her home as one of her own children to forging special friendships later in life. Marjorie loved out loud. She had a special place in her heart for God’s creatures especially her much-loved dogs, Missy, Hope and Mylie. She served her community with quiet confidence as a member of Forest Park Christian Church and earlier as a charter member and Elder of Kirk of the Hills Presbyterian Church and St. James Presbyterian in Jenks. She never sought credit, she just did the work. She proudly served as a PEO member and Meals on Wheels recognized her work providing food for her neighbors and their pets with its
Silver Spoon award. In 1989, Marjorie initiated a first of its kind program that high schools across the country later followed after she organized Memorial High School’s overnight graduation party. Earlier she established a school supply program at Grimes Elementary that provided affordable supply packets for each grade - packets she stuffed herself in her garage.
Marjorie was a proud citizen who loved history and touring our nation’s historical sites. Before today’s online trend, she scoured libraries and cemeteries across the country to fill binders of family history. That work led to her acceptance into the Daughters of the American Revolution, a proud moment for her and her family.
Marjorie loved music and earned a music scholarship to the University of Oklahoma where she pledged Alpha Chi Omega, a music sorority at the time. She felt most comfortable playing her favorite hymns at the piano at home and singing a joyful noise in the congregation at church but also enjoyed performing in the American Heart Association’s annual Red Glove Revue.
Marjorie was preceded in death by her grandson Matthew Paul Alexander. Her legacy of kindness and grace lives on in her surviving children and their spouses: Stephanie Alexander and Monica Hargrove of Broken Arrow; Paul and Deb Alexander of Minneapolis, Minnesota; Catherine Alexander of Ardmore, Oklahoma; Jim Alexander and Danny Brown of Tulsa; Cindy Alexander and Cindy Blackshear of Tulsa; Karen and Tom Gilbert of Tulsa; and Tom Alexander of Washington, D.C. And her grandchildren and their spouses: Bobby and Hollie Alexander of Davis, Oklahoma; Marshall and Denise Gilbert of Anchorage, Alaska; Peyton and Michael Kropiewnicki of Broken Arrow; Karsten and Jonathan Villanueva of Tulsa. And her great grandchildren Maverick and Shaylie Alexander of Davis, Oklahoma.
In lieu of flowers donations be made to the Animal Rescue Foundation in Tulsa, https://arflife.org/.