Marjory L. Durrett

Marjory Lois (Houtchens) Durrett passed away peacefully at her home on December 11, 2021, surrounded by her loved ones. She was born on May 16, 1934, in Livingston, Tennessee, to Loren and Hattie Belle Houtchens, and moved to Dallas, Texas, at a young age, where she attended Woodrow Wilson High School. At 16, she met the love of her life, John Durrett, and they married on January 25, 1952; they would have celebrated their 70th wedding anniversary next month. John, Marjory and their four children would live in Dallas, Texas, and Navato, California, before finally settling in Baton Rouge in 1971. For 57 years, Marjory battled Multiple Sclerosis and by all accounts she won as she could still walk and live a full life right up until her passing. Marjory enjoyed playing the piano, spending time at their fishing camp on Bayou Corn, making stained glass pieces, baking, attending church in one of her beautiful hats, playing bridge, but most of all she loved celebrating holidays, birthdays, milestones and just being around her family, who will miss her very much. She was preceded in death by her daughter, Marjory “Lois” Durrett, her parents, Loren and Hattie Belle Houtchens, her brother Bill Houtchens and sister Natalie Houtchens Adams. She is survived by her beloved husband John Austin Durrett, Sr.; sons John Austin Durrett, Jr. and wife Marguerite, Steven Durrett and wife Theresa, and Andrew Durrett and wife Melissa; grandchildren Austin Durrett and wife Jill, Chris Durrett and wife Crystal, Collin Durrett, Alexis Durrett, Myles Durrett and Angelica Durrett; great grandchildren Emma Durrett and Elliott Durrett; sister Anne Houtchens Pfaff; and numerous nieces and nephews, one of which was her beloved niece, Diana Pfaff. Visitation will be held on Thursday, December 16, at St Luke’s Episcopal Church at 9 a.m., with services at 10 a.m., followed by burial at Greenoaks Memorial Park. The family requests donations be made to the Marjory Durrett Memorial Fund through the National Multiple Sclerosis Society. “I can do all things through him who strengthens me.” Philippians 4:13