Margery Pishney

Margery Mary Oberdick Pishney died in her sleep at her apartment at The Cascades of Tucson on Thanksgiving morning, Thursday, November 26. She was 93.

Marge was born on December 7, 1921 in Bradenville, PA . She was the third of four children born to Sarah and Harry Oberdick. Life was hard in the country and her childhood was difficult. In 1939 Marge left home on the farm at Conneaut Lake just after finishing high school. A scared but determined 17 year old boarded the train for Akron, Ohio to start her life. In 1941, through her 1st job as a soda jerk, she met and married Private John Pishney. They had 2 daughters; Sandra, born during WW II and Starla, 12 years later during an overseas posting in the UK.

Growing up during the Depression made Marge an ideal Air Force wife, accompanying John since WW II. She was constantly packing to move and set up a new home. Giving up a dream career as Chief Interior Decorator for Polsky’s of Akron, OH, was a decision she never regretted.

Marge was an expert seamstress, making professional quality suits and dresses for family and draperies for their home. John called her “the hostess with the mostess,” as she tirelessly organized and cooked for dinner parties for officers and their wives.

The Tucson posting at Davis Monthan AFB began in 1963. During these years, she was involved with officer’s wives’ activities, the Tucson Welcome Wagon and also with the PTA at Our Mother of Sorrows School where she and John were members of the congregation.

John’s 1-year tour in Vietnam in 1968, followed by a 2-year transfer to Sumter, South Carolina brought a new set of challenges. Fortunately Marge was able to continually reinvent herself depending on the situation. The couple decided to retire in Tucson in 1971 and both started new careers. Marge began a business career in 1973 in accounting and income tax preparation from which she retired in 1983.

Favorite activities of both Marge and John were dancing, golfing, bowling, playing bridge, and of course visiting the casinos to play the nickel slot machines. Their 68 years of marriage ended when John died in 2010. Marge stayed with us for 5 more years and kept her positive spirit, great sense of humor and delightful laugh. As she slowed down she would sigh and say she had no idea why she was still here. She guessed God wasn’t ready to call her number.

Marge is survived by her Brother, Earl Oberdick of Tucson, Daughter, Sandra (Lew) Corbett of Tucson, Starla (Dan) Boyd of Doha Qatar, Grandson Matthew (Andrea) Motzkin of Redmond WA, Granddaughter Megan (Justin) Allen, of Norman OK, Grandson, Kevin (Elizabeth) Boyd of Norman OK and Great Grandsons, Jack and Nicholas Motzkin of Redmond WA.

She was preceded in death by husband John, Brother George, Sister Dorothy, and Granddaughter Julie Motzkin.

Memorial Services are Sunday, December 20th at East Lawn Palms Mortuary, 5801 E. Grant Road in Tucson. Visitation from 5:00-8:00pm with Rosary at 7:00pm

Burial is on Monday, December 21st at 11:00am at Holy Hope Cemetery, 3555 N. Oracle Rd. Tucson, AZ.

In lieu of flowers, please donate to Cystic Fibrosis, Diabetes or Cancer Research.