Marjorie May Usher

Marilee's favorite memories of Marge There are so many memories I would like to share – Mom was such a wonderful woman, smart, kind, funny, supportive, caring, and was ALWAYS there for me if I needed a shoulder to cry on or just a friend to have coffee with. But here are my top two… One of our traditions, from the time I was 10 on was to ""play hooky"" from work/school for one day, right before Christmas. We'd usually venture downtown, to wander the Wollworth's store. Partly because it had so much stuff but mostly because it had a café that overlooked Colfax and we could people-watch. We spent the entire day, wandering the stores, looking for that special something for friends and family. We laughed and talked and made up stories about the people we saw. I still remember seeing a really tall man in a pink suit with rhinestone collar walking down the sidewalk – and funky platform shoes too! We decided he must be a DJ at a club, or something cool. Those days were so special – and we kept the tradition going as long as we could. My other favorite memory of Mom is related to camping in our trailer. I think that's how I ended up such a tree-hugger! I love the forest – and there is nothing better than a cold stream to wade in. And all those nights where we had gingerbread with coffee and then poker or scrabble games at night. Those memories really stick with me. And we'd always sing when we drove – Oh we aint got a barrel of money Maybe we're ragged and funny But we'll travel the road Sharing our load Side By Side…. That's how I remember both my mom and dad – always by my side. Marjorie May Usher (Kerr) – Her Story…. Marjorie was born at home on May 26, 1925 at 7:10 a.m. in Seneca, Kansas - a small town near the north eastern corner of the state. She had blonde hair and blue eyes. Her parents were Peter Brotherson Kerr born on August 23, 1873! And Daisy May Kerr (Jones) born on Feb 17, 1889. She was the next-to-youngest among siblings: 3 sisters: Blanche 8/29/1905; Beryl 4/20/1920; Joyce, 5/19/1927 and 2 brothers: Paul 7/5/1907; and Louis 2/5/1913. Most of her siblings were grown and married by the time she was 10 years old. Her favored game was ""dress up"", using the old clothes her Mama kept in a trunk. She remembered using old curtains as veils for her and Joyce's pretend weddings. Marge and Joyce were always close. So close they even bought each other exactly the same Crhistmas present one year when they were older! Back when Marge was little, the tooth fairy would leave a penny for a tooth – that bought a whole jaw-breaker or piece of licorice back then. And her favorite birthday present was a violin, for her 14th birthday. It cost $10 and her Papa paid .50 cents a week til it was paid off. She wanted to grow up to be a professional violinist (or a teacher). Marge's family never had a car. She walked everywhere, including the mile to and from school. Since they didn't have a car they also didn't travel much. The longest trip they ever took was when her brother borrowed a car to take the family to visit her sister Beryl in Nebraska. They also didn't have a phone in the house until she was a senior in High School. As for favorite things – her favorites were: • Color – Lavender • Book – Anne of Green Gables • Movie – Little Women • Song: Green, Green Grass of Home • Sport: Football and Baseball • Season: Fall • Holiday: Christmas • Flower: Yellow Rose • Candy: Divinity • Cookie: Sugar • Ice Cream; Strawberry • Vacation: Yampa Colorado around 1965 and then California in 1967 During High School she and Harold started dating and it was love at first sight. Their favorite date was to drive out to the Lake and then back to Gilson's to dance. She graduated from Seneca High School in 1943. And just a few months later Harold proposed one night when Marge came home from Kansas City where she was working in an Aircraft factory. They got married on November 7, 1943 at the Methodist Parsonage. That was during World War 2, so the wedding was small because many of their friends were gone to war. Harold and Marge moved a couple of times during the early years of their marriage. They spent just a month or so in California but Marge hated all the noise and thought there were way too many people there – so they moved to Colorado where their friends Doris and Leon were. Once in Colorado Marge got a job at the Rocky Mountain News – one of the big newspapers in Denver. She worked as a telephone operator. Then she had a baby girl named Marilee, so she quit for a little while and stayed home while Harold worked as an Insurance Salesman. Marge decided to go back to work when Marilee started Kindergarten, she worked for the Lakewood Sentinel, a small, local newspaper, where she did bookkeeping and other administrative work. She met Marilyn Smith at the Sentinel and they became great friends. Their husbands both liked to camp and fish, so they took many trips fishing at Yampa or Delaney Buttes. They bought an aluminum trailer with a big bunk overhang. It was the perfect thing for going to the mountains she and Harold both loved. Their favorite thing was to pack up and go camping, even if it was just for the weekend. Nothing beat fresh trout and hashbrowns for breakfast! After the Sentinel, Marge worked as a bookkeeper at Olsen, Shultz and Flowers, an accounting firm. She loved her job there, and made more friends too. She worked there until she retired. The best thing ever, so Marge said, was being a Grandma. Her first grandchild, William (BJ) was born on her and Harold's anniversary – November 7th. Followed by Rachel and Megan a few years later. Marge loved them all and never, ever said no to ""watching the kids"". She also constantly carried a little Brag Book with pictures of the grandkids, So if anyone asked, she was always ready to show them off. She passed away from natural causes, just one day before her 90th birthday. Her life was full of love and laughter – sprinkled with a few of life's tears, but also with many of life's joys. I hope each of you that read this will contribute to the story, sharing one of your favorite memories of Marge with all of us. Please add your favorite memory!!