Marion Louise James

This 25th day of April 2025 the Heavenly Gates Opened wide as our Lord and Savior “Welcomed our Sister and Friend” Marion Lousie Staiger James.

Bertram and Stella Jackson Staiger, were happy parents with the birth of Marion on May, 19, 1925, in Long Beach, California. Marion’s first 6 years of life were in Chihuahua, Mexico, where her father was a silver mining engineer. In 1933, and earth quake shook Long Beach, California, 8 year old Marion, found it fun sleeping and living our doors in the back yard. Marion’s favorite placed to live was at Dowieville, California up in the mountains, a tiny little town.

She spoke often of Sunday. December 7, 1941, as she lay on the floor teaching her little sister Judy how to walk and spending family radio time listening to “One Mans’ family”, when they broke into the program announcing the bombing of Pearl Harbor. The next day when she went to school, the streets were full of military, in uniform, with guns on shoulders walking everywhere. It was very scary.

Marion graduated in 1942 from San Fernando High School.

Marion went to work for GE “General Electric” in Ohio where she met her future husband, William “Bill” James. She returned to California and Bill followed her. They were married on Armistice Day, November 11, 1949. Bill said, “Let’s get married the war in over and we can start our own war.” Marion said “fine with me”. They were married for 59 years and 4 months. Marion and Bill loved to laugh and joke. They had a great humor about living.

Marion worked for Slick Airlines Cargo as a clerk, she was the first women to become a supervisor for the company working on pay roll. In 1943- 1945 she worked for Lockheed Aircraft as a dispatcher during the war.

In 1987, she and Bill moved to Sun City, Arizona, Marion was active in the community. She served the Sun City Recreation Board as Secretary. A member of the First United Methodist Church, Sun City, and Agua Fria Chapter Daughters of the American Revolution for 29 years. (she became a member in 1996).

She was proud to be a DARA member holding State Chairmanships – “Friends of the Library” and “DAR Good Citizen.” Her local chapter, she was Chapter Chaplain and also the treasurer. Her Revolutionary Ancestor was Ruben Frisbie. A Private from CT.

She is preceded in death by her husband Bill, her brother William B. Staiger and sister Jane Seaman.

She is survived by her sister: Judy Kemp, Nieces; Karen Ramsey, Jackie Blarr, and Beth Staiger; Nephew; Mark Chotiner. Special and dear friend Madeline Shackelford and her husband Don, and many other friends.

In Lieu of Flowers the family requests donations to the First United Methodist Church, “Marion Thomspon Fund” Sun City, 85353

Marions’ favorite Hymn was “In the Garden”. Her favorite scripture was Romans 5: 1-5. And her favorite pastors were Tom Ondra and Lois Heddren.