Margaret Jones Harling

Margaret Jones Harling

Funeral services for Margaret Jones Harling will be held at 10:00 am on Thursday, August 22, 2013 at First Presbyterian Church in Natchitoches, with Rev. Kathy Muder officiating. Interment will follow at Memory Lawn Cemetery in Natchitoches. The family will receive friends from 5:00 pm until 8:00 pm on August 21, 2013 at First Presbyterian Church in Natchitoches.

Margaret Jones Harling was born on July 16, 1923 in Cave Spring, Georgia. After graduating Cave Spring High School she entered a three year nursing program at Crawford Long Hospital in Atlanta, Georgia and then enrolled in the Army Nurse Corps where she earned the rank of 2nd Lieutenant. After her service she obtained a bachelor's in nursing from the University of Georgia where she met Robert M. Harling, Jr. and they married on the day of her graduation in 1950.

They had three children Robert III, Susan and John. They moved to Natchitoches, Louisiana in 1966 where she continued her career in psychiatric nursing at the Natchitoches Mental Health Clinic and Evergreen Ministries. She received her master's in nursing in 1978. She retired in 1995. Margaret was active in her faith as a member of the First Presbyterian Church of Natchitoches as well as numerous charities such as Threads of Love which sews warm clothing for babies in neo-natal ICU units. She also held leadership positions in the Association of the Preservation of Historic Natchitoches (APHN) where she chaired restoration projects and organized children tours of historic Natchitoches. She was a longtime member of PEO and the Daughters of the American Revolution.

Margaret was a loving wife and mother. She loved spending time with her grandchildren Robert, Susan and Jack. She was a talented baker known far and wide for her dinner rolls. Her coconut cake was highlighted in New York Times.

Margaret, along with her daughter Susan are the original Steel Magnolias. Margaret's love and determination through difficult times inspired her son, Bobby, to create the play of the same name. Later Margaret used the opportunities provided by the success of the play and movie to raise awareness and funding for juvenile diabetes and kidney research. Margaret has set an example that continues to inspire many to live a full and rich life.

Those left to cherish her memory include her husband, Robert M. Harling, Jr.; her sons, Robert M. Harling, III of New York, New York and John Forbes Harling and his wife Elizabeth of Garland, Texas; a sister, Emmalee Highnote and a brother, Tudor Jones. She was blessed with 3 grandchildren, Robert Robinson of Austin, Texas, John Forbes Harling, Jr. of Garland, Texas and Susan Kiturah Harling of Garland, Texas. She was preceded in death by her daughter, Laura Susan Robinson and her brother, John Calvin Jones.

In lieu of floral contributions the family requests donations be made to First Presbyterian Church of Natchitoches, 114 Bienville St, Natchitoches, LA 71457