Charles & Norma

CONDENSED HISTORY OF MARJORIE E. WELCH part 2 Her younger brother and future husband served in the military during the Korean Conflict. That younger brother, David, invited his Air Force buddy, James Welch, to Dexter to go deer hunting. He ending up getting a dear and married Marjorie in her family home. James found lucrative work as an automotive mechanic in Las Cruces, New Mexico where his brother lived. On her honeymoon, she traveled across country to her new home in Las Cruces. She gave birth to two sons, Michael and Norman, and was a wonderful mother to them. She, James and the boy/s moved back to Maine for short periods of time during their first years of marriage but returned to New Mexico after each. She made the Las Cruces newspaper as the only person injured in a train wreck on one visit back to Maine. A suitcase from the rack above fell on her ankle. The injury bothered her for the rest of her years. She had a beautiful view of the Organ Mountains (they resembled a pipe organ) from her dining room window. She heard many a sonic boom from aircraft being flown from the nearby Air base. Her backyard bordered the desert for a couple years before more houses were built there. Prickly pear cacti, tumble weeds, mesquite bushes and small lizards comprised the scene. New Mexico was quite different than Maine and it was quite an adjustment for her. James set up a net across the dining room table and she played ping pong with him and the boys and helped to keep our dog Trixie from sinking her teeth into the balls that hit the floor. She lost pleasure in the sport when James learned to spin the ball. We all loved her Maine accent, however after living away from Maine for several years she became a woman without an accent home. Wherever she actually lived she was teased for her Maine accent, however folks back in Maine felt she had lost it, and teased her for her foreign accent. She loved to play backyard badminton and volleyball with family and friends.

CONDENSED HISTORY OF MARJORIE E. WELCH part 3 She loved to cook and try new recipes. Some of the family's favorites were Chicken and Dumplings, corn chowder, fish chowder, New England boiled dinner and fried chicken. We visited White Sands National Park several times. It was like snow, but without the cold! It was like the beach, but without the water! Her favorite table games were Sorry, Rummy and Crazy 8s. She, James and the boys enjoyed visiting back and forth with friends and James' family and did lots of entertaining. She greatly enjoyed a couple of visits from her brother Earl and his wife Myrnie as they travelled across the country. She forbade her boys from entering the arroyo they walked over on their way home from school. With not even a cloud in the sky in our town, rain miles away in the mountains could send a wall of water through the arroyo causing many to drown. Our family was famous for delicious homemade peach ice cream made with peaches from the tree in our backyard. Mom, Dad, the boys and visitors all took turns with the hand crank. She comforted her boys when they were let out of school early when President John F. Kennedy was assassinated. James, needed to stop being an auto mechanic due to a physical injury and was blessed with a job at Aberdeen Proving Grounds in Maryland, so the family moved to Port Deposit, Maryland. She enjoyed having some of her family close by and we spent many a holiday and special occasion with Joanne's family and/or Mary's family. She enjoyed reading the Bible and spent lots of hours doing so throughout her life. She encouraged her boys to do the same. She fished perch and catfish out of the Susquehanna River with James and the boys. She loved to watch Bonanza, one of the first television shows ever broadcast in color. She continued to enjoy the series up until she passed away.

CONDENSED HISTORY OF MARJORIE E. WELCH Part 1 She was a breach baby but still managed to be born in the house where she grew up on 117 Lincoln Street, Dexter, Maine. She was the 9th of 10 Gordon family children. Alfred, Ernest, Earl, Dot, John, Fred, Donald, Frank, Marjorie and David. She loved and was proud of her family and heritage. She always considered 13 to be her lucky number. At least part of the reason for this, is she received her 1st bicycle for Christmas when she was 13 years old. There was 2 feet of snow on the ground so she rode it around the barn. She grew up working summers on the family farm in Ripley, Maine. Her brothers pitch forked hay to her on the wagon and she packed the load. They also raised vegetables and acres of gladiolas. She was proud of her father's fine pair of oxen. She worked as a clerk in her Dad's department store. Part time while in school and then full time after graduating from high school. Her toughest job was helping people find shoes to fit. On Christmas eve after the store closed she and her siblings were allowed to go around the store and secretly select presents for one another. She accepted Christ as her Savior in her late teens. She sang solos and in a group at the Baptist church. She attended Moody Bible institute, in Chicago, for few months, but dropped out due to sickness. She purchased a lot on Lake Wassookeag and had a cottage built there which she used for many youth group activities. She took on many projects fixing up the family home on 117 Lincoln Street. She upset her Dad for painting over the mahogany wainscot in their kitchen, but he loved the way she took care of the place. She cared for her bedridden father until he passed away. Some of her older brothers fought in World War II.

So sorry to hear the news of Margie's passing. I can just hear her in Heaven with my Dad (Tom Long) commenting on all the good times and great coffee at McDonald's. She has such a sweet and loving spirit and will be missed. Hugs and blessings and peace to you, James, and to all of your family.

Because of the faith Aunt Margie placed in her Lord and Saviour, she is now with Him in heaven. There must be a Gordon family reunion going on up there with mom and dad, Earl and Myrnie, Lois, Grammy Gordon and others! She will be greatly missed. Our thoughts and prayers go out to Uncle Jim, Mike, Norman and their families. Love, Donna and Chuck

Aunt Margie, whom I loved very much, reminded me of my grandmother, Edith Gordon...kind, gentle and compassionate. Growing up in Dexter, Maine I enjoyed her visits with Uncle Jimmy and cousins Mike and Norman. She was a wonderful Christian woman who is now with her Lord and Saviour and family in heaven. Our sympathy to the family.

Love Always, nephew Tom Gordon and wife, Rosalie

Thinking of all of Aunt Margie's family with love! She was a lovely lady, and we will miss her! So sorry for your loss!

Please accept our deepest condolences for your family's loss.