It was the morning of the Pet Parade 2001, we picked her up in a 1928 roadster that my neighbor drove. She was wearing a darling bonnet the strings, tied under her chin and she was sooooo excited.  It was the final event of the Centennial Year at Congress Park School. We had a float and Marge was our Mascot. I had chaired 15 events that year in celebration. Everything from ” pick up your centennial quilt square”, to centennial cookbook sales, to a sock hop,  pasta dinner, to a grand  Alumni Event and dinner that honored someone from each and every decade. What a year it had been!!

Marge McPhee Davis had read about our cookbook in the newspaper, she wanted to share recipes and buy some. We had no idea she was the eldest living alumni from our school. When we invited her to speak to the 5th grade class, she showed up wearing her signature color; purple. She took her hearing aids out – tossed them on the table and said, ” Speak up I can’t hear you!”    She was such a character.

I personally could not get enough of her.  She and I became friends. 

Her memory was sharp, her stories were amazing. When she  shared about so many things, especially about the school, you knew in her mind she was still there. She knew the names of every single person from her kindergarten class. The house she lived in was her father’s house.  She lived there her whole life. The signature porch swing built by her late husband, was a constant source of gatherings of family and friends

One special thing we did together was to go out for chile – she’d call and say she needed a chile “fix”.  I’d drop whatever I was doing to go along, wouldn’t  you ?  The only prerequisite for going out with Marge was that she had to pick you up — she LOVED to drive!!  I think the last time I drove with Marge she was 95.

Once she sent me a Christmas letter and I had moved – she knew where I lived,  but didn’t have the address, she wrote on the envelope something like “please deliver to the 4th house on the left side of such and such street.   If this actually  finds you you have a great postman”  It found me!

The community embraced her and proclaimed July 4th,  2001 ” Marge McPhee Davis Day!!” She was the grand marshall for the local 4th of July Parade and I got to go along for the ride. It was then I met her 2 daughters, and some of her grandchildren. What a remarkable family. On the 4th of July I will always remember her and that parade!

Years later, I was able to secure a page for Marge and that infamous picture of her kindergarten class in the Illinois Historical Society’s Calendar, the local paper also interviewed her and took a sweet picture of her sitting on that porch swing.  It was such a cool opportunity to share her again

This past January Marge died. She was well past 99, only 5 months to that special 100th Birthday she had hoped to celebrate. Her body and spirit had other plans.

Last summer we met up for chile again (see the picture before of her and her daughter Claudia below) we hung out for hours just gabbing away. In the fall my Kate sang for her in the nursing home she was staying at — I knew then it was the last time I would be seeing her.

Marge made me feel like I was the most special person ever, she helped my kids with school assignments, she sent me flowers when I had a car accident , she told me she loved me and she told me she believed in me.

I was able to secure a few treasure’s from her estate sale “Marge-isms” to remember her by;  2 green glass plates, a dresser jar with gorgeous pink roses on it, little delicate ramekins, a Christmas ornament, some odd jar lids for organizing things in my drawers.   Her bathroom lace curtains are now mine.

The final memorial service was a few weeks ago at her church across the street. Hundreds of people attended. Wow.  One of the very first things we did was sing Happy Birthday. Best part was you knew she heard and appreciated it. I at least knew.  They had this heartwarming picture slide show and I was even in that. ( how cool is that!) Then everyone started telling stories. I found out that afternoon that the gift she had of making someone feel wonderful she bestowed upon every single person she ever met. 

That was one special lady.

I miss you Marge – with all my heart.

Claudia and Marge – July 2006 – taken by Kate

K a r e n     H a n r a h a n
Wellness Educator/Nutritional Consultant
Mentoring YOU to Health Success

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