Marjorie Austa Gaide

Marjorie was born in Holden, MO on June 9, 1932 to Albert Vernon Ament, Sr., and Ruth Irma Ament (nee Kidder). After spending her early years in Holden, Marjorie, her parents and younger brother Albert Vernon Ament, Jr. (“Vern”) moved to Colorado Springs, Colorado. After graduating high school, Marjorie enrolled at the University of Colorado, Boulder, Colorado where she began formally pursuing her lifelong passion for art and met her future husband, Ralph Lee Gaide. Marjorie and Ralph were married December 12, 1952, achieving their 70th wedding anniversary shortly before Marjorie’s passing.

“Greater love has no one than this, that one lay down his life for his friends.” John 15:13. In very tangible and authentic ways, Marjorie gave of herself to her family, friends, and community. After giving life to each of her sons, Roger, Thomas, and twins Paul and Peter, Marjorie and Ralph gave each of their sons a much greater gift, introduction to Jesus.

Marjorie’s ardent interest in the arts, of all kinds, from which the “boys”, Ralph and others benefited, will be remembered forever: the knit hats and mittens, the handmade vests and sweaters, the Christmas rings she made for each, the drawings and paintings, the pottery, the bust of Paul, lest we forget the incredible foods (from Prime Rib and Yorkshire Pudding to mac and cheese and boiled spinach, it was all great – even if the boys belonged to the “clean plate club” – stewed tomatoes anyone?).

Marjorie’s 50’s, 60’s and early 70’s were consumed raising her boys, assisting Ralph, especially in his “second” job – owner of a Chicken Delight restaurant, and pursuing her own education. Marjorie earned her Associate in Arts degree from Citrus College, Glendora, CA in 1965, her Bachelor of Arts degree from University of Colorado in 1970, and her Master of Arts in Education from the University of Colorado in 1979; no small feat considering the hundreds of ballgames and matches she attended supporting the boys, the thousands of practices and lessons she chauffeured, her daily food offerings, the number of operating reports she prepared, etc.

As many have observed and noted, Marjorie did not have “girls” of her own. Notwithstanding, she was blessed with Diana (Roger’s wife of 46 years), Debra - “Debbie” (Tom’s wife of 45 years), Kimberly (Paul’s wife of 40 years) and Mary Anne – “Molly” (Peter’s wife of just under 33 years). The girls were all loved by Marjorie for their Christian faiths, the support that they each gave to her boys, their own respective accomplishments and achievements, and likely most of all, for her 18 grandchildren and 25 great-grandchildren, all of whom, together with Ralph, survived her. She was also blessed with her 7 nieces and nephews, together with numerous extended family members and friends.

Education was a “big deal” for Marjorie, whether her own, that of each of her boys – all with advanced degrees (Medicine, Law, 2 MBAs), the community at large, her students at North High School, East High School, Lincoln High School, or Kennedy High School – all in the Denver Public Schools, where she taught AP courses in English, drawing, ceramics, painting, and jewelry for many, many years, or that of others.

As part of her giving to her community, Marjorie was, for instance: 1) a founding member of St. Luke’s Lutheran Church, Applewood, CO (she loved the side benefit of entertaining and playing pinochle with Ralph and some of the other founding members); 2) a Stephen Minster at Wheat Ridge Lutheran Church, Wheat Ridge, CO (providing Christian care to individuals facing life challenges); 3) a member of the National Society, Daughters of the American Revolution (the mission of which is to promote historic preservation, education, and patriotism), becoming a member in June 2006, and being a founding member of the Doctor Susan Anderson Chapter, Golden, Colorado, where she was, inter alia, the Corresponding Secretary from 2007-2009, the Chapter Chaplain from 2009-2011, and from which she was the Colorado State Chair of Literacy Promotions 2011-2013 (she pioneered the concept of “family literacy” which addresses the need for educational assistance to both children and parents in low-literacy families – a concept which had National impact within DAR). Marjorie’s keen interest in genealogy was honed with DAR.

Over time, Margorie began to suffer memory and then speech loss, a frustration for her and a void for the family that she left behind, as her disease progressed to take her. All can rejoice that she can praise God now with a full voice.

Marjorie, you gave to us all. With God’s grace, rest in His peace, thou good and faithful servant.

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Services for Marjorie are scheduled for January 13, 2023 at Wheat Ridge Evangelical Lutheran Church (Missouri Synod), 8600 West 38th Avenue, Wheat Ridge, CO at 10:00 a.m., followed by a light lunch at the church with interment at Crown Hill Cemetery, 7777 West 29th Avenue, Wheat Ridge, CO at 1:00 p.m. For those wishing to attend remotely, the service will be streamed live at: www.facebook.com/wrlutheran