Marjorie Mary Denney

Marjorie Mary (Smith) Denney, age 93 passed away Wednesday, January 27, 2016 at her daughters home with her daughter, son-in-law and grandson by her side.

I Marjorie Mary (Smith) Denney was born January 17, 1923 at Joes, Colorado in Yuma County. I was the sixth daughter of John Elmer Smith and Hazel Janette (Galbreath) Smith.

I was named Mary after my grandma Smith who was killed when she was driving a horse pulling a buggy and was crossing a railroad track and a train ran over them. This was the year 1917 on December 22nd.

My daddy hired a 13 year old girl to come to the house and watch over the older girls during the time I was coming into the world. The hired girl came to my daddy and said, “Mr. Smith, there isn’t any bread,” daddy said go get sister Viola and she will show you how to make bread – Viola was 8 years old, climbed on a stool and helped the hired girl out.

Marjorie attended school in Colorado and Twin Falls. She married Orville R. Denney on September 9, 1940 in Boise, Idaho. They had two children, Marjorie Rae and Dale Earl.

Orville and Marjorie traveled all over the western United States with their children as Orville’s work was highway construction and they went where there was work.

Surviving is her daughter, Marjorie R. Sharp (Cliff) of Kimberly; two grandchildren, Denny Lee Sharp of Twin Falls and Corine (Ron) Snelling of Battle Mountain, Nevada; two step grandchildren, Jerry (Margaret) Sharp of Baton Rouge, Louisiana and Kathy (Ed) Wall of Rocky Mountain House, Alberta, Canada; 2 great grandchildren, 7 step great grandchildren, and 14 great-great grandchildren; as well as many nieces and nephews. She was preceded in death by her husband, Orville; her son, Dale; 5 sisters, Bessie, Goldie, Viola and Edna as well as her parents, Elmer and Hazel Smith.

Marjorie loved her family more than anything. She loved country music, dancing, crafts and sewing. She also loved to make bread and sugar cookies which she gave away to family and friends. Most of all she loved her outings to the hills and trips with her grandson, Denny. She also enjoyed traveling to Mexico and Canada with her daughter Marjorie and Cliff. CSI basketball was another favorite of hers and the weekly trips to town with her daughter to shop, always stopping for lunch to have a cup of broccoli soup and ending the shopping day with a coffee mocha to drink on the way home.

She loved the outdoors. Here is a poem she wrote a few months ago.

“Oh give me the outdoors where I can do my chores, and I can be busy all day.

I don’t like housework and people think I’m a jerk.

But outdoors is where I want to play.”

She spent many hours in later years doing “find the word” puzzle books keeping her mind bright and clear up to a week before her death.

The family wishes to thank all of St. Luke’s Hospice team especially Travis and Erin for their service and kindness.

Marjorie was a loving mother and grandmother and will be missed by family and friends and all who knew and loved her.

A celebration of Marjorie’s life will be held at 11:00 a.m. on Tuesday, February 2, 2016 at White Mortuary, 136 4th Ave. East, Twin Falls with Pastor Jim Sommer officiating. A private family burial will take place at Sunset Memorial Park. Services are under the direction of White Mortuary, Chapel by the Park, Twin Falls.

In lieu of flowers the family suggest memorials be given in Marjorie’s name to the St. Luke’s Hospice or Dogs for the Deaf program. Contributions may be given to funeral chapel staff or mailed to White Mortuary, 136 4th Ave. East, Twin Falls, ID 83301.

Condolences may be left for the family by visiting www.whitemortuary.com.