M. Marjorie MacDonald, 89

M. Marjorie MacDonald, 89, passed away Sept. 10, 2014, in Kalispell.

Marjorie was born May 19, 1925, in Great Falls to George and Flossy Overose.

She graduated from Great Falls High School and worked as a telephone operator at Malmstrom Air Force Base. She enjoyed USO dances, and riding with her brother Ted on his motorcycle and in his convertible car.

Marjorie married L. Clark MacDonald in 1946, and lived on a wheat farm on the Bootlegger Trail, north of Great Falls. She worked hard as a farm wife, cooking for harvest crews and driving wheat trucks. She raised three daughters, and enjoyed sewing and making clothes for her daughters out of colorful printed wheat sacks. She was also an active member in the Olive Chapter of the Order of the Eastern Star and held several offices. She was a member of Daughters of the Nile.

After her divorce from Clark in 1974, she moved to Columbia Falls to be near her sister, Ruth Kiser and brother, Don Overose. Starting in 1975, Marjorie worked for 12 years for the City of Columbia Falls as a police dispatcher and city clerk, and was secretary of the Volunteer Ambulance Association. She was appointed city judge of Columbia Falls and retired in 1987.

She met George Al Shay, city judge of Kalispell. She and Al enjoyed camping in their fifth wheel, winters in Quartzsite, Ariz., and traveling to visit family and friends. She and Al also enjoyed reading and doing crafts together, and picking huckleberries. They had over 20 happy and wonderful years together.

Marjorie was preceded in death by her parents, George and Flossy Overose; L. Clark MacDonald; Al Shay; her brothers, Don Overose, Ted Overose and Robert Overose; her sister, Ruth Kiser; and grandson, Trevor Mead.

She is survived by her daughters, Denise MacDonald of Hungry Horse, Janice Gregory and partner Mike of Portland, Beverly Lagocki and husband Alan of Meriden, Conn., grandsons, Scot Gregory of Oregon, Justin Mead and Aaron Mead of Bozeman, and Adam Lagocki of Connecticut; granddaughter, Candace Gregory of Oregon; great-grandsons, Hayden and Damien Mead of Belgrade; great-granddaughters, Amanda Prouty of Florida, and Emma Gregory of Oregon.

A graveside memorial service will be held at 1 p.m. on Friday, Sept. 19 at Woodlawn Cemetery in Columbia Falls. Lunch will be served at the Canyon Community Church Annex at 185 Coram School Lane in Coram following the service. Everyone is invited.