Marion Joseph Vicknair DeForest

Marion was preceded in death by her beloved husband, Richard DeForest; her father, Alcee Joseph Vicknair; her mother, Edith Esteve Vicknair; her brother, Floyd Paul Vicknair; her sister-in-law, Theresa Scanlan Vicknair and her beloved godchild, Julie Vicknair. Marion is survived by her nieces: Sandra Vicknair Granier (Michael), Alyson Vicknair Leonard (Willie), Belinda Vicknair Purcello (Chuck), Denise DeForest Lisberg (John), Michelle DeForest, and nephew David DeForest (Marilyn); great nephews Paul Haulard (Mary), Kevin Granier (Wendy), Luke Leonard, and Miles DeForest, and great nieces, Claire Haulard Heiken (Johnny), Kateri Leonard Walters (Patrick), Jenna Purcello, and Juliana Purcello (Leigh) as well as several great great nieces and nephews in Louisiana, Florida and Arizona.

Marion was born on November 9, 1924 in Plaquemine, Louisiana. As a young teen girl, Marion longed for the adventure and excitement of the glamourous young women she saw on the movie screens. So, after graduating from high school and hoping to find her dream job, she moved to live with her aunt and uncle in the cosmopolitan city of New Orleans. There Marion worked at various jobs before landing a bookkeeping position at Krauss Department Store, a post she held for 10 years. In her late twenties, lured by the balmy climate and job opportunities in California, Marion took the long train ride to Los Angeles, finally settling in Long Beach, CA. There Marion met and eventually married the handsome young Richard DeForest, her dance instructor of the Arthur Murray Dance Studio. The couple settled into their first and only home in Long Beach, where they lived for over 50 years. Marion worked as a hostess at a California restaurant called Hody’s for several years until it closed and later as a script writer for the 20th Century Fox television series “The Fall Guy” starring her TV idol, Lee Majors.

After retiring, Marion and Richard purchased land on Big Bear Mountain, California, and later, in the mountains of Shelton, Washington. At each location, Marion helped Richard erect A-frame cabins, where they spent many happy months, from May through October, wandering through the wooded terrain they proudly owned. Although a transplant to California, Marion adored the climate and lifestyle there, earthquakes and all. But she often visited her beloved brother Floyd and his family in Harahan, Louisiana, and, in return, Floyd and his family made the three-day trek by car to visit Marion and Richard in Long Beach, California.

When her beloved Richard died in 2009, Marion was unhappy living alone. After a brief hospital stay in October of 2012, Marion was encouraged by her nieces to immigrate to Jefferson Parish, Louisiana, where she lived with her niece Julie Vicknair and John Hill, Julie’s companion. Sadly, her beloved godchild Julie passed away in March of 2014, and thus Marion moved to live with her niece Alyson Leonard and family where she resided until her death.

Marion’s friends and relatives will remember young Marion as a dark beauty and an elegantly attired woman. Her nieces will recall that, even in her advanced years, she took great pride in her clothing choice and personal appearance.

The family wishes to thank the generosity of Alyson and Willie Leonard, Marion’s devoted caregivers since 2013. The family is grateful for the exceptional care and service rendered by Marion’s loving caregivers during her final years from 2019 until her death: Alina Jackson and Irma Young, as well as the nurses and aides at Passages Hospice, especially Naomi, Lynell and Darlene, all of whom have lovingly cared for Marion as if she were family.

Services for Marion will be held at St. Rita of Cascia Catholic Church, 7100 Jefferson Hwy., Harahan, LA on Wednesday, January 14, 2026, with visitation beginning at 10:00 AM followed by a Funeral Mass at noon. Interment at Greenwood Cemetery in New Orleans will be private. Leitz-Eagan Funeral Home will be handling the funeral arrangements. Condolences may be expressed at www.leitzeaganfuneralhome.com. In lieu of flowers, Masses are preferred.