Marion Handford Jamieson

Marion will be lovingly remembered by her children: Melody (Larry) Eldreth of Calgary, AB, Julie (Terry) Caldie of Calgary, AB and Randy (Maria) Jamieson of Calgary, AB; her grandchildren: Jessica Maxwell, Rachel (Craig) Ambler, Whitney (Ryan) Hart, Larra Caldie (Ryan Shields), Hillary (Jeremy) Gibson, Jesse Koshowski, Tasia (Colin) Cooper and Malina Jamieson; and her great-grandchildren: Harley, Jace, Ryder, Cace, Phoenix, Kale, Nevaeh, Callen, Beckett and Britton. She is also survived by her sisters-in-law: Vivian (Bill) White and Linda (Joe) White. Marion was predeceased by her husband, Norman, her parents: Bill and Frances White, sisters: Maverette McLeod and Norma Jespersen and brothers: Bill White and Joe White.

Marion was born in Calgary, Alberta on October 11, 1925, the 4th of 5 children to Bill and Francis White. She spent her growing years in Rocky Mountain House, AB and Mirror, AB where Marion’s dad worked for CN Rail as a Road Master. She recalled fond memories of running around with her brothers and sisters in “The Cache” in Rocky Mtn House where the family lived in a converted railway “box car”. It was while living in Mirror, that Marion attended Gospel meetings led by J.D. Carlson and at age 13, at one of those meetings, she went forward to receive Jesus as her Savior, led in prayer by Mrs. Carlson.

From Mirror, the family moved to Edmonton and Marion started attending Beulah Tabernacle where she became very involved in the music ministry as a vocalist. She graduated from Eastwood High School in Edmonton. After high school, Marion attended Prairie Bible Institute from 1944-1948 and completed her degree in Biblical studies. From there, she moved to Calgary to work and live with her sister, Norma and family. It was at the home of good friends, the Diehl’s, that Marion met her future husband, Norman. They were all involved in doing the music for a radio broadcast show, Sunrise Gospel Hour. Marion ended up working in the Sunrise office where Norman was associate director as well as musician and preacher. After dating for a year, they were married on April 15, 1950 at Beulah Tabernacle in Edmonton. They lived in Calgary for 4 years where they pastored at The Mission Covenant Church in Kensington and in 1954, their first daughter, Melody was born.

In the summer of that year, Norman, Marion and Melody travelled on an ocean liner to Japan where they lived and served as missionaries with Youth for Christ. It was here that they welcomed their second daughter, Julie, born in 1955. They returned to Canada in 1957 where Norman served as associate pastor at First Alliance Church on 17th Ave in Calgary. In 1961, their son, Randy, was born and their family was complete! They returned to Tokyo in 1964 as independent missionaries working with local pastors and ministering as a chaplain to the wounded American soldiers returning from Vietnam. All 3 of the children attended Christian Academy in Japan from 1964-1968.

They returned to Calgary permanently in 1968 and during the next 10 years, Marion ran a very successful Tupperware business and enjoyed family, friends and church activities. She supported Norman in his ministry as a church planter and pastor at Strathmore Alliance and Rockyview Alliance churches. In 1977, Marion and Norman started their Shaklee business and thus began their successful adventure into network marketing, travelling and nutrition for the next 34 years until Norman’s passing in 2011. At this point, their daughter, Julie, took over the business and continues it today.

Marion took great joy in so many things such as planting her beautiful flower pots in the summer, weekly shopping at her favorite organic food market and collecting recipes. Her passion was serving others, attending to their needs and spending time baking and sharing the kitchen love. Her kitchen was always full of goodies to share with whoever came to visit. She always delighted in visits from her children, grandchildren, great grandchildren, loved ones and friends. We knew we were always welcome any time of the day!

Marion will be missed for her hugs, laughter, and great conversations. Even during the last couple years as she declined with age related memory issues, she never lost her sense of humour and still “lit up” when we came into the room and loved seeing pictures of the grandkiddos and great-grandkiddos and hearing the stories.

She will be dearly missed by all who knew and loved her!!

A private graveside service will be held at Mountain View Memorial Gardens on Friday, October 8, 2021 with Pastor Grant Sylvester officiating. A Celebration of Marion’s Life to be held at a later date.