Marjorie Henrietta Repp

Marjorie (Margie) Repp was born December 25, 1924, in Portland Oregon. She spent her 79 years in Portland raising her 5 children, one foster child, seven grandchildren, and fourteen great-grandchildren.

By birth, Marge, became a member of the greatest generation, living through the Great Depression, World War II, and into the computer age. She went from living without indoor plumbing, to fax machines, cell phones and email. She was bright and charming, funny and loyal. She was a woman of strong faith who tongue-in-cheek prayed for a perfect golf swing as to not make a fool of herself. She once stated her disappointment in God for not giving her a singing voice because “if she could she would be popular.” Later to recant that God probably knew she would be a conceited brat if she could sing. She always conceded that God knew what to do which kept her human and humble.

She was a great lover of life and was involved in her community through her church, PTA, League of Women Voters, and Meals on Wheels. Marge was a Brownie leader and Girl Scout leader for many years and had all three of her daughters in her troops. She was an environmentalist, feminist and humanist. Her love of the environment frequently took her to Mt. Hood for hiking and cross-country skiing. We were taught at an early age to respect the environment and littering was a taboo.

She was a loyal friend. She loved music and theater holding season tickets to the Portland Pops and the Mt. Hood Jazz Festival. She loved to dance whether it was square dancing or ballroom her foot would be tapping in anticipation of the next song. She woke us every morning singing “Good Morning, Good Morning” from “Singing in the Rain” and often sang lyrics to define any given circumstance.

She was a faithful and active member of Calvary Lutheran Church in Portland for 40 years, where she overcame gender barriers by becoming the first female treasurer. She was the chair of the Calvary Women’s Guild. Prior to her death as she coordinated the annual church bazaar, she exclaimed to the committee “Now don’t anyone get sick or die before this bazaar is over.” Only to have her Church hold her funeral one week before the bazaar, and two months before her 80th birthday celebration.

She was an active community member caring for those less able. Through her long-time involvement with “Loaves and Fishes” and “Meals on Wheels,” she spent many hours delivering lunches and visiting with those who were unable to get about. She was the mother of a gay son and a friend to the gay community. She believed in family unity as an intrinsic core value and strived throughout her life to strengthen and secure the connection between siblings, cousins, aunts, uncles and grandchildren.

She sewed her children’s clothing when they were young and cooked breakfast, lunch and dinner using her favorite cookbook titled “I Hate to Cook.” When she died this dog-eared and food-stained book passed on to the next generation. Although she was a “stay-at-home mom”, as her children grew she became a real estate agent and acquired many properties throughout southeast Portland. Through her business acumen, she brought considerable financial security to the family and allowed her to retire with financial security.

How to capture the essence of our Mother and Friend? I will simply refer you back to her picture… there you will see her embracing life with arms extended, a smile on her face and Mt. Hood behind her, she was a woman of substance and full of life and she is missed.

Surviving family: Children: Karolin Lennon; Jaki Oswald; Bee Jai, Jon and David Repp; Grandchildren: Frank Pierce; Heather Straw; Rachael Allen; Joy Lincke; Armando, David and Amber Repp Great Grand Children: Terra, Aiden, Ayanna; Sabrina Pierce; Byron Allen Alcotte; Kash, Logan and Gavin Straw; Skylar Joy Lincke-Hins; Armando Jr., Joshua, Aiden, Jennifer, Isabella and Emma Repp.