Margie Crossley

“Behind all your stories is always your Mother’s story, because her’s is where yours begins.” - Mitch Albom Margie Lou was born on Aug. 10, 1926, in Mullen, Nebraska, to James Glenburn ‘Glen’ Hodges and Ina Myrtle Johnston Hodges. She was the youngest of four daughters.

Her love for animals began early with her faithful companion Lobo, her aunt and uncle’s German Shepard who would always greet her at the end of her elementary school days and walked her home.

She graduated from Mullen High School in May 1945.

She was the class Salutatorian and was awarded a full ride scholarship to Doane College in Nebraska.

Her four high school years were the World War II years.

While in school she was very active in many activities. Along with her schoolwork she was also involved in drama and band. She played the alto saxophone in the school band as well as a small dance band.

She also participated in the big Nebraska scrap metal drive contest and her county came in second gathering scrap, by teams of horses across the Sandhills, for the war effort.

While in high school she went to classes in the morning, walked to the courthouse to work on the Rationing Board, then walked to the local Co-Op and distributed cream checks in the afternoon.

In March of her senior year she rekindled her relationship with Dad, a local Sandhills cowboy, while he was home on leave after his deployment on Guadalcanal with the Marine Corps. As ‘life has a tendency to happen’ Mom wasn’t able to fulfill her dream of college but chose instead to marry her cowboy/Marine in Casper, Wyoming, on Dec. 15, 1945, and began an amazing journey with my Dad. They were blessed with three children, all having been born in Casper.

Son Richard (Rick), daughters Candice Jo and Pamela (Pam).

In February 1956 Dad, who was working for the Texas Co (who became Texaco) was offered a transfer, which he accepted, to help train Iranian crews for the largest refinery in the world being built in Abadan, South Iran on the Persian Gulf. So this little girl from the Sandhills of Nebraska packed up her family and moved half way around the world to experience new adventures and meet new friends from around the world. Mom, being the ‘crafty’ lady she was, turned in our first class tickets for our return trip home in March 1958 and used the money for us to tour the Middle East, Europe and England, where we visited her uncle who was a doctor, colonel and the CO of the Cambridge Base/ Strategic Air Command. Then we took the SS United States ocean liner from Southampton, England, to Le Havre, France.

While crossing the English Channel that evening, a United States Air Force plane flew over and ‘waggled’ its wings at us.

We found out later it was Uncle George’s way of ‘sending us off’ as he was en route to the base in Wiesbaden, Germany.

After taking on passengers in Le Havre, we began our crossing of the North Atlantic, arriving in New York. It was extremely emotional when we sailed up the Hudson River past the Statue of Liberty since we had been out of the country for so long, especially in those days when the only way of communicating home was by mail or cable. Mom was always so proud of the fact that in all the weeks that we were ‘in transit’ and while ‘shepherding’ a husband and two kids, the only thing she lost was a comb. Back to Casper, Wyoming, we went. In July of 1958 we were transferred to Anacortes, Washington, as Dad was to help train crews for the new Texaco Refinery. That stint turned into 30+ years where they stayed until he retired.

Mom was active in her children’s school activities, worked the Election Board for almost 30 years, and was involved In The Masonic Orders: Order of Eastern Star, being a lifetime member and Worthy Matron, Grand Representative to Maine for two years, was Rainbow Mom and DeMoley Mom.

She was also a Charter Member of the Anacortes Traditional Rug Hookers, painting with wool, creating many beautiful pictures, wall hangings and rugs.

After more than 30 years in the Northwest, they made another major move. They packed up their goods and their horses and headed to their ‘Ranchero’ as Dad called it in New Mexico. There they acquired new friends and dogs and lived there until Dad’s death. One of Mom’s favorite things to do was go horseback riding with Dad. Another major move was in Mom’s future when she came to live with her daughter and son-in-law in Twin Falls, Idaho, for the remainder of her life.

Yes, this little Sandhill girl from Nebraska had quite the life’s adventures. She has now moved on to her next adventure. She went through heaven’s gates on Dec. 29, 2023.

She was met at the gates by her cowboy Marine Frank, her Marine Son and ‘All’ the other Marines guarding the gates of heaven. She was preceded in death by husband Frank, daughter Candice Jo, son Rick, her parents, sisters, brothersin- law and many family and friends both human and furry.

Left to mourn her passing is her daughter Pam Woods (Steve Woods), six grandchildren, eight great-grandchildren, several nieces and nephews and many friends.

Mom’s wishes were to be cremated and no funeral. Her ashes will be placed with her infant daughter and husband in Mullen, Nebraska.

It is with a grateful heart the family would like to thank St Luke’s Home Hospice and Rosenau’s Funeral Home for their loving and compassionate care.

Donations in honor of Mom may be made to your local animal shelter or the Marine Corps Toys For Tots program.

“A Mother is the truest friend we have, when trials are heavy and suddenly fall upon us: when adversity takes the place of prosperity: when friends desert us: when trouble thickens around us, still will she cling to us, and endeavor by her kind precept and counsels to dissipate the clouds of darkness, and cause peace to return to our hearts.” - Washington Irvine.

God speed Mom on your new adventure. We will miss and love you forever. Thanks for ‘everything’!!!! Until we meet again.