Marjorie Zabriskie Jorden

Marjorie Ann Zabriskie Jorden died on Feb. 12, a week after joyfully celebrating her 95th birthday.

Marj was born in Kansas City, Missouri on Feb. 5, 1931, to Mandeville Hutton and Anna Lucille “Georgiana” Zabriskie. Her hero as a child and an adult was her beloved older brother Mandeville Hutton Zabriskie Jr., who took her to her senior prom, visited regularly and called her weekly until he died. Marj graduated from high school in El Paso, Texas and earned a teaching degree from Texas Western College in 1952. She married Bruce William “Bill” Jorden Jr. in 1953 and, after Bill earned an engineering degree from the University of Missouri, they settled in Tucson, where Bill spent his career at Hughes Aircraft, now Raytheon.

Marj worked as a first grade teacher in Columbia, Mo., El Paso and Tucson until she and Bill had their three children: Bruce William III, Steven Michael, and Jill Ann. Marj volunteered regularly at her kids’ schools and became a Girl Scout leader for Jill’s troop from Juniors through Seniors. She also served on the board of Girl Scouts of Southern Arizona and was an active member at Christ the King and then St. Philip’s in the Hill’s Episcopal churches. She was a dedicated needleworker and took classes through the Embroiderers’ Guild of America, at The West in Tucson and at national seminars to hone her skills in needlepoint, crewel, silk and metal embroidery, Hardanger, beading and more.

Marj loved her family dearly, and found her greatest joy in her grandchildren, Quinn and YiYi. She cared for both of them during regular Nana Days full of games, coloring, crafts, swings and tea parties.

Marj is survived by her children Bruce and daughter-in-law Pamela of Tucson, Steve and daughter-in-law Marie of Pinetop, and Jill and son-in-law Tom of Tucson; grandkids Quinn and YiYi of Tucson; brother-in-law Roger Jorden and sister-in-law Joan Jorden of Boulder, Colo.; sister-in-law Susan Gregore of Tucson; nieces Julie Weliever (Dave) and Libby Farr (Bud) of Indianapolis and Cherlynne Rogers (Jamie) of San Francisco; nephews James Zabriskie (Marcy Scott) of Las Cruces, N.M. and Shawn Gregore of Tucson; grand-nieces Amy Weliever and Lindsay Weliever-Strole (Ryan Strole) of Indianapolis, Elly Farr of Chicago and Annalise Rogers of San Francisco; and grand-nephews Neil Weliever (Angie) of Indianapolis and Mason Farr of Chicago; and many other relatives and friends.

A funeral service for Marj will be held at 11 a.m. Saturday, April 25 at St. Philip’s in the Hill Episcopal Church, 4440 N. Campbell Ave.,with a reception to follow.

Memorial gifts may be made to Girl Scouts of Southern Arizona, 4330 E. Broadway Blvd., Tucson, AZ, 85711; St. Philip’s in the Hills Episcopal Church Altar Guild, 4440 N Campbell Ave, Tucson, AZ, 85718; or the Embroiderers Guild of America, 501 Baxter Ave., Suite 200, Louisville, KY, 40204