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Mary Anna “Molly” Stagg passed away peacefully with loved ones at her bedside on June 15, 2023, in New Orleans, La. A native of Amite, Louisiana, she was born on July 27, 1943. She was brought into this world alongside her twin sister, Sarah Elizabeth “Sally” Watson Pendergast by the late Roy and Anna Purser Watson of Amite, Louisiana. She graduated from Amite High School then attended Southeastern Louisiana University, where she met and married Seymon Hartzog. They settled in Seymon’s hometown of Bogalusa, where Molly became active in the community with social organizations, Eastern Star, First Presbyterian Church of Bogalusa and many philanthropic projects. Through the course of her life, she was a Championship barrel racer, a bull rider, a college majorette, a beauty queen, a hairdresser, a beloved dance instructor of 25 years, an accomplished tennis player, and a real estate broker. Described by many as adventurous, fearless, and fiercely competitive, she would light up a room with her exuberant personality. Affectionately known by hundreds of dance students as “Miss Molly”, she spent tireless hours encouraging and teaching every student no matter their skill level. Not a single soul would want for comfort or care while she had a say in the matter and that graciousness and consideration for others is what endeared her to all. She sadly lost her husband in 1996 and her youngest son, Preston Scott, a Championship boxer, in 2006. She endured these losses because of her unshakeable faith in God.

And God then blessed her with a new love in Rev. Philip Stagg. Phil gave Molly many years of happiness, which included living in Jackson Hole, Wyoming after his retirement. Her love of animals was great, and the two spent many days observing the wildlife in Grand Teton National Park and Yellowstone National Park. Her generosity and love brought her and Phil to New Orleans to help care for Phil’s first grandson, Elliott James Stagg and granddaughter, Griffin Pearl Stagg.

Left to cherish her memory are her children Seymon “Windy” Hartzog and Anna Beth Goodman; her stepchildren David and Anneke Stagg; her grandchildren Molly Evangeline Benda, Dixie Camille Hartzog and Abigail Grace Hartzog; her step-grandchildren Elliott and Griffin Stagg. The family wishes to thank Lacey, Kim, Montrel and Angelique at Annvoi Hospice Care and her caregivers Carole Pierce, Danyell Spencer, Sabrina Wilson, Rosalie Williams, Christina Milton, Kattie Chattmon, Yeniffer Borges and Ivone Hernandez for their dedicated support and care at the end of her life. She is now dancing in heaven with all her loved ones that have gone before her.

Molly’s favorite salutation was “The Grace of the Lord Jesus Christ be with you.”

Funeral services will be held on Tuesday, June 20, 2023 at First Presbyterian Church in Bogalusa with the visitation starting at 9 a.m. until the funeral service at 11 a.m. and interment following at Garden of Peace in Ponemah Cemetary. In lieu of flowers, memorial donations can be sent to Bluebonnet Equine Humane Society, P.O. Box 632, College Station, TX 77841, www.bluebonnetequine.org.