Marjorie Beale Oliver
Marjorie Beale Oliver (nee McLaughlin), a resident of Bellevue for nearly 50 years, passed away peacefully August 18, 2016 in Salem, Oregon after a lengthy battle with dementia. We are so grateful for the loving care she received from the staff at Windsong at Eola Hills, her home for the past 16 months.
Mom/Marge was born in Chester, Pennsylvania on August 28, 1929, the eldest of three children.
She grew up on the Eastern Shore of Maryland and in Alexandria, Virginia, graduating in 1947 from George Washington High School.
She worked at Boeing as an engineer’s aide in Wichita, New Orleans and Seattle. She especially enjoyed being involved in Boeing’s wind tunnel tests in the late 1950s. She also worked on the 737 project in Seattle.
Mom married the love of her life, Ivan L. Oliver, in July of 1961. They enjoyed over 40 years together, working, raising children, and spending quality time with their grandchildren. In the late 1970s they purchased a condo, always referred to as “G204” at Pono Kai Resort on Kaua’i, Hawaii and spent every winter there for over 25 years. Mom could often be seen backstroking in the Pacific Ocean. Marge and Ivan established many ongoing friendships with other residents, meeting for golf, sunbathing, and cocktails on the lanai. They both enjoyed creating and collecting art.
For many years, Mom volunteered at Overlake Hospital, the Bellevue Art Museum (as a docent) and at the Kaua’i Museum in Lihu’e.
Her children and grandchildren recall receiving beautiful keepsake ornaments at the elegant Christmas dinners she hosted each year. She was a true southern lady, making very sure we all maintained good posture and used correct grammar at all times.
Everyone who knew and loved her will recall her keen wit, her love of art and those catch phrases. A dip or sauce had to “glom” before serving and she always inquired of Ivan, “have you addressed the salad?” It never got old, even though we rolled our eyes.
Marjorie is survived by daughters Sharla (Ryan) Unruh, Marsha (Jerry) Moser, Candy (Steve) Snyder and Dee Dee Oliver and by sons Scott Newsom and Steve Oliver, as well as 12 grandchildren and 13 great grand-children. She was preceded in death by her parents, sister Patty, brother Scott, daughter Pam, grandson Simon and her beloved husband, Ivan.
At her request, there will be no services; however next summer we will scatter Marge’s and Ivan’s ashes over their favorite place on earth, the Pacific Ocean off Kauai’s Coconut Coast.
