Marguerite Ozelma Clark Golden

Marguerite Ozelma Clark Golden died on Wednesday, May 16, 2012. She is survived by her three sons and their spouses, Alexander Peyton, III (Lex) and Ellen Golden, John Clark and Gaye Golden, and Gregory Glenn and Angie Golden; her son-in-law Donald Edgar Massey and wife Moorene Newton Massey; eight grandchildren, Mark Parmer Massey and wife Suzanne, Michael Peyton Massey and wife Joy, Alexander Peyton Golden, IV (Alex) and wife Conley, Amy Ellen Golden McCay and husband Eric, Lauren Golden Jones and husband Scott, Suzanne Clark Golden (Cookie), John Fitts Golden (Jack), and Kelli Elizabeth Golden; and 10 great-grandchildren. She is also survived by her dear friend, Ruth McCall, a classmate at Little Rock High School with whom she reunited in the twilight of her life at Andover Place retirement center, and shared with great pleasure her friendship after her husband's passing in 2002. Marguerite was born in Little Rock, Arkansas on May 20, 1918, daughter of Johnnie Radford Clark Blevins and Darda Byron Clark, Sr. She was preceded in death by her parents and her step father, Clarence Blevins; her husband of 61 years Alexander Peyton Golden Jr. (Peyton); her daughter Marguerite Anne Golden Massey (Rita); two sisters, Marie Delores Telfer and Millie Emaline Faye; and her brother, Darda Byron Clark Jr. She was raised in Little Rock and graduated from Little Rock High School in 1936. She and Peyton met by happenchance as she was inquiring of a room to rent in Mrs. Miller's boarding house near downtown and Peyton offered to move in with his good friend, Mark Davis, to provide a room for whom was to become the love of his life. Peyton often claimed Marguerite cried "whoopee," and leapt over a short hedgerow upon his proposal a short time later — she never confirmed nor denied the claim. They were married in Winfield Methodist Church by its pastor, Dr. Gaston Foote, where Marguerite served as church secretary while Peyton pursued a career in banking at Worthen Bank and Trust Co. They moved to Peyton's hometown of Batesville, Arkansas in 1949 where she was a homemaker and he was a partner in the Golden-Lindsey Insurance Agency and also served as mayor of Batesville for ten years ending in 1981. They returned to Little Rock in 1983 to be close to family and enjoy retirement. A life-long Methodist, Marguerite was in United Methodist Women and an active member of the Winfield and Pulaski Heights United Methodist churches in Little Rock, and First United Methodist Church in Batesville. In addition to other civic activities, she was a member and leader in the P.E.O. Sisterhood, a philanthropic organization that provides financial and other support for women's education. In recognition of her service as Arkansas State President of P.E.O. in 1977-78, Marguerite was made a life member of the organization's Supreme Chapter. Funeral arrangements are by Roller-Crouch Funeral Home of Batesville. A graveside service will be held at Oaklawn Cemetery in Batesville on Monday at 10 a.m., with Rev. Bob Burton of First United Methodist Church officiating. A memorial service will be held at Pulaski Heights United Methodist Church in Little Rock on the same day at 3 p.m., with Rev. Lynn Lindsey of the church officiating. A reception will follow in the church parlor. In lieu of flowers, memorials may be made to Pulaski Heights United Methodist Church in Little Rock, or First United Methodist Church in Batesville.