Born June 15, 1923 in Wenatchee, WA ~ Died March 28, 2012 in Seattle, WA.
Marjorie was the only child of Harry D. and Beatrice (Ertel) Phipps and grew up in Brewster, WA. She graduated from Brewster HS in 1940, at the age of 16. She then moved to Seattle to attend the University of Washington and remained a resident of Seattle the remainder of her life.
She worked in the banking industry beginning December 8, 1941, the day after Pearl Harbor was attacked and continued working as a Teller until 1950, when her first child was born. In 1961 she began her career as an Informational Specialist on the Snoqualmie National Forest for the US Forest Service. She continued in this capacity until her retirement in 1982.
Marjorie met her late husband of 59 years, Augustus A. (Gus) Sansone, of Harrisburg, PA, during WWII. They met at a USO dance in Seattle while Gus was serving as a Medic in the US Army. They were married September 3, 1946 and made their home in West Seattle, where they remained for the rest of their lives.
She was active in Camp Fire Girls both while growing up and as an adult leader. While her children were growing up she was a room mother and the PTA President at Arbor Heights Elementary School. She was also a member of the Orthopedic Guild.
Marjorie had a lifelong love of learning, as well as many personal interests. She enjoyed dancing, camping, playing pinochle and bridge with friends, and amateur dramatics. She had a genuine love of the outdoors and the Pacific Northwest, one of her favorite places being Mt. Rainier National Park, where she spent time whenever she could. She had a passion for gardening and was very active in the West Seattle Garden Club for many years. She was an avid reader all her life and was active in numerous organizations in the West Seattle area including the Genealogy Society, the Quarante Club, the YMCA, and various Orthopedic Guilds. She was a long time member of St. John the Baptist Episcopal Church in West Seattle where she served on the Vestry and the Altar Guild. She was also a member of St. Anne’s Guild. Her intelligence, genuine interest in others, and sharp wit made it easy for her to make many friends throughout her life, all of whom she truly enjoyed, a feeling that was reciprocated.
She was preceded in death by her parents and her beloved husband, Gus. She is survived by her two daughters: Kathryn Sansone (Alan Foe), and Virginia Suave (Dean); grandchildren: Heather Foe (Bradley Davis), Keith Foe, Daniel Foe; Leah Nelson (Dave), Courtney Schwartzenberger (Tyler); and great-grandchildren, Koleden and Addison Nelson, Kyla and Sophia Schwartzenberger, Henry, Samuel and Alice Davis-Foe.
She was a nurturing and loving Mother, Grandmother, and Great-Grandmother and will be greatly missed by all of us.
Marjorie was interred with her husband at Tahoma National Cemetery.
A Memorial will be held in the Fellowship Hall of St. John the Baptist Church in West Seattle on April 12, 2012, 3pm, 3050 California Ave. SW, Seattle, WA 98116. In lieu of flowers, Marjorie asked that memorial donations be made to Medic One of Seattle or the charity of your choice.
