Marjorie Ann (Everett) Coxey was born on November 24, 1926 to John Norman and Anna Henrietta (Koeplinger) Everett in Farwell, MI. She was raised in Flint, MI, attending Flint Northern High School where she was highly involved in the choir. After high school, she sang with various jazz bands, including performing for the students several times at the University of Michigan.
Music was pivotal in Marjorie’s life. She played the piano and organ as well as being an accomplished vocalist. She has performed with jazz greats, including Chubby Jackson and Ira Sullivan. While with Chubby Jackson’s band she recorded several records and traveled the east coast of Florida, performing at resort supper clubs during the 1960s.
Marjorie married Harry A. Kenney in 1950 and had two daughters in that marriage. Later in life, Marjorie married Donald R. Coxey in 1970 at the home of their dear friend Joy Bork. Marjorie and Donald shared a love of football and attended all the home games of the Miami Dolphins. They were famous for their tailgate parties with grilled steaks and champagne.
In 1989 Marjorie and Donald moved to Orlando to be near family and to work for Disney. Marjorie worked in Group Ticket Sales and made friends from all over the world. She never knew a stranger. After retiring, she still enjoyed visiting the Disney parks, with Epcot being her favorite.
Following the death of Donald, she became involved in the Central Florida Jazz Society where she served in several positions on the Board of Directors. She attended monthly jazz concerts, often getting up to sing with the various bands. Music and art were her passions. She took many art classes and produced some delightful paintings.
She attended Christ the King Lutheran Church for nearly 30 years. Her faith was as important to her as her music; almost every conversation she had ended with “God bless you.”
Marjorie was preceded in death by her parents, sister Beth (Everett) Ingalls, brothers Abram, John, and William Everett. She is survived by her son, James Waldeck II; daughters, Scarlett (Larry) Privara and Andrea (Brian) Rafferty; grandchildren Mike Waldeck, Katie (Kevin) Harris, Heather (Wade) Schneider, Emma Stark, and Everett Ballot; great-granddaughter Scarlett Grace Harris.
Services will be held at Baldwin Fairchild Funeral Home, 428 E. Plant Street, Winter Garden, FL 34787 on Wednesday April 21st at 2:00 p.m. Donations can be made in Marjorie’s honor to the Central Florida Jazz Society Scholarship Program (https://centralfloridajazzsociety.com/) or to Vitas Hospice & Palliative Care in Seminole, Orange & Osceola Counties (https://vitascommunityconnection.org/).
