Karin Marjorie Finley, known to all as “Marjorie”, passed away at her daughter’s home after a battle with Lewy Body dementia. Marjorie was born in Portland to Alfred and Lillie Berglund. She was a life long member of Trinity Lutheran Church and a 1946 graduate of
Gresham High School. During high school she worked at the Hood Theater as an usher, and then as a secretary at the shipyards.
Marjorie met her future husband Phil Finley on Gresham High School’s Senior Skip Day. Marjorie and a group of seniors wanted to go to the beach, but nobody had a car. One of the group had befriended Phil, a 20 year old Navy veteran, a signalman home from the war. Phil had both time, and the much needed car. Marjorie and Phil started dating, and she encouraged Phil to use his GI bill and go to college.
In 1950 Marjorie took a much anticipated trip to Sweden with her parents and younger sister, Delores. Alfred and Lillie were Swedish immigrants, and the return to their homeland by cross country train and ocean liner was a highlight for the family, which was always close to its Swedish heritage.
Phil and Marjorie married in March 1951, then moved to Corvallis, where Marjorie worked for the OSU Extension Service. Phil earned a degree in civil engineering. Marjorie earned her “Got Hubby Through College” degree.
After graduation, they returned to Portland, where Phil and Marjorie soon welcomed two daughters. In addition to raising “her girls - Karin and Kathy”, Marjorie kept active with her woman’s church group and a county home extension group, the “Coffee Chatters Extension Unit.” She actively gave her time and raised contributions for numerous charities.
Marjorie was preceded in death by her parents, her sister Delores Berglund Joyner, her husband Philip Scott Finley who died in 2013, and a grandson Trevor Palmer. She is survived by “her girls” - Karin Anderson (Richard) and Kathy Palmer (Tom), two grandchildren Libby Bryant (Paul) and Grant Anderson (Heather), and six great-grandchildren (Will, Teddy, Matthew, Lex, Ali and Kai).
Marjorie will be interred with Phil at Willamette National Cemetery. Because of Covid, there will not be a service at this time. Donations may be made in Marjorie’s name to SnowCap Community Charities.
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