Marjorie K. Harrison's Obituary
Marjorie K. Harrison, 92, of Muskegon left this Earth and her pain behind in the early hours of Monday, November 30 — a perfectly fitting time for a woman who grew up on a dairy farm and had to milk cows by hand before going to school.
Born June 12, 1928, she was the first born and only daughter of Clyde M. and Genevieve (Wachter) Lombard of Claybanks Township. It was a matter of pride that her father had to buy milking machines when she went to high school. He and her three brothers couldn’t handle the load without her. After graduating, she was a department store model in Grand Rapids.
She met William J. Harrison on Christmas break at Stony Lake, and on May 24, 1949, they eloped and were married in South Bend, Ind. They moved to Muskegon after he graduated from The University of Michigan in 1950, soon after daughter, Susan, was born. Their son, David, was born in 1953.
Marge was the quintessential room mother, PTA president, Girl Scout and Boy Scout leader, band parent, election worker and all-around volunteer. She was president of Cherry Guild at Hackley Hospital.
She retired from the records office at Muskegon Community College in 1989, where she is credited for talking dozens of students out of dropping classes and staying the course.
In retirement, she continued giving back to the community, volunteering at Supper House, Mission for Area People, the tutoring program at Temple United Methodist Church where she was a member and for many church ministries and events.
She was always the first person to arrive with food in times of celebration, crisis, and sorrow. Complicated, charming, opinionated and immensely talented, she had an unparalleled gift of hospitality. No one ever went away from her home hungry for food or conversation. She was a news junkie until the very end, eager to talk politics and current events until her last days.
She knew her birds, loved to garden, loved to cook and delighted in them all. One of her greatest sorrows was when she was no longer able to read. Her world was less joyful without books and the written word, but that gave her extra time to spread information she knew to be true, such as believing that hummingbirds hitched rides on the backs of geese when they went South.
She is survived by a wide circle of friends and relatives who were her family: Robert and Michele Forberg, Dr. Carin Forberg, Danielle Hershey, Thomas Shaffer, Carol Brand-Twa, Joy Corradin, Mary Ullmer and Jean Roberts; grandson, Nathaniel Harrison and partner Emily Hubbard; daughter-in-law, Kerri Bennett and her husband, Jim Bennett; sisters-in-law, Mary Lombard and Elaine Harrison; special cousin, Patricia Wyns; nieces and nephews; son and grandson David and Walker Harrison; and daughter, Susan Harrison Wolffis. And don’t forget the love of her life: her cat, Fancy. She was preceded in death by her husband, parents, three brothers, four brothers-in-law, several sisters-in-law, son-in-law and close friends.
Never forget these “Marge-isms.” “Crying never helped anything.” “Go to school, you’ll feel better.” “Put on a little lipstick, and comb you hair. You’ll feel better.”
Due to COVID restrictions, there will be no visitation or services at this time — maybe in the spring when the trillium bloom, one of her favorite times of year.
Memorial contributions in Marge’s name may be made to Temple UMC Memorial Fund or Harbor Hospice (please put Camp Courage in the memo line. It was one of Marge’s favorite charities.)
Share memories with the family online at http://www.sytsemafh.com. Arrangements are being handled by The Lee Chapel of Sytsema Funeral & Cremation Services, 6291 Harvey St., Norton Shores MI 49444 (231) 798-1100.
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