Marjorie Leona Neff was born on August 2, 1925 in Fairbury, Nebraska to mother Ethel Smith and father Ward Neff. Older siblings were Ward Neff Jr, who died in military service in France in WWII, and Norma Neff Ross, who predeceased Marjorie in 2007. Her younger sister Joyce Ramona Neff Madden predeceased her on December 30 2008 in Hays, Kansas.
The depression took its toll on many, but the Neff family experienced financial ruin and diaspora through their own actions. Ethel lost her unfaithful husband and her dress shop. For a time, the children lived with their mother and grandmother Maggie Smith. Eventually the burden became impossible to manage and the children lived with relatives and then in foster homes, while Ethel was institutionalized.
Marjorie was nine years old at the time, and these events tremendously shaped who she was - always reaching out for love.
Marjorie had a short-lived marriage to Richard Binkley which produced a daughter, Deborah Joyce on January 7, 1951. While Marjorie got her life together, Deborah lived with aunt Joyce. Marjorie met Herbert Driskill and they married in October 1954, and welcomed daughter Deborah back into their home.
The Driskill family lived in many places throughout the west; Kansas, California, and Nevada, making good friends like Dick Jones wherever they went, and finally coming to Tucson Arizona.
Even though adoption records are not available to grandparents, Marge was able to access records and track down her granddaughter Erin, whom Deborah had given up for adoption in 1971. Marge’s greatest wish was for a loving family reunion.
Herb was struck by cancer late in his life, and Marge stood by her husband and took care of him through two major surgeries. She was with Herb when he died at home in Tucson in 1998. Marge missed Herb deeply, and she had hoped to follow him quickly into death, but her body had different ideas. She got to be present at her daughter Deb’s wedding to Mark Holdaway in 2007.
Shortly after the wedding, Marge was not able to take care of herself at home, and she lived at the Villa Campana nursing home for 28 months. Ever hopeful that she would be able to return home, she did what she could to keep physically fit, walking short distances and always wheeling herself about. She became an important part of the community at Villa Campana, helping both staff and residents through the day. She was elected Valentine’s Queen and Christmas Queen, and was loved by many.
As her health failed in her final weeks due to COPD, she was visited constantly by daughter Deborah and son-in-law Mark, as well as dozens of staff and residents. Even though she lost the ability to talk in her final days, she was awake and aware up until the end. She passed peacefully at 10:20 pm March 23 2010 as Deb sang Wayfaring Stranger and Mark accompanied on kalimba. As a final good bye, Deb continued with Red River Valley, a song that Marge’s mother had sung to her nightly to ease her to sleep during the happier days of her early childhood.
Marge is survived by daughter Deborah Holdaway of Tucson Arizona, grand-daughter Erin Eastman Wilson of Bountiful, Utah and great-grand-daughter Haley Eastman, also of Bountiful Utah.
The depression took its toll on many, but the Neff family experienced financial ruin and diaspora through their own actions. Ethel lost her unfaithful husband and her dress shop. For a time, the children lived with their mother and grandmother Maggie Smith. Eventually the burden became impossible to manage and the children lived with relatives and then in foster homes, while Ethel was institutionalized.
Marjorie was nine years old at the time, and these events tremendously shaped who she was - always reaching out for love.
Marjorie had a short-lived marriage to Richard Binkley which produced a daughter, Deborah Joyce on January 7, 1951. While Marjorie got her life together, Deborah lived with aunt Joyce. Marjorie met Herbert Driskill and they married in October 1954, and welcomed daughter Deborah back into their home.
The Driskill family lived in many places throughout the west; Kansas, California, and Nevada, making good friends like Dick Jones wherever they went, and finally coming to Tucson Arizona.
Even though adoption records are not available to grandparents, Marge was able to access records and track down her granddaughter Erin, whom Deborah had given up for adoption in 1971. Marge’s greatest wish was for a loving family reunion.
Herb was struck by cancer late in his life, and Marge stood by her husband and took care of him through two major surgeries. She was with Herb when he died at home in Tucson in 1998. Marge missed Herb deeply, and she had hoped to follow him quickly into death, but her body had different ideas. She got to be present at her daughter Deb’s wedding to Mark Holdaway in 2007.
Shortly after the wedding, Marge was not able to take care of herself at home, and she lived at the Villa Campana nursing home for 28 months. Ever hopeful that she would be able to return home, she did what she could to keep physically fit, walking short distances and always wheeling herself about. She became an important part of the community at Villa Campana, helping both staff and residents through the day. She was elected Valentine’s Queen and Christmas Queen, and was loved by many.
As her health failed in her final weeks due to COPD, she was visited constantly by daughter Deborah and son-in-law Mark, as well as dozens of staff and residents. Even though she lost the ability to talk in her final days, she was awake and aware up until the end. She passed peacefully at 10:20 pm March 23 2010 as Deb sang Wayfaring Stranger and Mark accompanied on kalimba. As a final good bye, Deb continued with Red River Valley, a song that Marge’s mother had sung to her nightly to ease her to sleep during the happier days of her early childhood.
Marge is survived by daughter Deborah Holdaway of Tucson Arizona, grand-daughter Erin Eastman Wilson of Bountiful, Utah and great-grand-daughter Haley Eastman, also of Bountiful Utah.
Marjorie Leona Neff was born on August 2, 1925 in Fairbury, Nebraska to mother Ethel Smith and father Ward Neff. Older siblings were Ward Neff Jr, who died in military service in France in WWII, and Norma Neff Ross, who predeceased Marjorie in 2007. Her younger sister Joyce Ramona Neff Madden predeceased her on December 30 2008 in Hays, Kansas.
The depression took its toll on many, but the Neff family experienced financial ruin and diaspora through their own actions. Ethel lost her unfaithful husband and her dress shop. For a time, the children lived with their mother and grandmother Maggie Smith. Eventually the burden became impossible to manage and the children lived with relatives and then in foster homes, while Ethel was institutionalized.
Marjorie was nine years old at the time, and these events tremendously shaped who she was - always reaching out for love.
Marjorie had a short-lived marriage to Richard Binkley which produced a daughter, Deborah Joyce on January 7, 1951. While Marjorie got her life together, Deborah lived with aunt Joyce. Marjorie met Herbert Driskill and they married in October 1954, and welcomed daughter Deborah back into their home.
The Driskill family lived in many places throughout the west; Kansas, California, and Nevada, making good friends like Dick Jones wherever they went, and finally coming to Tucson Arizona.
Even though adoption records are not available to grandparents, Marge was able to access records and track down her granddaughter Erin, whom Deborah had given up for adoption in 1971. Marge’s greatest wish was for a loving family reunion.
Herb was struck by cancer late in his life, and Marge stood by her husband and took care of him through two major surgeries. She was with Herb when he died at home in Tucson in 1998. Marge missed Herb deeply, and she had hoped to follow him quickly into death, but her body had different ideas. She got to be present at her daughter Deb’s wedding to Mark Holdaway in 2007.
Shortly after the wedding, Marge was not able to take care of herself at home, and she lived at the Villa Campana nursing home for 28 months. Ever hopeful that she would be able to return home, she did what she could to keep physically fit, walking short distances and always wheeling herself about. She became an important part of the community at Villa Campana, helping both staff and residents through the day. She was elected Valentine’s Queen and Christmas Queen, and was loved by many.
As her health failed in her final weeks due to COPD, she was visited constantly by daughter Deborah and son-in-law Mark, as well as dozens of staff and residents. Even though she lost the ability to talk in her final days, she was awake and aware up until the end. She passed peacefully at 10:20 pm March 23 2010 as Deb sang Wayfaring Stranger and Mark accompanied on kalimba. As a final good bye, Deb continued with Red River Valley, a song that Marge’s mother had sung to her nightly to ease her to sleep during the happier days of her early childhood.
Marge is survived by daughter Deborah Holdaway of Tucson Arizona, grand-daughter Erin Eastman Wilson of Bountiful, Utah and great-grand-daughter Haley Eastman, also of Bountiful Utah.
The depression took its toll on many, but the Neff family experienced financial ruin and diaspora through their own actions. Ethel lost her unfaithful husband and her dress shop. For a time, the children lived with their mother and grandmother Maggie Smith. Eventually the burden became impossible to manage and the children lived with relatives and then in foster homes, while Ethel was institutionalized.
Marjorie was nine years old at the time, and these events tremendously shaped who she was - always reaching out for love.
Marjorie had a short-lived marriage to Richard Binkley which produced a daughter, Deborah Joyce on January 7, 1951. While Marjorie got her life together, Deborah lived with aunt Joyce. Marjorie met Herbert Driskill and they married in October 1954, and welcomed daughter Deborah back into their home.
The Driskill family lived in many places throughout the west; Kansas, California, and Nevada, making good friends like Dick Jones wherever they went, and finally coming to Tucson Arizona.
Even though adoption records are not available to grandparents, Marge was able to access records and track down her granddaughter Erin, whom Deborah had given up for adoption in 1971. Marge’s greatest wish was for a loving family reunion.
Herb was struck by cancer late in his life, and Marge stood by her husband and took care of him through two major surgeries. She was with Herb when he died at home in Tucson in 1998. Marge missed Herb deeply, and she had hoped to follow him quickly into death, but her body had different ideas. She got to be present at her daughter Deb’s wedding to Mark Holdaway in 2007.
Shortly after the wedding, Marge was not able to take care of herself at home, and she lived at the Villa Campana nursing home for 28 months. Ever hopeful that she would be able to return home, she did what she could to keep physically fit, walking short distances and always wheeling herself about. She became an important part of the community at Villa Campana, helping both staff and residents through the day. She was elected Valentine’s Queen and Christmas Queen, and was loved by many.
As her health failed in her final weeks due to COPD, she was visited constantly by daughter Deborah and son-in-law Mark, as well as dozens of staff and residents. Even though she lost the ability to talk in her final days, she was awake and aware up until the end. She passed peacefully at 10:20 pm March 23 2010 as Deb sang Wayfaring Stranger and Mark accompanied on kalimba. As a final good bye, Deb continued with Red River Valley, a song that Marge’s mother had sung to her nightly to ease her to sleep during the happier days of her early childhood.
Marge is survived by daughter Deborah Holdaway of Tucson Arizona, grand-daughter Erin Eastman Wilson of Bountiful, Utah and great-grand-daughter Haley Eastman, also of Bountiful Utah.
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