Marjorie J. Edson

Marjorie was born on July 12, 1924, in Palmer, lowa, the daughter of Anna and Edward V. Johnson, both of whom preceded her in death. Marjorie was also preceded in death by her husband, Jack, her brothers, Vernon and Cecil Johnson and her sisters, Virginia Lockwood and Beverly Meltvedt, and her grandson, Scott Sayre Edson of Longmont.

Affectionately known as "Marj', Marjorie was raised during the depths of the Great Depression in a multi-generational household that included her Swedish immigrant grandfather, uncle, five siblings, and her parents. It was here that she learned the value of faith, devotion to family, and hard work. Her smile was contagious, and her sense of humor and storytelling ability became legend among her family and friends.

A lifetime athlete, Marj played in city tennis events and on an lowa Falls High School basketball team that went to the lowa State Girls Tournament. A game photograph of Marj once appeared on the front page of the Des Moines Register carrying a caption that read "Marjorie Johnson Misses" to which she would often laugh and reply "That's because it didn't happen very often".

She met and married the love of her life, Jack, in Marshalltown, lowa following Jack's military duty during WWII. Jack and Marjorie were married in 1947 and together raised two sons, countless dogs, and celebrated their 68th wedding anniversary in 2015 prior to Jack's passing. Marj and Jack inherited a strong entrepreneurial spirit from both sides of their families.

Leaving lowa in 1962, Marj and Jack landed in Colorado, responded to a classified ad in the Times Call, and bought a small Longmont-based truck line, Lang Transit Lines. Working side by side, the name was changed to Edson Express and over the next 3 decades the "Double E" grew to become a leading regional motor carrier serving 15 states from 26 locations throughout the Midwest and West. Cruising the country in their motorhome and visiting Edson Express locations and company associates gave rise to many memories and new tales for Marj to share. She especially loved spending time at her brother Vernon's Lake Andrusia Resort in northern Minnesota or dining at Cecil's Café in Marshalltown.

Marj was a wonderful cook, and her home was often the site of family festivities. In addition to traditional holiday fare, her children and grandchildren especially savored her walleye filets fresh from the lake in Minnesota, Angel food cake, her special recipe homemade Swedish potato sausage, and squeezing fresh orange juice from the trees in her Arizona backyard.

More than anything, Marj loved both her immediate and extended family. As the last surviving member of her generation, she was known as both "Grammy Marj" or "Aunt Marj" to many. Her home, whether in Longmont or later in Arizona, was always "open" providing a welcoming presence to countless friends and relatives. Marj never passed up a game of Rummikub, and she watched whatever sports program was on TV. She enjoyed the Broncos, Nuggets and Buffs, but her favorite was baseball. In Arizona, it was the Diamondbacks and, upon returning to her beloved Colorado in 2011, she never missed a Rockies game, often watching while holding her Charlie Blackmon autographed baseball.

Marjorie is survived by her sons, Jack ("Jake") Edson of Erie, Colorado, and Jeff (Lori) Edson of Longmont; her grandsons, Jack Edson, Jr., Ryan Edson, Kyle (Romane) Edson, all of Longmont, Bradley (Melissa) Edson of Broomfield, Colorado and Todd Edson of Scottsdale, Arizona; and her granddaughters, Jaime (Andrew) Kort of Broomfield, Colorado and Kelly (Ryan) Rogowski of Denver, Colorado. She is also survived by 11 great grandchildren and by numerous nieces, nephews and cousins.

A memorial service will be held at a future time and location. Contributions on Marjorie's behalf are requested to either the Salvation Army or to the Life Care Center of Longmont.

Fond memories and expressions of sympathy may be shared at www.howemortuary.com for the Edson family.