Ginger Lacroix

Virginia Ann "Ginger" LaCroix passed away on Monday, November 20, 2023, at her home in Yukon, Oklahoma at the age of 76.

The daughter of Lee and Mary Virginia (Stitch) Marshall, Ginger was born on June 25, 1947, in Enid, Oklahoma.

After earning a bachelor's degree in elementary education from Phillips University in Enid in 1969, Ginger was employed by Enid State School, administering federal grants and working with intellectually disabled children and adults.

It was there she met Zane LaCroix. They went on a picnic in Meadowlake Park with Zane's son Blayne in a Volkswagen Karmann Ghia, followed by a second date at the movies to see Alice's Restaurant. They married in 1970 and would spend the next 52 years together.

Ginger was a professional storyteller for most of her adult life, vividly telling folktales and tall tales, historic, holiday and Biblical stories at elementary schools, libraries, churches, nursing homes, and book review clubs. "The Storytelling Lady'' used a variety of voices and gestures to completely become the story she was telling, capturing the attention of tens of thousands of children and adults with stories like Grady the Cow, Meshka the Kvetch and A Cup of Christmas Tea.

She was in the original 1994 cast of Central Oklahoma Ballet Company's production of The Nutcracker, and would play the role of Mother Ginger for 27 years, with hundreds of little gingerbread cookies emerging from under her dress over the years. She acted in productions for The Stage Door Theater in Yukon (where she was a charter member) and The Gaslight Theatre in Enid, earning "Best Actress" awards at both.

Ginger served on the board of directors for the Yukon Library and Territory Tellers, as well as the advisory council for Yukon Community Education. She was also a Sunday school teacher, and later, an elder.

She enjoyed spending as much time with family and friends as possible, and loved every moment spent at her favorite place in the world: Tincup, Colorado.

Ginger is survived by daughter Aimee McElhaney and husband Mark of Yukon, Oklahoma; son Ryan LaCroix and wife Tiya of Blanchard, Oklahoma; nine grandchildren and five great-grandchildren; brother, Bill Marshall and wife Roxanna of Fay, Oklahoma; many cousins, nieces and nephews; and one very loyal dog, Malee.

She is preceded in death by her husband Zane, son Blayne, parents, brother Terry and twin sister Mary Diane.

The family will hold a memorial service on Thursday, November 30, 2023, at 10:00 a.m. at First Christian Church, 601 Maple Ave, in Yukon.

In lieu of flowers, donations may be made in Ginger's name to First Christian Church in Yukon, where she served as an elder.