Marjorie Morgan

Marjorie Morgan, age 93, beloved Mum, Mom, God-mum, Mother-in-law, G-Ma, GG, sister-in-law and good friend, went to be with her beloved Abbott on Monday, January 20, 2025, at Suncoast Hospice Care Center in Palm Harbor, Florida. 

Marjorie was born in the small town of Bussum, Holland outside of Amsterdam on January 5th, 1932, to the late Robert and Margarethe (Gretel) (Blaschke) Santley.

She moved to England and lived in various towns including Kent, Bedford and Canterbury before the age of 7. Her father was a translator for the British government and also worked for the “underground” (“the Resistance”). Her early childhood memories are vivid; seeing lines of Jewish people at the train station in the midst of “brown shirts”; being placed in an orphanage in France while her mother and “uncles” helped “the resistance” against the Nazi’s and witnessing the bombing of London during the “London Blitz” where 43,000 people were killed.

She attended the Bedford Girls Modern School, a private girls’ school in Bedford, England that was later named Dame Alice Harpur School. At the age of 16, Marjorie went to work for her mother at their small seaside hotel, The Cumberland, in Kent England and continued working for 4 years. At the age of 20, she saw an ad for Canterbury Hospital, filled out an application and was granted an interview. Due to not having her HS diploma, her mother met with the Matron of Nursing and asked that Marjorie be given a chance. She began her studies in January 1952 and proudly achieved her SRN, State Registered Nurse, certification in 1955.

On October 2, 1957, she met the love of her life, Abbott Morgan, during Oktoberfest at the Hofbräuhaus in Münich, Germany. On February 25, 1958, they

were married by the Burgermeister in Mainz, Germany and as she has always stated, “it has been one continuous honeymoon”.

A self-proclaimed “subservient wife” to Abbott (Abbie) for 62 years until his passing in 2020, her primary job was to care for him and raise their 3 boys, a task well performed and one of which she took great pride.

On June 8, 1970, Marjorie became a Naturalized Citizen of the United States.

After 20 years of military life, traveling around the US and Europe, Marjorie and her family settled down in Watkins Glen, NY. While her boys ventured off and started their own lives, Abbott and Marjorie stayed until 1994. Marjorie assisted Abbott with stage management and directing plays for the local community theater group, the Lake Country Players. Summers were spent at their cottage on the west side of Seneca Lake.

“Out the door in ’94!” is the familiar phrase heard by all! After Abbott retired from teaching in June 1994, Abbott and Marjorie relocated to Crystal Beach, Florida (eventually settling in Tarpon Springs) where Abbott promptly founded the community theatre group, “The West Coast Players”, in 1995. Marjorie won various awards for her work as stage manager and set director. She was recognized for her toughness as stage manager receiving the “Theatre Nazi Award” which has been proudly displayed in her home for decades.

Marjorie joined the Catholic church in April 1962 and was a devoted parishioner of St. Mary’s of the Lake Catholic Church in Watkins Glen, NY, St. Ignatius of Antioch Roman Catholic Church in Tarpon Springs, FL and St. Catherine of Siena Catholic Church in Clearwater, FL.

Most recently, Marjorie’s blossoming friendship with Sister Kathleen Beatty led to the creation of her memoirs; “Sharings on a Journey from Windmills to Palm Trees” highlights Marjorie’s early childhood through her time with Abbott in Tarpons Springs. These memories were shared throughout 2023 and 2024 on scattered Tuesday afternoons in Marjorie’s apartment home at Cypress Palms Assisted Living Facility in Largo, Florida.

Marjorie is survived by her loving sons, Christopher (Cassandra) Morgan of San Angelo, TX; Jonathan Sr. (Linda Button) Morgan of Durham, NC; and Sean (Katrina) Morgan of Middletown, MD. Brother in Law Charles (Rachel) Morgan of Lexington, SC; grandchildren, Jonathan, Jr. (Christina) Morgan, Brittany (Gavin) Garay, Alaina Morgan and Matthew (Alexa) Morgan; great-grandchildren, Malachy, Easton,

Connor, Jayce and Parker; several nieces and nephews; the sensational staff at Cypress Palms ALF; Sister Kathleen Beatty, her dear friend Eileen Coleman (Boyle), and “the usual suspects”, Michael and Susan Arnold, Maureen (the late JJ) Collins, Nancy Marsden and Al Coryell.

Marjorie’s funeral Mass will be held on Thursday, April 3, 2025, at 11:00AM at St. Catherine of Siena Catholic Church, Belcher Road, Clearwater, Florida.

The burial will be held in Arlington National Cemetery on a date TBD where she will be laid to rest for eternity with her beloved Abbott.

Memories and condolences may be extended to the family in her personalized guestbook at ALifeTribute.com.