Margie (Dixon) Chamberlin Duckett's Obituary
MARGIE (DIXON) CHAMBERLIN DUCKETT
Aug. 28, 1924 – Oct. 26, 2014
Our dear Mom, “Margie,” has taken her final flight. Margie passed away at her home in Lakewood WA after a courageous battle with cancer. She was born Marjorie Louise Dixon in Basin MT to parents Frank E. and Ellen (Williams) Dixon who preceded her in death, as did her older sister, 3 younger brothers (all of Jefferson City MT), all aunts, uncles, and beloved brothers/sisters-in-law.
Margie grew up in Jefferson City MT in a small log home built by her miner father who was born in Winnipeg, Canada, and who died when she was 10. She was of Irish, English, Swedish and Welsh descent and recently was thrilled to get in touch with her “new found” cousins in Wales (Bet and Owen Jones). Margie attended grade school in a 1-room schoolhouse in Jefferson, and was proud to have skipped a grade and, at 16, to be the only one of her siblings to graduate from high school. She was artistic, loved sketching and, as a teenager, riding horses in local parades. In reading her school yearbook we learned our beautiful red-haired Mom had a feisty, “tomboy” side and the nickname “Big Red.” We read “Big Red” would fight if necessary to protect her younger brothers from bullies. A friend wrote (in 1938) “You’re not an Easter Lily or a Southern Rose. You’re just a red-haired Western gal, with freckles on your nose.”
Mom graduated from Boulder High School in May 1941 and married our father, Ertel S. Chamberlin (of Whitehall MT) a couple weeks later. While Dad was away in military training Mom worked as a nurse’s aide, hotel maid and as a cook at the nearby Golden Age mine, operated for a time by our grandfather, Nat Chamberlin. As a military wife, Margie lived in California, Florida, New Mexico, Arizona, Alabama, Colorado, Montana, Washington, Alaska, Illinois and Oregon. However, she was in Helena MT for the birth of all four children. After raising four kids Mom worked as a florist In the late 1960’s. She was stirred by patriotic air shows and loved all things related to flying. She also loved dancing to country and big band era music.
In early years, the family enjoyed many camping and boating vacations in the West, Alaska and Canada. Most important in her life was being a loving mother and supportive wife of two Air Force pilots, although at times it meant raising a family alone. Lt. Col. Ertel S. Chamberlin passed in 1969. In 1972 Margie married their long-time friend, Col. Wayne G. Duckett, who became our much-loved and admired stepdad and “Grandpa.” We have 42 years of happy memories of all our family gatherings at their Lakewood WA home, as do our children, grandchildren and great grandchildren. Mom and Wayne enjoyed traveling the country, visiting relatives and attending Air Force reunions. Wayne taught her to play golf (as he did many of us) and that gave them many happy outings together until he passed in 2001. Mom never lost her love of gardening or golf, in which she found much joy.
One of her high school yearbooks said Margie’s goal was to be an “aviatrix” like Amelia Earhart. In helping both husbands achieve their goals, she came close to realizing that dream. Mom dedicated her entire life to her family, never expecting anything special herself. She gave unconditional support to all she loved, no matter the mistakes they made. Mom filled our lives with more love and generosity than we could have dreamt possible.
Immediate family mourning the loss of our “guiding light” are sons Richard E. (Barbara) of Trinity TX and Charles N. Chamberlin of Lakewood WA; daughters Susan K. of Lakewood, and Linda F. Chamberlin of Napa CA. She will also be sadly missed by our stepbrothers Wayne G. Jr. (Frances) of Tacoma WA, Brian M. (Loretta) Duckett of Slidell LA, and our dear stepsister Lynn (David) Young of Issaquah WA. Mom wished to thank Lynn for accepting her from the beginning, and helping her so much after Wayne passed. She loved us all….to be sure. “Grandma Marge” also wished to say that each of her four grandsons and two granddaughters brought special joy to her life. They are Shawn (Michelle) McGrane (Folsom CA), Richard “Rick” E.L. Chamberlin (Sauk City WI), Teresa L. Chamberlin (Green Bay WI), Charles A. “Tony”(Napa CA) and Benjamin R. (Dana) Garcia (Temecula CA), and Ellen J. Chamberlin (Sacramento CA). Mom was also step grandmother to five, great grandmother to five, and step-great grandmother to 6 Chamberlin and Duckett children. She leaves behind cousins Fred Bell and Jim Madison (both of Jefferson City), many nieces, nephews and dear friends.
We give our heartfelt thanks to Mom’s radiation oncologist, Dr. Macdonald (Madigan Hospital, Tacoma WA) and his staff for their remarkably kind care. We are very grateful for the Franciscan Hospice staff that made it their mission to provide peace and comfort in our mother’s last months. In lieu of flowers, we would be honored if donations were made in her name to: Jefferson City Community Center, 13 ½ Spring St, Jefferson City MT 59638 (the former 1-room schoolhouse), or a charity of your choice.
A memorial service will be held at 1:00 p.m. on Friday, Nov. 7, 2014 at the Anderson Stevenson Wilke Funeral Home, 3750 N. Montana Avenue, Helena MT, with reception to follow at that site. Mom will be laid to rest next to our father on Saturday, Nov. 8 at 1:00 p.m. at Mountain View Cemetery in Livingston MT, following a family graveside service. A celebration to honor Margie will be held later in November in Lakewood WA at the Mountain View Funeral Home (date/time to be published on the following website: www.mountainviewtacoma and “www.aswfuneralhome.com.”
You’ve earned your wings, Mom. Now you can fly! As the song goes, “We’ll be seeing you, in all the old familiar places.” The legacy of love you showered on us will live on in all our hearts and minds, and those of our families, until we meet again.
What’s your fondest memory of Margie?
What’s a lesson you learned from Margie?
Share a story where Margie's kindness touched your heart.
Describe a day with Margie you’ll never forget.
How did Margie make you smile?