Marilyn Hogue

1945-2023
Marilyn Billingslea Hogue, 78, of Edmond, Oklahoma, following a decade-long battle with Alzheimer’s and acute atrial fibrillation, passed away August 9, 2023, surrounded by her family and friends.
Marilyn was born and reared in Lawton, Oklahoma to Don and Effie Ruth Billingslea. She attended Lawton High School where she was elected Student Body Vice President, placed on the National Honor Society, and chosen as Lord Queen. She and her family were faithful members of First Baptist Church in Lawton. It was in First Baptist that she began her deep love for the Lord Jesus and His Church, and her commitment to bring others to salvation.
As a Senior in High School, she started dating Richard Hogue, a relationship that would last for 60 years.
Upon her high school graduation, Marilyn entered the University of Oklahoma as an English major, was chosen as a member of the Kappa Kappa Gamma Sorority, and was on the President’s Honor Roll each semester. Following her sophomore year she left OU and joined her fiancée at Oklahoma Baptist University. Marilyn excelled in every aspect of OBU. She was named outstanding senior woman and graduated Magna Cum Laude.
Marilyn and Richard entered the ministry in 1964, were married in 1966, and spent the next 57 years together preaching and teaching around the globe. They were major leaders of the Jesus Movement, developed a cutting-edge national television ministry, built two dynamic, growing churches in Oklahoma City.
Marilyn’s great love in ministry was children. She is responsible for more than 30,000 children receiving Jesus as Lord and Savior during the Jesus Movement, countless others coming to the Lord through television and the local churches she helped to start.
She is survived by her husband, Richard; her two sons Israel and Jeremy; her precious daughter-in-law, Devon; and seven glorious grandchildren, Levi, Crew, Madison, Hailey, Goldie, Jude, and Jackson.
Visitation will be held from 3-8 p.m., Monday, August 14th at Matthews Funeral Home. Services will be held at 10:30 a.m., Tuesday, August 15, 2023 at Life Church Edmond 4600 E 2nd St. with interment to follow at Rose Hill Burial Park in Oklahoma City, OK.
To livestream the service please use the following link Marilyn Hogue | EventLive (evt.live)
I first met Marilyn and Richard at Metro Church in 1981. Marilyn’s love for children and her infectious personality led me into Childrens Church where i served as a Teacher and Vacation Bible School volunteer. Marilyn was such a gracious Lady and friend to my Family. She and Richard were paramount in our joining Metro Church and calling it our home. Many years later and life happens, I found myself going through a divorce and reached out to Richard and Marilyn for counseling. They were always there for me. Marilyn’s compassion for what i was going through and her heartfelt understanding were undeniable. By now they had started City Church and that is where my now teenage children and attended for several years. I have known them for years, and although so many years have passed, i am deeply saddened for our loss of such a lovely soul. I will see you again Lovely Lady.
My thoughts and Prayers are with Richard and Family.
I grew up in Lawton and remember Marilyn at Lawton First and also Lawton High School. She was always kind, beautiful, smart and strong in her faith. I’m so sorry to learn of her health issues and death, but am so happy she is in the presence of Jesus our Lord. May Richard have peace and feel God’s presence during this sad time in his life. Love, Toni Miller Harrison, LHS 1961
Marilyn’s “Daddy” and my grandmother are siblings so Marilyn and I are second cousins. She had the sweetest heart and loved the Lord with every fiber of her being. When I was growing up, Marilyn and my grandmother had very long telephone conversations about what was going on in her life. These calls were cherished by them both. She showed me kindness and friendship over the years as well. As a nurse, I helped take care of her Daddy when he was ill. Marilyn is with the Lord now. Praise God.
I met Richard an Marilyn in Edmond at metro church. Through the yrs with life’s challenges things changed an when they came back from California I was a devastated lady an found myself separated from my husband. I had kept attending metro with the New pastors , But with them back an wanting to start a church it was a great blessing for alot of us couples that needed a pastor that related. I was alone An with my son in high school. Very depressed but kept on going to here Richard preach an of course talking to Marilyn a lot An had so many people that helped me but they took me under their wing like they did a lot of us that was single. Took me to their parties, introduced me to a lot of people, invited me to gatherings , included me in places they went trying to keep me busy , I Evan went to Lawton and stayed with Marilyn mom while she was recouping from something. The church helped me get a job Evan , loaned me a car. An all kinds of stuff to survive! BUT one day I found myself in richards office so depressed I had left work for lunch an ended up somewhere on memorial rd I think. I should not have been driving I had given up on life . He called Marilyn an they got me some professional help immediately or I probably wouldn’t be here today! What a blessing they were . They were always their especially Marilyn to lend a listening ear. They made time for you an made you feel loved an like a person . What a wonderful legacy Marilyn left for her children an grandchildren ! My prayers are that they can remember all the great things she did an she would want them to teach them to their children. 🙏❤️💪🥲
Jeff and I were so saddened to hear of Marilyn’s passing. Although it was an arduous illness, we have been assured she now is resting in peace in the arms of her maker the Lord Jesus Christ fully engaged in a symphony of praise and worship with all the saints who have gone before us! Hallelujah! Her loving devotion to her family and the ministry spoke volumes as Acts 6:4 so eloquently describes. Her service to the ladies at Metro Church through Bible studies and other teachings of God’s word and His ways is a testament to so many lives being transformed! It’s been an honor and a blessing in our lives to have known Marilyn and Richard through our years at Metro Church. Our continued thoughts and prayers are with the family during these difficult days ahead. Matthew 5:4 “Blessed are those who mourn for they shall be comforted”