Marjorie Ann Coleman

Marjorie “Margie” was born in Sioux City, Iowa, on October 14, 1937, the oldest of three children. She was part of a large extended family that took her in; along with her mother and younger sister, Mary after their father was captured in the Pacific Theatre during WWII. Five years later, younger brother Tom was born, and the family relocated to Los Angeles. There Margie attended St John the Evangelist grammar school and St Mary’s Academy High School. St. Mary’s provided her a wonderful education including the study of music where she developed a lifelong passion for jazz. After graduation she worked for Hughes Aircraft and on her 18th birthday she met Mahlon Coleman. They married in 1958 and started a family thereafter. Mahlon was the love of her life and they were married for 65 years until her recent passing.

Margie and Mahlon first visited the Monterey Peninsula in the 1960’s. Upon her retirement from Cal Tech/Jet Propulsion Lab in Southern California, where she also took advantage of a degree program earning an AA in accounting, she and Mahlon moved from La Canada-Flintridge and enjoyed a wonderful life in Pebble Beach. Margie was a lifelong Catholic and was a member of the Carmel Mission Parish. She was in the original class of docents from 1984 at the Monterey Bay Aquarium until her retirement. Her volunteer hours were counted in years, not months.

Margie was loving and faithful. She valued family and friends deeply. She relished time with her nine grandchildren and six soon to be seven great-grandchildren. Nothing was better than a smile or hug from one of them. She was smart, loved learning and loved to laugh. She was funny and insightful, forgiving, and optimistic. As one of her recent cousins stated, “She always made you feel special.” Margie will be deeply missed by her family and dear friends.

Her life was a blessing on her entire family. The love she showed to us will continue to be passed onto future generations. Margie is survived by Mahlon, and her children, Mary, Michael, Virginia, Jean and their families. She has lifelong friends who mourn her passing.

Funeral Mass will be held at the Carmel Mission January 25, 2024 at noon. In lieu of flowers, gifts can be made to St Mary’s Academy at www.smabelles.org/donate under the Annual Giving Fund. Please indicate that your gift is in memory of Marjorie Betz Coleman Class of 1955 in the Donation Dedication Section of the form. These funds will be used to help establish a scholarship and support the instrumental music program at St. Mary’s Academy.