Marjorie Elva Gorman (nee Harmon)

Marjorie was born on August 24, 1916 in Kansas City, Missouri and was an only child. She was a musical child and played the violin when she was younger. She met the love of her life, Bernard Wells Gorman Sr., and the two were married on June 3, 1937. They had four children together and raised them in Tarkio, Missouri. During her early marriage to Bernard, Marjorie worked in an upscale home furnishing store in Kansas City. Later she went to work at Tarkio College in the registrar office. Marjorie took many college art courses to enhance her already inherent artistic ability. She was a phenomenal oil painter and created many beautiful works of art. She kindly used her painting skills at Tarkio Presbyterian Church where she painted the large 3D characters for the nativity sets. Even when she was not physically painting, she had a way of painting images with her words.

Her daughter, Becky, remembers her talking about whether she was free to do something on a Friday or Saturday and Marjorie’s response gave a vivid image of her life being a blank and open book, even though the edges were a little ruffled but the pages were all there. Her family and friends clearly remember how she was always colorful and artistic with her speech.

While living in Missouri, she and Bernard were members of a bridge club and specifically played Duplicate Bridge. When Bernard was not working, they were able to take some trips. Their favorite trips include Ireland, where they did genealogy tracking, and Hawaii. The kids say their mom always ensured that their vacations were “educational trips.”

Marjorie had an amazing sense of humor and wit. She once rigged a firecracker to explode on the opposite side of the doorknob when her son, Bill, came home late one night. It may have been a trick that she learned from Bill, but nevertheless, it was always fun to see her sense of humor come out. With all her kids, she was very fun to tease because she could hold her own and spar back and forth with their jokes. Even in her last days, she had the nurses at the hospital laughing.

Marjorie was sharp and creative. Eventually, she worked side by side with Bernard at his law firm. Pat and Harold remember playing Scrabble with her and how sharp her mind stayed even into being 99 years old. Although rumored to have not been an excellent cook, Marjorie had a famous apple pie that people loved. Her dream job was to become an interior decorator and she would have been very successful in that field. Marjorie will be missed by all who knew her.

In 2009, she and Bernard moved to Minnesota to be closer to family. Bernard passed away that year at 104 years old. Marjorie continued to live on her own at an assisted living until a few days before her passing. She passed away peacefully at Park Nicollet Methodist Hospital, with her family by her side on Saturday, August 20, 2016.

Marjorie is preceded in death by her parents, Elva Agnes (nee Quisenbery) and William Henry “Harry” Harmon; her husband, Bernard Wells Gorman Sr.; her infant son, Michael Gorman; and her step-daughter, Mary Jean Gorman. She will be dearly missed by her children, William “Bill” (Lynn Baskfield) Gorman of Minneapolis, Minnesota, Patricia “Pat” (Harold) Sandusky of Fulton, Maryland, and Rebecca “Becky” Gorman of Minneapolis, Minnesota; her stepson, Bernard “Wells” Gorman; her grandchildren, Tracy Gorman, Dylan Gorman, Heather (Josh) Ostalkiewicz, Tim (Amanda) Sandusky, and Valeria Sandusky; her great-grandchildren, Zachary Sandusky, Maliya Gorman-Carter, Jovan Gorman-Carter, Elian Gorman-Carter; and many other family and friends.

There will be a funeral service in Tarkio, Missouri and the family is being cared for by the staff at Davis Funeral Chapels. Please visit their website at http://minterfuneralchapels.com/obitList.html.php for more information.