Memorial Rites Held for Author Margaret Roley

A memorial service for Margaret Furnivall Roley, a prominent Laguna Beach author and historian, was held at 7:30 p.m. Tuesday at the Shepherd of the Hills United Church of Christ, 30121 Niguel Road, Laguna Niguel.

Mrs. Roley, 65, died Friday at the Navy Hospital at Camp Pendleton after a long illness.

A longtime president of the Laguna Beach Historical Society, Mrs. Roley had lived in that city since 1950. A native of Los Angeles, she held degrees from UCLA and Chapman College and had been a teacher in various schools in California, Hawaii, North Carolina, Washington and Virginia.

In 1972, she was director of women’s programs at the Orange County campus of Pepperdine University. From 1974 to 1983 she was supervisor of work study programs at Santa Monica Community College. She was a past California president of the National League of American Pen Women.

She was the author of the book “One Hundred Years of Laguna Beach History,” and in 1971 she was honored as “leading lady of Laguna Beach” by the city’s Chamber of Commerce. During the 1960s and 1970s, she conceived an image development program that was used in the training of women in the Marine Corps and Air Force. She also was well-known for her fashion work, and she had a modeling and charm school in Laguna Beach for about 30 years.

She is survived by a daughter, Marine Lt. Col. Susan R. Malone, and a son, William H. Roley Jr., both of Laguna Beach; her mother, Florence Allen of Santa Monica, and a sister, Rovena Jacobson of Malibu.

The family has requested contributions to the National League of American Pen Women scholarship fund, c/o Sheila Arnold, 5100 Maplewood Ave., Apt. 208, Los Angeles 90004.