Funeral services for Mary Alice Harlan, age 97 of Ruston, LA, will be held at 2:00 PM, Tuesday, March 29, 2022 at Owens Memorial Chapel with Rev. Dale Oden and Rev. Paul Watts officiating.  Burial will follow in Greenwood Cemetery in Ruston under direction of Owens Memorial Chapel Funeral Home of Ruston, LA.

Mary Alice was born July 26, 1924 in Ruston, LA to Robert Edward "Ned" and Iva Estelle Stuckey Causey and passed away Saturday, March 26, 2022 in Ruston with her family at her side.  She retired from Illinois Central Railroad after 37 ½ years and was a member of Temple Baptist Church since the age of nine and her first teacher was Miss Rah.  Because of her love of music, she was a choir member since she was sixteen. Mary Alice taught Sunday School for the Juniors for 20 years becoming the department director, G.A.'s and was Librarian. After retirement, she worked with the Senior Adults at the church as well as Senior Adults of Lincoln Parish.  Mary Alice married the love of her life, Lescar W. Harlan, June 28, 1945 and their love story was one for the storybooks.  Mary Alice said the church was full for the wedding, because they came to see the "Tomboys" get married.   She said Dad wanted a boy but got a girl and she never realized a girl wasn't supposed to do certain things.  She was always a leader whether at the Railroad or VFW or Church activities or WMU.  "There is no job too immense when you got confidence" (Elvis Presley).

Mary Alice was preceded in death by her parents; husband of 64 years, Lescar W. Harlan Sr.; son, Lescar W. "Tinker" Harlan, Jr.; daughter, Mary Frances Harlan Haynes; brothers: Harrell Edward Causey and "Buddy" Causey and great-granddaughter, Amber Haynes.

She is survived by her daughter Rebekah Ann "Becky" Strozier and husband John; grandsons:  John Craig Harlan Strozier, Michael Shane Strozier and wife, Christina and James R. Haynes; granddaughters:  Polly Haynes Humble and husband, Seth and Georgianna Haynes Oliveaux; sister, Iva Ann Causey Irby and husband, Bobby; eight great-grandchildren and two great-great-grandchildren and numerous nieces and nephews and a host of friends.

Serving as pallbearers will be Craig Strozier, Shane Strozier, Seth Humble, Dustin Strozier, Homer Brashear and John Brashear.

Visitation will be from 1:00 PM until service time Tuesday at Owens Memorial Chapel.  To leave an online memorial message for the family, please visit: www.owensmemorialfuneralhome.com