Marguerite Kuykendall, 102, was born November 4, 1918 to Newt and Nova McKinley and passed away on December 24, 2020. Marguerite was born on a farm near Lake of the Ozarks in MO and passed away in Center, TX.

A private family graveside will be held Monday, December 28, 2020 at Oaklawn Memorial Park in Center, TX.

Mrs. Kuykendall graduated high school in Barnett, MO. It was there in Barnett where she met her future husband, Robert Houston.  Marguerite and Robert lived on a farm near Barnett with their two sons, Bill and Dick.  During this time Marguerite cooked for 30- 40 threshers during harvest season for several years.  Marguerite always excelled in the kitchen and at the sewing table, and was well known for her colorful and well-coordinated fashions.  Robert passed away, and Marguerite married Arnold Kuykendall, now deceased, and became stepmother to Arnold’s children, Alan, Annette, and Arlene. Marguerite assisted Arnold as he served as a manager and developer for subdivisions with waterfront properties in rural areas, leaving Missouri for Colorado, Mississippi, Indiana, Pennsylvania, Arkansas, and finally Texas.  Their last subdivision was Woodland Acres near San Augustine, and around the year 1970 they settled in Center, Texas.

 

They joined the First Baptist Church and quickly became very active members, with Marguerite attending and teaching Sunday School and Arnold working with the Gideons and jail ministry.  
A few years after Arnold’s passing, Marguerite, and close companion Wayne Hand of Huxley (who passed about 2 years ago) traveled around the country quite bit, enjoying time with friends and relatives.    Marguerite celebrated her 102nd birthday on November 4, 2020, at Pine Grove Nursing Center in Center, TX, where she was nursed through Covid-19.   Although she had recovered most of her mobility and strength after Covid-19, she died from a massive stroke on Christmas Eve, 2020.

Mrs. Kuykendall is survived by her son, William (Bill) Houston and wife, Sandra, of Port Isabel, TX; 6 grandchildren, 13 Great Grandchildren and 2 Great-Great Grandchildren.

Mrs. Kuykendall is preceded in death by her husband, Arnold Kuykendall of Center, TX; her first husband Robert Houston; and her son, Robert R. (Dick) Houston.