Marjorie Davis Templeton

Marge was born in Carnegie, Pennsylvania in 1925 to Alice and Herbert Davis, a railroad worker who was killed on the job when Marge was just two years old. Marge’s grandparents helped raise young Marge.

Throughout her life, Marge cherished her relationships with people, and she worked hard to maintain those relationships, faithfully writing cards, calling, and visiting. Whether she was with a nurse’s aide, a distant relation, a neighbor, or a close family member, Marge showed a genuine interest in and a respect for the lives of others. Marge’s sincere interest in others won her a large and sometime surprising group of admirers. At one outdoor Glendale Park band concert, nearly the whole twenty-plus-member band, at recognizing Marge sitting on a grassy ledge in the audience, paused between numbers and shouted out in unison “Marge!”

Marge attended Muskingum College in Ohio, which is where she met her future husband, Norman Templeton. Once married, Norm and Marge began what would stretch to over twenty years of military service, moving every few years from one duty station to another, from Japan to various bases in Germany and the United States. Throughout those years in the military, the Templeton family grew from two to six. When Norm was called to two year-long tours of duty, one in Korea and the other in Vietnam, Marge managed that growing family on her own.

Norm retired from the military in 1971, and he and Marge established a home in Phoenix, Arizona, where both involved themselves in the community and the local United Methodist church. Marge, for example, did volunteer work at the Lura Turner Homes for disabled adults. Both Marge and Norm worked and worshiped in numerous churches in the Phoenix area. For years, Marge taught Sunday school and sang in the choir. In fact, until age 90, Marge was still singing in the choir at the United Methodist church in Avondale. Throughout her life, the church and her faith provided Marge with a source comfort and guidance.

In 2005, Norm and Marge sold their home in Phoenix and moved to La Loma, a senior living facility in Litchfield Park, Arizona. Marge enjoyed another fourteen years in Litchfield Park, once again building and nurturing friendships with people at the local church and with care givers, fellow residents, and staff at La Loma.

Marge was proceeded in death by her husband of 62 years, Norm and granddaughter, Ellie. Marge leaves behind a host of dear friends, her daughters Debbie Jones and Alisa, sons, Scott and Kent, daughters-in-law Susan Anderson Templeton and Karen Jobe Templeton, and her “favorite” son-in-law, Ron Jones. Marge also leaves behind five grandchildren and eight great grandchildren.

A memorial service for Marge will be held at Christ Community United Methodist Church (104 W Western Ave, Avondale, Arizona), Saturday, March 16, at 11:00 am. All are welcome to attend and to remain after the service for a time of sharing and a time to celebrate Marge’s life.

In lieu of flowers donations can be made to either the Lura Turner Homes (https://www.luraturnerhomes.org/donate/) or the Michael J Fox Foundation (Parkinson’s research) (https://www.michaeljfox.org/) both areas dear to Marge’s heart.