Marjorie (Margie) Anne Samuelson Houser, 83 years old passed away on May 10, 2015 at approximately 1:20pm with her husband and grandchildren at her side. She was a resident of Greenfield Assisted Living Facility in Gilbert, Arizona.
She was born on April 11, 1932 in Tacoma, Washington to Wilton and Marion Sherman Kean who later divorced. Marjorie's mother remarried and she was adopted by Arthur Samuelson when she was five years old. Margie spent the first 17 years of her life in Tacoma, Washington when she relocated to Buena Park, California with her parents.
She graduated from Fullerton High School in 1950. After graduation, Margie held many different jobs throughout Orange County, California ranging from picking strawberries with the migrant farm workers to waitressing at Mrs. Knott's Chicken Dinner Restaurant for several years.
Margie married Norris Frank Houser on November 8, 1952 in Yuma, Arizona. They were happily married for 62 ½ years; Margie was a military wife for the first 20 years of their marriage; during this time, they became parents to 5 children.
Although Margie had always wanted to be a registered nurse, she put her dreams on hold until her husband retired from the military and her children were older.
Her dream did come true when, in 1976, she graduated number one in her nursing class at San Bernardino Valley College. She continued her education and earned a bachelor's degree from the University of Redlands. Margie worked for Redlands Community Hospital in various capacities as a registered nurse and found her greatest satisfaction when she became the nurse manager of the orthopedic unit of this hospital. She held this position until her retirement at age 62.
She continued her work in nursing as a volunteer for the American Red Cross where she served at many natural disasters across the United States. Later in life, Margie and N. Frank relocated to Prescott Valley, Arizona where she continued her volunteer work in the community until her final retirement at age 72.
Margie was preceded in death by her parents, Arthur and Marion Samuelson and her brothers, Romaine and Wallace Samuelson. Margie is survived by her husband, Norris Frank Houser of Gilbert, AZ., daughters Julie Houser of Yucaipa, CA., Marie Talbot of St. George, UT, Donna (Robert) Padilla of Wentzville, MO., Cheryll (Ken) Lundberg of Gilbert, AZ., and one son, Kenneth Houser of Yucaipa, CA. Margie is also survived by 12 grandchildren and 10 great-grandchildren.
Funeral services were private and attended by family members. Burial was at the Riverside National Cemetery in Riverside, CA.
