Marjorie Jean Mathison, 78
Marjorie Jean Mathison, 78, passed away Friday, Aug. 11, 2006, at the Kalispell Regional Medical Center, after an automobile accident that occurred Aug. 5 near Bigfork.
She was born Oct. 7, 1927, in Underwood, N.D., to Ellen and Lloyd Miles Standish. She was a direct descendant of Miles Standish of Mayflower fame, but was extremely proud of her German heritage.
Most of her growing-up years were spent in Sandpoint, Idaho. She attended grade school there and graduated from Sandpoint High School. As a senior in high school, she became Idaho's state pair's roller-skating champion. She was quite an athlete.
She met her husband, Carl Mathison, after World War II. They were married Dec. 29, 1946.
A true pioneer, Marjorie spent her early married years in logging camps at Priest Lake and the Cedars in Idaho.
Her children remember wonderful childhoods in nature — rivers, mountains and fresh air. They fished, rode horses and learned to hunt. Marjorie was an excellent horsewoman, fisherman and hunter. She was an amazing seamstress. She loved golf and would allow nothing to get in the way of her scheduled game.
In 1966, Marjorie and her husband, Carl, moved to Polson. They moved to Bigfork in 1977, continuing their logging business. Marjorie became very involved in the Veterans of Foreign Wars and carried the flag in the Memorial Day parade for many years. Marjorie and Carl became very involved in their community, decorating Bigfork for Christmas every year. In 1991, Marjorie lost her husband, Carl, to cancer.
She was a devoted grandmother of seven, great-grandmother to one, and had great fun with them. She was an active, vibrant and elegant woman.
In the mid-1990s, she met her beloved Roger Emerson. They both loved dancing, cribbage and shuffleboard. Marge and Roger had many dear friends in the Bigfork and Palm Springs areas.
Marjorie was preceded in death by her husband, Carl, in 1991. Her beloved companion of 10 years, Roger Emerson, passed away Saturday, Aug. 12, 2006.
She is survived by children, Tom (Connie) of Manhattan, Mont., Carie Graham of Chicago, and Carla Benson (Philip) of Missoula; and by her grandchildren Michelle, Derek, Nicole, Stuart, Erik, Andrew and Adam; plus by her great-grandchild, Blake; and by one brother, Lee Standish, and wife, Betty.
A memorial service for Marjorie will be held in combination with the memorial service for Roger Emerson at 11 a.m. Tuesday, Aug. 15, at Bethany Lutheran Church, 8559 Montana Highway 35, in Bigfork. An urn burial will be at Lonepine Cemetery in Bigfork. In lieu of flowers, the family suggests that donations go to the American Cancer Society, 3550 Mullan Road, Suite 105, Missoula, Montana, 59808.
Johnson Mortuary and Crematory is caring for the family.