Mary Margaret Ray

Mary Margaret, daughter to the late William M. “Goose”and Mary Jane Waller, was born July 7, 1936, in Haynesville. The former “Little Miss Haynesville” moved to Bossier City as a young girl. MM and her brother Lee were proud graduates of Bossier High School, where she was a cheerleader, a member of the BHS Marching Band, and played on the Lady Bearkats basketball team. She was also named a Football Sweetheart and elected Most Popular during her senior year.

For college, MM attended Baylor University during her first year before transferring to Centenary College, where she earned a bachelor’s degree in elementary education. She later earned a master’s degree in education from Louisiana State University and added 30 additional hours at Louisiana Tech University. She married the late Coach M.D. Ray, the absolute love of her life, and together they raised two wonderful sons, Ricky and Scott.

Mary Margaret began her 35-year teaching career at Waller Elementary, where she was blessed to teach alongside her mother and her aunt, Edith Merideth. She spent most of her career as a seventh-grade U.S. history teacher at Greenacres Junior High, a school designed by her architect uncle, Thomas Merideth. There, she unequivocally earned the title of “Mama Mustang.” MM worked with the GJH cheerleaders and founded the Mustang Prancer dance team. She also spent many years as the voice of GJH Mustang football, where she made sure each and every player had their name announced and celebrated, regardless of whether or not they were involved in the game. MM inspired patriotism in the thousands of students she taught throughout Bossier Parish, and she was extremely proud to have taught many children of former students as well. Long after retiring, she frequently fielded calls and Facebook messages for the mnemonic device she used to teach her students about all of the U.S. presidents in order.

After her teaching career ended, Mary Margaret served on the Bossier Parish School Board and as an assistant to former U.S. Rep. Jane Smith, her close friend. For as long as MM’s health would allow, she was an active member of Cypress Baptist Church and the Republican Women of Bossier group. She dearly loved her friends and relished being part of the Mothers Club and her Birthday Club. MM had a giant smile and was known for her love of playing bridge and her signature red, white and blue ensembles –which she wore no matter the time of the year. To know Mary Margaret was to know someone who truly loved God, her family, and her country with her whole heart.

Mary Margaret was preceded in death by her parents, her aunt and uncle, and her husband. She is survived by her brother Lee T. Waller (Kathy), her sons Richard Lee Ray (Tara) and Wm. Scott Ray (Bonnie-Lyn), her cherished grandchildren Jordan Lee Ray-Hart (Lauren), Mary-Ashley Thies (Jake), Micayla Meredith Sherman (Jacobe) and Wm. Taylor Ray (Chloe), and her treasured great-grandchildren Sadie Ray Thies, Kaleyiah Jane Sherman and Lucy Margaret Thies. She also leaves behind a host of cousins, nieces, nephews, and more friends than anyone can count.

A visitation will be held on Wednesday, September 24th, 2025 from 6:00 pm until 8:00 pm at Hill Crest Memorial Funeral Home, 601 US-80, Haughton, LA 71037. A celebration of Mary Margaret’s life will be held on Thursday, September 25th, 2025 at 10:00 am. This event will be held at her and M.D.’s beloved long-time church, Cypress Baptist, located at 4701 Palmetto Road, Benton, LA 71006.

Pallbearers will be Tim Gladney, Randy Greer, Anthony Gugliuzza, James Nichols, Buddy Taylor, and Doug Wilson.

In lieu of flowers, donations can be made to the Republican Women of Bossier Mary Margaret Ray Scholarship Fund. Please send donations to Mrs. Jane H. Smith, Republican Women of Bossier City, 106 Heron Walk, Bossier City, LA, 71111.

At this time, the family would also like to express our sincere appreciation to MM’s doctors, her medical team, her wonderful friends and the staff of Brookdale Senior Living. We are confident that Mary Margaret is rejoicing at the feet of her Lord and Savior Jesus Christ and celebrating a long-awaited reunion with M.D., her parents, and the rest of her family and friends who went on before her.

“As each has received a gift, use it to serve one another, as good stewards of God’s varied grace.” - 1 Peter 4:10