Marjorie Skinner Scott

I would like to pay tribute to my grandmother by sharing some of my memories of her. Gramamom, as my older siblings dubbed her when they couldn’t quite figure out what to call their new step-grandmother, was without a doubt, one of the most kind and gentle individuals that I have ever had the honor to know. I was the luckiest of children to be gifted with two grandmothers (both my father’s and mother’s mothers) who were the epitome of what one thinks of when the word ‘grandma’ is mentioned. I spent countless weekends at her house indulging in dressing up in her clothing (which fit me at the age of eight) and her massive collection of costume jewelry; a virtual dream come true for a young girl. Aside from a firm ‘no’ for messing where I shouldn’t have been, I do not recall a single harsh word from Gramamom to either myself or to my brother, Scott, in all my thiry-four years. In fact, I don’t recall that she ever said a harsh word about anyone or anything. My very favorite times spent with her include her stories about her girlhood and all of the immense changes that our world went through in her long lifetime. She told me that her first memory was of sitting with her grandmother in a rocking chair in the back of a horse drawn wagon. I also delighted in hearing how she met my grandfather, Walt, who I never had the honor of knowing while they attended North High School. I used to love going through old photographs with her as she told me a priceless story of each one. Most of all I will miss the stories she told me a hundred times, but always as if it were the first. My grandmother always gave her love unconditionally, and she always gave of herself without expecting a thing in return. I believe she had a happy life apart from losing her beloved husbands and my father, her son, and I am so blessed to have been a part of that life. Even as I grew older and college and marriage and my four children both changed and consumed my life, Gramamom’s familiar, ‘yes?’, upon answering the phone could always be counted on to remain both a constant as well as a comfort. I apologize for my lengthy rambling, but no amount of words can be expressed to describe the sweet, giving, unassuming woman that Gramamom was. In addition to her love of romance novels (which I know that I have inherited), I only hope that I may also inherit her quiet strength and dignity and her capacity to love. I will miss you, Gramamom!

My name is Kristen Kruse one of three step-grandchildren of grandma-moms. The other two are Mike Pendergraft and Stacy Shelton, step children of Rogers. I have so many wonderful memories of going to her house in eastbrough for visits and overnights. She was such a happy and lovely lady. We lost contact for guite awhile, but she new we all loved her and she was always in my prayers. I remember her house always smelling of roast. She lived a very long and lovely life. Now she is in heaven with her son and her first and second husbands and I hope they are all together for eternity. She will never be forgotten.

Paula, I know we only saw Marge once every three weeks but we will miss her. She was such a sweet person and oh, that smile. You are in our thought and prayers during this time.