Deseret News – October 31, 2001
Marjorie Skeen Russell, age 87, of Salt Lake City, Utah, passed away on October 31, 2001 from causes incident to age.
The youngest of five children, she was born on March 22, 1914, to Jedediah Dixon and Ethel Stratford Skeen in Salt Lake City, Utah. She attended the Stewart School, Roosevelt Junior High and East High School and had many fond memories of her school years. She married George Virgil Russell, a prominent title insurance attorney in 1934. George died in 1987 at their home on Wasatch Drive.
Marge will be remember for her strength, her charisma, the twinkle in her eye and her love of nature. She and her family spent many hours at her cabin in Logan Canyon enjoying the wildlife and plants. She always loved music and taught her family to enjoy classical music and jazz. Her independence was important to her and a car gave her the freedom to go where she liked. She had an enthusiasm for active living and embraced life to the fullest in spite of immense physical limitations.
A graduate of the University of Utah in Physical Education, she was a teacher, a docent at the Hogle Zoo, a reading tutor and bred and showed her beloved standard poodles. She will be greatly missed by her family who enjoyed her sense of humor, zest for life, positive outlook and indomitable spirit. Marjorie was the mother of four and grandmother of 11.
She is survived by her brother, Edwin J. Skeen; her sister, Marion Merrill; and her children, Rosalyn Smith (Boise), Stephen S. Russell (Phoenix), Sue King (Salt Lake City), and Sally Ogilvie (Kaysville).
Her family wishes to thank the staff on 1 East at St. Joseph Villa who cared for her so lovingly for many years. In lieu of flowers, please send donations to St. Joseph Villa.