Marjorie Goddard Phye

Marjorie Goddard Phye passed away peacefully on December 24, 2023 at Parker Adventist Hospital with her family at her side. She was 84.

Marj was born on December 12, 1939 in Denver, Colorado to William and Elizabeth McCormack Goddard. She was the granddaughter of first-generation Irish immigrants and settlers of the incorporated territory of New Mexico. She was the second of four sisters—a loyal, inquisitive, and opinionated group nicknamed the “Goddard Women” by their extended family.

As a young girl, Marj resided briefly in Bremerton, Washington, but she lived the majority of her life in Denver, making her a true Colorado native. She graduated from Lakewood High School in 1957 and attended Colorado State University from 1957 to 1961. She worked as an executive assistant for (Lockheed) Martin Marietta in the early 1960s when the US Air Force moved their rocket facilities inland to Denver. She was proud of qualifying for a security clearance and to have served her country during those years. She later worked in the HR department of Mountain Medical Manufacturing and as an office manager of the Carousel Corporation Land Management.

Marj traveled to the far corners of the world with her husband, Ned, and recounted lively stories of their adventures. She was an avid skier and golfer. She enjoyed music, theater, watching sports, a classic novel, discussing politics, the op-ed section, and a challenging crossword puzzle. She was a devoted and generous daughter, sister, mother, grandmother, aunt, and friend who will be greatly missed.

She was preceded in death by her husband, Ned Phye, Jr.; her parents, Bill and Liz Goddard; her sister Rena Francis; her sister Kathleen Mortensen; and her brother-in-law Noland (“Mac”) Mortensen.

She is survived by her three children from her first marriage to Donald Elmore: Dawn (Todd), Amy (Michael), and Mike; her grandchildren Collin (Jenny), Caroline, Sydney, and Abbey; her sister Chris (Greg), and her brother-in-law Jeff.

Marj’s family would like to thank the staffs at Morning Star of Parker and Parker Adventist Hospital Comfort Care for their exceptional generosity of spirit, kindness and compassion.

A celebration of Marj’s life will be held this summer. In lieu of flowers, expressions of sympathy may be made to the American Cancer Society or the Wounded Warrior Project.