Marion Beatrice Shade Jorgensen

“Seeing is believing.” For many, those words simply represent a motto. But for Marion Beatrice. Jorgensen, it summarized in every way who she was. She was modest, quiet and observant, taking in everything around her and always thinking before acting. She was a realist, someone who was efficient and practical in everything she did. She was a friendly person who truly cared about those around her.

      Marion was born on June 28, 1920 at Long Beach Hospital in Long Beach, California. She was the daughter of Otto and Josie Shade. Raised in California, Canada, and Washington, she was brought up to be tolerant and trustworthy. As a child, she learned to be conscientious, responsible and punctual. These were all traits that she would carry with her throughout her life.

      As a young girl, Marion was always aware of how others around her felt and this quality served her well. With a deep capacity to tolerate the feelings of others, Marion was generally able to avoid conflicts. It seemed as if Marion was the family member who was always working to keep stress at bay. Preferring a quiet environment where she could concentrate, Marion also had the ability to relate well with her family and friends. Marion was raised with Marion had one sister who is still living in Washington state. Wanda Llamas is her sister's name. Marion was constantly involved in activities with her family. Marion and her siblings had the typical rivalries while growing up but they deeply cared for each other and shared many life experiences over the years.

      Growing up, Marion was one of those children who didn’t need to be in the center of a whirlwind of activity. She was content to entertain herself. Marion was never pushy when it came to games and other activities, but rather, she was able to enjoy the pure fun these could bring. In just about everything she did as a child, Marion was intent on pleasing both the adults and the other children around her. Marion took part in a number of activities as a child. She She learned to bowl and play golf early on. In her spare time she liked to do arts and crafts and to sew.

      Marion enjoyed learning. She always had a great memory and was particularly skilled at retaining factual information. Marion was generally quiet in class, learning best through observation. She often showed great concentration and was competent at completing the tasks at hand. Good with details, Marion was painstaking and accurate in her efforts. All of these talents culminated in a successful high school career. Marion enjoyed some courses more than others, having favorite subjects and teachers. Her favorite class in high school was home economics. The teacher she enjoyed learning from the most was Ms. Holt. She was an excellent student, a kind friend to all and had boys lined up to ask her to the dance.

      Most folks would say that Marion was shy until they got to know her. Those who were privileged to know her well learned that she was a solid, good friend. Marion was reluctant to generalize about people, and she based her friendships on her personal experiences. Because of this, Marion best trusted those people that she truly knew. She was concerned about how those around her felt, and she always seemed to uncover the positive side of people. She could relate to others and had the ability to see their point of view, to “walk a mile in their shoes,” as the saying goes. The friends that she made, Marion kept. Her very best friends were and are Lidia Ailinchi and Lou Friesen. Later in life, she became friends with Evelyn and Ed Ward, Rosella and Doug Howard, Don and Opal Leake and many many more.

      Love can’t be defined but must be experienced. That was so true for Marion. On July of 1941 Marion married Fred W. She was totally committed to Fred and maintained traditional ideals about marriage. It was as if Marion naturally sensed her spouse’s needs, and accepted those feelings unconditionally. Although Marion disliked conflict, she did not take flight from discord, but rather sought to preserve harmony even during the most trying times.

      Marion was a good mother to her children. She had “old fashioned” parental values and could handle typical family conflicts in a fair and calm manner. Because she trusted emotions, Marion was reluctant to force issues and used gentle persuasion to resolve situations. In this way she seemed to radiate an aura of warmth and caring to those around her, always thinking before acting. In addition, Marion was a master planner. No matter how hectic life around her might be, she seemed to know and track everyone’s schedule. Marion was blessed with Marion had three children. Two are still living. Her son Larry died at the age of 38., Karen Eileen Dion, Larry Jon Jorgensen (deceased), Loretta Finegan-Nelson. They were also blessed with six grandchildren, Kristin, Kimberly, Theresa, Thom, Trevor, Katie.

      If you gave Marion a deadline, she would meet it. At work, Marion was always on task. Without hesitation, Marion could adhere to any assignment and see it through to its completion. Her primary occupation was as a housewife and cook at Ventura Park Grade School. She was employed for five years. During that time, Marion excelled in working with small groups in order to complete assignments. She was able to quickly grasp concrete ideas and could organize and plan the best way to accomplish things with remarkable consistency. Marion was good at staying on track and was considerate in listening to what others had to say. In this way, Marion had a true gift for being able to come up with practical resolutions to difficult problems. She was often the team member who managed to put forth a win/win solution for all parties.

      Marion liked to experience things first hand, in addition to simply learning about them. This quality influenced Marion's choice of leisure time activities. A methodical and patient worker, Marion preferred to set aside uninterrupted time to work on her hobbies. Her favorite pursuits were water painting, ceramics, knitting, crocheting and cooking. Marion was content to sit quietly alone, enjoying her hobbies all by herself and could often be found just reading about her favorite pastimes.

      While thorough and measured in her approach to things, Marion often liked to physically do things rather than just think about them. She was like that with sports. She also enjoyed the statistical data and the facts behind the sports. In this way, she was something of a sports fan and enjoyed watching her favorite teams whenever she got the opportunity. Tops on her list were ice skating, golf, and the Olympics.

      Due to her excellent organizational skills, Marion was a welcome addition to the professional and community organizations to which she belonged. Marion could bring established, successful methods to the discussion table, along with a generous helping of common sense. Marion was good at making and keeping schedules and never got bogged down in unnecessary details. She was the church greeter at Crossroads and as a volunteer at the food bank and St. Vincent dePaul helping serve the homeless.

      Doing things to help others seemed to come naturally to Marion. She never set out to gain individual recognition, but the praise and accolades given her for her many and varied efforts throughout her life were well deserved. Marion was the Volunteer of the Year at St. Vincent dePaul.

      Anyone who traveled or went on vacation with Marion had smooth sailing. It was often taken for granted that she was the trip planner. She would start early and examine all of the possibilities, selecting the best and most effective options. Favorite vacations included Tahati, Mexico and Hawaii.

      Marion had Pumpkin a Maltese Poodle, Shadow a Silky and Tinkerbell a grey poodle and Ginger a brown poodle. Marion was as loyal to her pets as they were to her.

       She had taken the time to learn about her various options and chose her course wisely. In retirement, she enjoyed traveling and volunteering for different church organizations. Even in retirement, Marion continued to stay in touch with her old friends while making plenty of new acquaintances. She was active in the community and felt fulfilled with the opportunities retirement offered her.

      Marion passed away on May 24, 2010 at In the Padden Adult Family Home. Failure to thrive. She is survived by her children Karen and Loretta, her grandchildren Kristin, Kimberly, Theresa, Thom, Trevor and Katie and her great grandchildren Natahlie, Brittan, Jeffrey Niky, Courtney, Ella (deceased). Services were held at Gateway Little Chapel of the Chimes. Marion was laid to rest in Willamette National Cemetery.

      It is said that some people can’t see the forest for the trees. Marion was able to focus on each individual tree, tending to its needs, thus making the forest stronger as a whole. Marion was a trustworthy, pragmatic and sympathetic person, the kind of woman to whom everyone was drawn. She was thorough and practical. Marion Jorgensen was very literal with her words. You always knew where you stood with Marion. She will be missed.

* * * * * * * * * *

“Seeing is believing.” For many, those words simply represent a motto. But for Marion Beatrice. Jorgensen, it summarized in every way who she was. She was modest, quiet and observant, taking in everything around her and always thinking before acting. She was a realist, someone who was efficient and practical in everything she did. She was a friendly person who truly cared about those around her.

Marion was born on June 28, 1920 at Long Beach Hospital in Long Beach, California. She was the daughter of Otto and Josie Shade. Raised in California, Canada, and Washington, she was brought up to be tolerant and trustworthy. As a child, she learned to be conscientious, responsible and punctual. These were all traits that she would carry with her throughout her life.

As a young girl, Marion was always aware of how others around her felt and this quality served her well. With a deep capacity to tolerate the feelings of others, Marion was generally able to avoid conflicts. It seemed as if Marion was the family member who was always working to keep stress at bay. Preferring a quiet environment where she could concentrate, Marion also had the ability to relate well with her family and friends. Marion was raised with Marion had one sister who is still living in Washington state. Wanda Llamas is her sister's name. Marion was constantly involved in activities with her family. Marion and her siblings had the typical rivalries while growing up but they deeply cared for each other and shared many life experiences over the years.

Growing up, Marion was one of those children who didn’t need to be in the center of a whirlwind of activity. She was content to entertain herself. Marion was never pushy when it came to games and other activities, but rather, she was able to enjoy the pure fun these could bring. In just about everything she did as a child, Marion was intent on pleasing both the adults and the other children around her. Marion took part in a number of activities as a child. She She learned to bowl and play golf early on. In her spare time she liked to do arts and crafts and to sew.

Marion enjoyed learning. She always had a great memory and was particularly skilled at retaining factual information. Marion was generally quiet in class, learning best through observation. She often showed great concentration and was competent at completing the tasks at hand. Good with details, Marion was painstaking and accurate in her efforts. All of these talents culminated in a successful high school career. Marion enjoyed some courses more than others, having favorite subjects and teachers. Her favorite class in high school was home economics. The teacher she enjoyed learning from the most was Ms. Holt. She was an excellent student, a kind friend to all and had boys lined up to ask her to the dance.

Most folks would say that Marion was shy until they got to know her. Those who were privileged to know her well learned that she was a solid, good friend. Marion was reluctant to generalize about people, and she based her friendships on her personal experiences. Because of this, Marion best trusted those people that she truly knew. She was concerned about how those around her felt, and she always seemed to uncover the positive side of people. She could relate to others and had the ability to see their point of view, to “walk a mile in their shoes,” as the saying goes. The friends that she made, Marion kept. Her very best friends were and are Lidia Ailinchi and Lou Friesen. Later in life, she became friends with Evelyn and Ed Ward, Rosella and Doug Howard, Don and Opal Leake and many many more.

Love can’t be defined but must be experienced. That was so true for Marion. On July of 1941 Marion married Fred W. She was totally committed to Fred and maintained traditional ideals about marriage. It was as if Marion naturally sensed her spouse’s needs, and accepted those feelings unconditionally. Although Marion disliked conflict, she did not take flight from discord, but rather sought to preserve harmony even during the most trying times.

Marion was a good mother to her children. She had “old fashioned” parental values and could handle typical family conflicts in a fair and calm manner. Because she trusted emotions, Marion was reluctant to force issues and used gentle persuasion to resolve situations. In this way she seemed to radiate an aura of warmth and caring to those around her, always thinking before acting. In addition, Marion was a master planner. No matter how hectic life around her might be, she seemed to know and track everyone’s schedule. Marion was blessed with Marion had three children. Two are still living. Her son Larry died at the age of 38., Karen Eileen Dion, Larry Jon Jorgensen (deceased), Loretta Finegan-Nelson. They were also blessed with six grandchildren, Kristin, Kimberly, Theresa, Thom, Trevor, Katie.

If you gave Marion a deadline, she would meet it. At work, Marion was always on task. Without hesitation, Marion could adhere to any assignment and see it through to its completion. Her primary occupation was as a housewife and cook at Ventura Park Grade School. She was employed for five years. During that time, Marion excelled in working with small groups in order to complete assignments. She was able to quickly grasp concrete ideas and could organize and plan the best way to accomplish things with remarkable consistency. Marion was good at staying on track and was considerate in listening to what others had to say. In this way, Marion had a true gift for being able to come up with practical resolutions to difficult problems. She was often the team member who managed to put forth a win/win solution for all parties.

Marion liked to experience things first hand, in addition to simply learning about them. This quality influenced Marion's choice of leisure time activities. A methodical and patient worker, Marion preferred to set aside uninterrupted time to work on her hobbies. Her favorite pursuits were water painting, ceramics, knitting, crocheting and cooking. Marion was content to sit quietly alone, enjoying her hobbies all by herself and could often be found just reading about her favorite pastimes.

While thorough and measured in her approach to things, Marion often liked to physically do things rather than just think about them. She was like that with sports. She also enjoyed the statistical data and the facts behind the sports. In this way, she was something of a sports fan and enjoyed watching her favorite teams whenever she got the opportunity. Tops on her list were ice skating, golf, and the Olympics.

Due to her excellent organizational skills, Marion was a welcome addition to the professional and community organizations to which she belonged. Marion could bring established, successful methods to the discussion table, along with a generous helping of common sense. Marion was good at making and keeping schedules and never got bogged down in unnecessary details. She was the church greeter at Crossroads and as a volunteer at the food bank and St. Vincent dePaul helping serve the homeless.

Doing things to help others seemed to come naturally to Marion. She never set out to gain individual recognition, but the praise and accolades given her for her many and varied efforts throughout her life were well deserved. Marion was the Volunteer of the Year at St. Vincent dePaul.

Anyone who traveled or went on vacation with Marion had smooth sailing. It was often taken for granted that she was the trip planner. She would start early and examine all of the possibilities, selecting the best and most effective options. Favorite vacations included Tahati, Mexico and Hawaii.

Marion had Pumpkin a Maltese Poodle, Shadow a Silky and Tinkerbell a grey poodle and Ginger a brown poodle. Marion was as loyal to her pets as they were to her.

She had taken the time to learn about her various options and chose her course wisely. In retirement, she enjoyed traveling and volunteering for different church organizations. Even in retirement, Marion continued to stay in touch with her old friends while making plenty of new acquaintances. She was active in the community and felt fulfilled with the opportunities retirement offered her.

Marion passed away on May 24, 2010 at In the Padden Adult Family Home. Failure to thrive. She is survived by her children Karen and Loretta, her grandchildren Kristin, Kimberly, Theresa, Thom, Trevor and Katie and her great grandchildren Natahlie, Brittan, Jeffrey Niky, Courtney, Ella (deceased). Services were held at Gateway Little Chapel of the Chimes. Marion was laid to rest in Willamette National Cemetery.

It is said that some people can’t see the forest for the trees. Marion was able to focus on each individual tree, tending to its needs, thus making the forest stronger as a whole. Marion was a trustworthy, pragmatic and sympathetic person, the kind of woman to whom everyone was drawn. She was thorough and practical. Marion Jorgensen was very literal with her words. You always knew where you stood with Marion. She will be missed.

Arrangements under the direction of Gateway Little Chapel of the Chimes, Portland, OR.