Marjorie Smith

The family mourns the passing of Marjorie “Marge” E. (Morgan) Smith, age 89, on Thursday, November 9, 2023.

Marjorie was born April 22, 1934, on a farm north of Massena, IA; the third child and oldest daughter of Howard and Helen (Campbell) Morgan.  She attended Denham Country School and Massena High School, graduating in the Class of 1951. 

She married Everett Smith in 1951 in Council Bluffs, IA.  Marge spent most of the next 25 years as a homemaker, later working as a waitress in Griswold and Atlantic and as a cashier at Easter’s grocery store.  When first married the couple lived in Council Bluffs, Massena and Anita and from 1957 to 1963, in Cumberland.  In the summer of 1963, the family moved to Lewis and spent the next 13 years at the gas station/home on Hwy 6, fondly referred to as “The Hilltop.”  In 1977, they purchased a home in Lewis and Marge remained there until her younger children graduated from school.  Finally, in 1998, she bought a house in Atlantic, IA, and remained there until August of 2023 when she was moved to Heritage House due to health reasons.

Marge and Everett had seven children together prior to their divorce in 1978.  Robert, born 1952, Bruce, born 1954, Sheila, born 1955, Michael, born 1960, Sherri, born 1963, Cindy, born 1968, and Rebecca, born 1971.  The older children began school in Cumberland and then attended Griswold Community School District after moving to Lewis.  All the children graduated from Griswold High School.  Marge was very family oriented and close with her parents, siblings and extended family.  They enjoyed holidays, summer picnics at Cold Springs State Park in Lewis, and many, many family gatherings together over the years.

Her “gift of gab” was well known and she was adept at getting others to converse within minutes of meeting.  She made many friends of all ages in her small communities of Cumberland, Lewis, Griswold and Atlantic and will be missed by those whose lives she touched.

Marge is survived by her older brother, Clair Morgan (France); sister, Alda Schwenke; son, Mike Smith; daughters, Sherri Fieber (Kelly), Cindy Smith, and Becky Oliver (Chad); 15 grandchildren; several great-grandchildren; and many nieces, nephews, cousins and other family.

She was preceded in death by her parents; grandparents; former husband; older brother, Ralph; younger brother, Harold (in infancy); sons, Robert and Bruce; daughter, Sheila Denny; grandson, Terry Rice (Bob’s son); and other beloved family members.

A Celebration of Life service, that will primarily include a time for open sharing, will begin at 2:00 p.m., Sunday, November 19^th followed by fellowship and refreshments until 5:00 p.m. at Roland Funeral Home in Atlantic.

Roland Funeral Service is caring for Marge's family and her arrangements.  Condolences may be left at www.rolandfuneralservice.com.