Marjorie Caroline Eskridge, 79
Marjorie Caroline Eskridge, 79, passed quietly and peacefully, Tuesday, Aug. 30, 2016, at her home in Kootenai, Idaho.
A potluck remembrance will be scheduled at a later date.
Marge was born July 8, 1937, in Priest River, Idaho, to Glen and Edna South. Marge’s family moved to Dover, Idaho, in 1940 where she grew up with eight brothers and sisters. Her early childhood memories were filled with riding horses, eating warm bread just out of the wood stove and hanging out with friends, neighbors and family members on the Pend Oreille River at the Dover Bluff. She attended Sandpoint High School, graduating in 1957, and was an accomplished majorette, performing often with the SHS marching band.
In early adulthood, she spent a number of years living and working in the Hawaiian Islands and she cherished the years she spent there. In 1972, due to a work-related accident, she returned to Sandpoint with her son, Clifford, in order to be closer to family.
In 1980, she met a half-bubble-off biker type with whom she graciously shared her life at their home in Kootenai, beginning May 1, 1981.
Marge loved tending her flower garden, particularly her roses, camping with family and friends and scouring the local mountains for huckleberries. She was known for her skill as a baker and won blue ribbons at the fair for her miniature cupcakes and her tarts. Her piece de resistance was her banana cream pie. Many are those who would agree. She was an accomplished bowler and pool player and participated in a number of leagues locally as well as bowling tournaments in Eastern Washington. Our local pool sharks learned not to take her lightly when her game was “on.” Her later years were made more joyous by the presence of two dachshunds, first Dustin and then Romeo.
Marge was preceded in “getting on with the next leg of the journey” by her father and mother, Glen and Edna; brothers, Lloyd, Robert, Melvin, Bert, and Gary; and a sister, Bernice Van Den Berg. She is survived by her son, Clifford Morikawa (Staci) of Sandpoint; sister Beulah Haller of Sandpoint; sister and lifelong best friend, Mary Hoyle of Sandpoint — who refers to Marge as “The Peace Maker,” 44-year scrabble “adversary” and niece, Julie Hoyle of Sandpoint; a brother-in-law, Richard Van Den Berg of Spokane; three grandchildren and three great-grandchildren; innumerable nephews, nieces, great-nephews, great-nieces and great-grandnephews and great-grandnieces; and her friend, lover, husband and partner in crime, G.H. (Gino) Grosclose, at home in Kootenai.
A big “thank you” to the many friends and neighbors who reached out to embrace and to support our family these past several months. And to all of you who continue to do so, you are what makes the idea of Community a reality.
A special heart felt message of gratitude and love is directed to the folks who comprise The Bonner Community Health Hospice Service, you are each and every one, an angel, hidden from common view, in your human form.
Lakeview Funeral Home in Sandpoint is handling the arrangements. Please visit Marge’s online memorial at www.lakeviewfuneral.com and sign her guest book.