Margie Windsor

Margie Avis Brown Windsor Passed away peacefully, at 95 years of age, on Sept 7, 2014. Margie was born on Feb 2, 1919 in Peculiar MO to Ren Edward Brown and Mary Margaret Myers Brown. She and her family moved to Garden Grove, CA, in the mid 1920's, where she attended Garden Grove High, Santa Ana JC, and in the early 40's she received a Bachelor's degree and a teaching credential from San Jose State College. While in college she met her future husband Jack Windsor, and they were married in 1943. Margie was an elementary school teacher for two years, and in 1948, the couple settled in Chico, when Jack was hired as a professor of art at Chico State College. During the 66 years Margie lived in Chico, she proved to be "mom extraordinaire" as she raised three daughters: Marja Windsor Tarr (Fred), Carol Windsor (Jim Wells), and Mary Jacqueline Windsor (Bob Einck). For example, she became an expert "beach camper" and abalone short-order cook, and taught her girls how to enjoy beach living; she was a Bluebird and Campfire Girl leader at Aymer Jay Hamilton Elem.; she learned to snow ski at Lassen Park, where she was famous for her "40 years on the Bunny Hill"; she was an earnest and shrewd tennis player, continuing to play doubles into her early 80's; she was an avid, competitive and crafty bridge player; she thoroughly enjoyed reading, sewing and knitting. She was active in the Junior League of Durham, League of Women Voters, AAUW and Faculty Wives of Chico State. She could frequently be found working behind the scenes on political campaigns, and was an election worker for 50+ years. As she aged, she realized that there was a need for Senior Housing in Chico, and as a League of Women Voter member, was responsible for the creation of the first housing study for the County. Though reluctant, she stepped in as Chairman of the Board for the building of Lucien Manor Senior Housing development on Cohasset, and later was a founding member of the Committee of Three, who put together the Sierra Sunrise Senior Development complex located on Bruce Road. For several years, she organized and served on the Board of Head Start, and served on the board for Children's World, retiring in 1982. In 1977, the Butte County Board of Supervisors recognized Margie for her service as Chairman of the Butte County Economic Opportunity Council and for her contributions to low income housing in Butte County and Chico. During her tenure on this Council, she served as chair, vice-chair, League Rep, Parent Policy Rep, membership chair, secretary and treasurer. In 1996, California State University, Chico, awarded her an Appreciation Award for her Outstanding Contribution to the University Community by making quality housing available for Seniors. Margie is survived by her husband Jack, by her three daughters, her grandchildren: Erin Arnold (Ross), Scott Tarr (Wendy) and Maggie Tarr (Mike Skaggs), and James and Hope Windsor-Wells; and by her great grandkids: Jack, Ty, Drew and Kate Arnold, Eloise Tarr, and Sawyer Skaggs; by her sister, Mary Ashcraft, her sister-in-law, Ruth Brown, and her many nieces and nephews. A Celebration of Life is planned for Oct 26th. Please contact daughter, Marja, at [email protected], to RSVP and for details. In lieu of flowers, donations may be sent to the Shalom Clinic (shalomfreeclinic.org) or the Torres Community Shelter (chicoshelter.org).