Margery Mishler Grant

Margery Jane Mishler Grant (Marge) 96, passed away of natural causes on April 2, 2024 while a resident of Merrill Gardens in San Diego, CA. Marge was a loving and devoted daughter, wife, mother, grandmother, great grandmother, sister, and friend. She lived a blessed life, was admired by many, and shall be dearly missed.

Marge was born on March 22, 1928 in Illinois, the second of three daughters of Hubert Estes Mishler and Muriel Allison Mishler. In 1940 when she was 13, the family moved to Ocean Beach, CA. Marge graduated from Point Loma High School in 1944. During high school, Marge and her friends formed a special sorority they called The Zephas, all of whom were close friends for over 80 years. Marge also attended San Diego State College.

Marge met her husband of 65 years, Jim, during WWII while he was stationed with the Navy in San Diego, CA. Marge and Jim were married after the war in 1946 and then returned to Hanover, NH where Jim received an AB in Chemistry at Dartmouth College. They moved to Jim’s home town of Rochester, NY where their son Jim was born, but shortly after, moved to back to southern California where their daughter Susie was born and where they lived out their lives.

Marge balanced a wonderful career and raised her family with grace and pride. She worked at UC Riverside for 22 years where she retired as the Manager of the Personnel Office. Jim taught high school Chemistry and was a high school Vice Principal in Riverside, CA. When Marge and Jim retired, they moved back her home town of Ocean Beach, CA where they both were very active in the community. In OB, Marge took care of her mother, was an engaged member of the Ocean Beach Town Council and was 1991 Town Council Citizen of the Year, the Historical Society, and was a driver for 24 years for The American Cancer Society. Together Marge and Jim were enthusiastic life members of the MG Club of San Diego and loved to play tennis regularly with their friends. Marge and Jim also enjoyed sailing in their Cal 229 in and around San Diego Bay. Marge was a member of the Point Loma Presbyterian Church where she also volunteered with Rachel’s Women’s Center and the Memorial Guild and member of the Knitters Club knitting apghans for those in need.

Looking for a simpler life style, they sold their home in OB and moved to a condo at Park Place Estates in Mission Valley, CA. Marge joined the local YMCA and took exercise classes 3 times a week into her 90s. She was a devoted wife to Jim who predeceased her in 2011 after a long illness. She lived 8 more years in her condo where she made so many loving friends while she also continued to serve her community. In 2019, Marge moved to the retirement community of Merrill Gardens in downtown San Diego, CA where she lived an active and full life, making wonderful friendships.

Marge is survived by her two beloved children and their spouses, Jim and Martha Grant of Rindge, NH and Susie and Bill Burke of Alamo, CA. Her surviving grandchildren are Alyson Grant-Drew and husband Randall of NH, Todd Burke and wife Jackie of ID, Laura Smith and husband Matthew of NY, Mandy Burke and husband Garrett Calcaterra of CA and Darin Burke and wife Amy Werner of CA. Marge loved, was so proud of, and bragged about her eight great grandchildren include James and William Drew, Melissa and Brian Smith. Delaney and Sydney Burke, Sally Sue Burke and Ruby Burke-Calcaterra. The world will miss Marge, but we know that she will live on within us forever.

There will be a “Celebration of Marge’s Life” at 2 pm on Tuesday, May 14, 2024 at Merrill Gardens, 2567 2nd Ave, San Diego, CA 92103. In lieu of flowers, donations in Marge’s memory can be made to The American Heart Association, or a charity of your choice.