Marjorie Gabel Merrill died Wednesday, February 17, 2016. She was born in Helena, Montana to Joseph and Ethel Moriarty Gabel on July 8, 1924.
With the exception of nine months at Scott Field, Illinois during World War II, she lived her entire life in Helena.
She was educated at St. Helena School and after graduating from Cathedral High School, she attended the Helena Business College. During that time, she was an usherette at the old Marlow Theater.
In 1944 she married Ralph Merrill, they later divorced.
Her first love was homemaking but she was employed in several state offices before retiring from Norwest Bank in 1986 after 27 years of service. In addition to enjoying bowling and bridge, Marjorie was a member of Ladies Auxiliary of the Fraternal Order of the Eagles Aerie #4040, Lewis and Clark Cancer Committee, Community Home Care Association, Credit Women’s Club, League of the Sacred Heart and St. Mary’s Catholic Church.
For the past three months she resided at Renaissance Senior Care.
Marjorie was preceded in death by her parents and her sisters, June Gabel and Dorothy Higgins.
Marjorie’s is survived by her son, Joe (Julie) Merrill; daughter, Marsha Merrill; grandchildren, Edie McLean, Amy (Brian) Wheeler; great grandchildren, Dava, Shelbie, Kelci and Michael; nieces, Jean Sewell, Helen Higgins, Marian Higgins; nephews, Tom Higgins, James Higgins and John Higgins; and several cousins.
Special thanks to the caring staff at Renaissance Senior Care and Frontier Home Health and Hospice.
A Funeral Mass will be 12:10 p.m., Thursday, February 25th at St. Mary Catholic Community, 1700 Missoula Avenue. A Reception will immediately follow Mass in the lower lever of the Church. Interment will follow the reception at Resurrection Cemetery, 3700 N. Montana Avenue.
Service Schedule
Funeral Mass
12:10 p.m.
Thursday February 25, 2016
St. Mary Catholic Community
1700 Missoula Avenue
Helena, Montana 59601
Reception
Following the Mass
Thursday February 25, 2016
St. Mary Catholic Community
1700 Missoula Avenue
Helena , Montana 59601
Interment
Following the Reception
Thursday February 25, 2016
Resurrection Cemetery
3700 N. Montana Avenue
Helena , Montana 59602
Service Schedule
Funeral Mass
12:10 p.m.
Thursday February 25, 2016
St. Mary Catholic Community
1700 Missoula Avenue
Helena, Montana 59601
Reception
Following the Mass
Thursday February 25, 2016
St. Mary Catholic Community
1700 Missoula Avenue
Helena , Montana 59601
Interment
Following the Reception
Thursday February 25, 2016
Resurrection Cemetery
3700 N. Montana Avenue
Helena , Montana 59602
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John Higgins says
Joe and Marsha; My thoughts and prayers are with you. So glad we were able to visit with Marge 2 weeks ago. She was a very sweet person, a great aunt and mother. Jackie and I will forever remember Marge was our ‘cookie lady’ when we were growing up in the neighborhood. She always had a plate of Oreos ready for us. We stopped by her house almost every day in the summer, and she always made time to visit with us. Really, sorry for your loss. It’s hard losing a parent no mater how long you got to have them in your life.
Tara says
Joe ~
I’m so sorry for your loss. While I never met your mother, I know she was an amazing woman because she has an amazing son! You are in my thoughts and prayers!
Linda Egebjerg says
Joe,
There is a special bond between a mother and a son that can never be broken. Remember that bond as you face these difficult times and know that my thoughts and prayers are with you and your family.
Kathy Dunlap Fritz says
Joe, so sorry for your loss. It is never easy losing a parent. Just wanted you to know you are in my thoughts and prayers.
Robert and Sandy Rogge says
Our thoughts are with you and your family at this difficult time . We never knew your mother but you were a VA friend and co-worker for years.
Susan Brewer Andersen says
Joe and Marsha…We were neighbors on the corner for many years, and just a month or so ago, I say your mom and she remembered me when I told her who I was. Our whole family want you to know how wonderful it was her live so near her! Our thoughts are with you at this hard time. The Brewer Family
Bob and Marlene Moriarty says
Bob and Marlene Moriarty
As a youngster, when my Aunt Ethel invited me from Livingston to Helena to visit, I got to know my three cousins, Dode, Marge and June. After having my career in CA , Marlene and I came back in the 90’s and renewed our ties to the Gable cousins. Marge always organized a get together when ever we went to Helena and we enjoyed many lunches and dinners with Marge, Dode and Jim, and, of course, June.
Marge was a thoughtful, caring cousin and Marlene and I thoroughly enjoyed our visits with her. We shall miss her!
Bob and Marlene Moriarty says
Our thoughts and prayers are with you.
Bob and Marlene
Steven and Rose Ellen Dempsey says
I worked for years at Norwest Bank, and knew Marge well. I always enjoyed speaking
with her during the coffee breaks, and at lunch. She was such a nice person.
I will always remember that she used to come to work, enter the women’s area,
take out her brush, and brush her hair into the style she had at the time. So,
she would style her hair at the bank. Marge was a very caring person, and I will
always remember how nice she was to me. I was always going to stop and have
a cup of tea with her, and never made it. Later Marge!
Our sincere condolences go to her family!
Jane Syskowski Chase says
Marge was one of my mom’s (Pat Syskowski) oldest friends. I have memories of going to her pink house to visit with my mom. She was always so sweet to me. I think she used to call me Janie even though no one else did. Your family has been through a lot the last couple of months. My prayers are with you.
Bob Knudson says
Joe and Marsha,
So sorry for your loss, My thoughts and prayers are with you during these difficult times❤️
Brad Lancaster says
Margie was awesome! I worked with her at Norwest (Wells Fargo) Bank in the mid-1980s. What a delightful, smiling lady she was then, and continued to be, for her whole life. I’m blessed for having known her.
Mary Runkel says
Marge was a lovely lady always with a smile,kind word, and laughter. She dressed me in style when she worked for Koko at the Paragon! She pt her heart into everything she did. She was a staunch and loyal member of the Community Home Care Association which supported nursing students education. She always asked about my daughters and shared sweet stories about her family. Her face always lit up when she greeted you and I will miss her smile and prescence in my life. My thoughts and prayers are with you now.
Bob Stuart says
Dear Marsha and Joe, You Mom was a very good family friend of ours, she was always so nice to us. I also remember the pink house! Sorry we won’t make it over. Love and Prayers.
Maria Caputo says
To all of Marge’s family and loved ones I am so sorry for your loss. I had the pleasure of meeting your mother while I worked in the rehab of Apple Cooney. It is where our friendship began. Daily I would come in and she would greet me with a smile and say “oh Maria I have been waiting for you to come you always make sure everything is ok”. Her and I would have long long talks about life and the goals I had set for myself and how I wondered if it just wasn’t to late in life and I should just let it go (I had went back to college to get my degree) it was Marge who said to me “it is never to late to follow your heart and dreams and goals and no matter how overwhelmed you get just take a deep breath and keep trudging forward Maria you can do it”. When she left Apple Cooney I went to see her many times and so enjoyed the time and talks we had. I went to see Marge one day at her apartment and she no longer was there and I had no way to find where she was. It was very sad to me because I wanted to share with her that I got that degree she told me to go after. I will forever be grateful to Marge for her kind and encouraging words she shared with me. I will not let her parting leave a void in my life, for I will fill it with memories of her and a friendship shared til I see her again.