Marge Leggett went to her eternal, joyous home on February 18, 2023. Lovingly held by her sons
and grandchildren, she passed away at Community Hospital in Aberdeen, Washington. She was
88.
Marjorie Roe was born June 10, 1934, in Manson, Washington. Shortly after, her family moved
to Elma, where she spent a happy and adventurous childhood. Her family moved to Centralia
when she was 13, where she graduated from high school in 1952. She attended and graduated
from Centralia Community College beginning in 1952. There she met her great love, companion
in life and travel, Jim Leggett.
They moved to Seattle to attend the University of Washington. They decided to be married
before Jim’s induction into the army. So, they were married December 5, 1953. They spent the
next few years at Ft. Hood.
Returning to Seattle in 1957, they enrolled at UW. Marge advanced her lifelong love of language
and education by completing her degree in 1960.
Marge started her career at Aberdeen High School in 1960, teaching French along with English.
She also taught at Hopkins Junior High. then at Central Park Elementary. After a few years
there, she found her favorite place, teaching second grade at McDermoth Elementary.
Marge always wanted to show her children (whether at home or in the classroom) possibilities
beyond the immediate. She strayed from the syllabus and treated her beloved students to
lessons in many things, including memorizing poetry, square dancing, and desert life.
Just before retiring, Marge and Jim moved to Ocean Shores. Always wanting to contribute to her
community, she volunteered to cook weekly at the senior center.
Marge believed in local service and spreading Christ’s word. She was a member of Gideons
International. She worked at and contributed to Camp Bethel. And for the past many years, she
sponsored school children through the Montesano Presbyterian Church’s Uganda mission.
She was active in the Washington State School Retirees Association. She filled several central
roles with that organization over the years, because she believed promoting and improving the
lives of teachers past and present was part of her lifelong role as an educator.
Marge and Jim loved the outdoors. With a young family and funds to match, they all enjoyed
many camping and back-packing trips in the Olympics and Cascades during the summers.
Another activity that Marge loved was square dancing. She and Jim enjoyed dancing with
friends for thirty-eight years.
Marge and Jim loved adventurous travel. After retiring, they made several visits to the UK and
vacationed in Ireland and Germany. They enjoyed bird watching in California and road trips across Canada, and to the Grand Canyon and Arizona. Later, they took up cruising with friends
and family: to the south Pacific, Alaska, and the along the St. Lawrence Seaway.
Marge was a voracious reader and proud of her library, which she used often and continually
added to. It included a range of books, from poetry to Jimmy Carter.
Among her many activities, Marge always kept one in the forefront: sewing. Over the years, she
made more than 80 dolls, complete with wardrobe and beds and sleeping bags. She gave them
to family, friends, and organizations for fund raisers.
Marge made quilt after quilt. Every child, grand and great-grand, received at least one. She gave
away many more, also for fund raisers. She loved every aspect of quilting.
And up to the end of her life, she was an integral and beloved member of the Montesano
Presbyterian Church family. She enjoyed gathering for fellowship and games. She particularly
loved teaching children’s Sunday classes.
Marge was preceded in death by her daughter Sue Schumacher, her father Howard Roe, mother
Maude Roe, her sisters Phyllis Shelton and Francis Sutterfield, and her husband of sixty-five
years, Jim Leggett.
Marge is survived by her brother Jerry Roe; sons Steve Leggett and Tim Leggett of Aberdeen;
five grandchildren: Stephanie Bailey, Nick Leggett, Zack Leggett, Dylan Schumacher, and
Mallory Schultz; and five great-grandchildren: Max and Emmi Bailey, Lorelei and Islay Leggett,
and Daphne Schultz.
A celebration of life will be honoring Marge on Saturday, March 25, at 1 p.m. at Montesano
Presbyterian Church, 201 E. McBryde Ave.
If you would like to donate in memory, please contact the Montesano Presbyterian Church for
information about their Uganda mission.
To order
memorial trees or send flowers to the family in memory of Marjorie Leggett, please visit our
flower store.