Marjorie Katherine Brown, 100, of Traverse City passed away peacefully on December 1, 2017 at Bay Ridge Assisted Living surrounded by her family and the staff who so lovingly cared for her. She was born on May 2, 1917 in Holly to Charles and Celia Markel, the oldest of eight children. On May 7, 1938 she married Milton Brown.

They moved to Hartland, a town close to the farm where Milton was born. They lived there for 43 years raising three daughters and participating in the community. She was active in the Hartland United Methodist Church where she taught Sunday school, was an officer in the Women's Society and filled the important role of keeping the kitchen clean and organized. She also served nine years as a treasurer of Hartland Community Council and treasurer of the PTA. A few hours a day she worked in the school cafeteria, enjoying all the energy of the students who came through the line.

A short time before Milton passed away in 1980, they sold their home and moved to Brighton. While there, she enjoyed the many activities at the senior center ; taking trips, working in the kitchen and often driving people to their doctors' appointments. When not helping others, "Marge" enjoyed tending her beautiful flower gardens, especially her tea roses.

In 2006, she moved to The Village at Bay Ridge in Traverse City to be near her family. She thrived in this community environment, acting as the unofficial greeter to all newcomers. True to her belief that one should participate and be helpful, she volunteered in their little store and was responsible for coffee hour every Saturday morning. She regularly attended The Presbyterian Church with her family and became a member in 2014 at the age of 96!

She was preceded in death by her husband, parents, several siblings and her grandson Richard Thompson.

Marjorie is survived by her daughters; Nancy (Kenneth) Thompson of Lansing, Barbara (Thomas) Auer of Traverse City and Cheryl (Thomas) Sothard of East Jordan; grandchildren Jerry(Gretel) Thompson of Kansas City, MO, Scott(Farrell) Thompson of Colorado Springs, CO, Susan (Triston) Kirt of Traverse City, Kathryn (Ross) Wadland of Falmouth, ME, David (Tina) Auer of Traverse City, Nathan (Ryanne) Sothard of St. Cloud, MN, Tim (Beth) Sothard of East Jordan; her six great grandchildren; and a sister, Gloria Perrigo of Ortonville.

We would like to express our heartfelt gratitude to all the skilled and loving staff at Bay Ridge. They were an extension of her family and she loved each of them.

A celebration of her life will be held in the spring at The Presbyterian Church Traverse City. Details will follow at a later date.

Please feel free to express your thoughts and memories with Marjorie's family at www.reynolds-jonkhoff.com . Expressions of sympathy may be made to Hartland United Methodist Church in Hartland, The Presbyterian Church in Traverse City or to Hospice of Michigan.

The family is being cared for by the Reynolds-Jonkhoff Funeral Home and Cremation Services.