Marjorie Ellen Merchant Schooley Nelson

Marjorie Ellen Merchant Schooley Nelson was born November 30, 1919 to Reba Curtis And Paul E.Merchant in Pittsburgh, PA. She passed away February 13, 2010 at 5:32 p.m. at her daughter and son-in-Iaws home.
Momma had a long memorable life, a journey well lived. As a child she lived in Pennsylvania, Texas, and California where her mother remarried Ralph William Goddard, who, momma knew as her father. She had one sister Juliana Merchant Spohn, two brothers, William B Goddard (Penny) and Richard Goddard, of California. She married Paul Thomas Schooley November 27,1944. Together they had 8 Children, Karen Lynn (Stan) Freeman, Paula Michelle (Tom) Smith, Thomas Dorn (Sandy) Schooley, Mary Ellen (Bruce) Jones, Paul Bernie (Mary) Schooley, Denise Elaine (Michael) Steel, Jeanine Reba (John) Boyce, and Joel Patrick (Julie) Schooley. Paul and her divorced, and she later married Lee Russell Nelson, and together they had a daughter Kristie Lee (Jack) Egbert. Many years later she adopted her youngest child, her little dog and best buddy, our fury little brother- Mocha Nelson.
Momma loved music of all kinds, and she could play the piano and organ by ear. She would hear a song once and be able to play it without missing a note. She loved the Jazz and did not miss a game on TV, and Yes- she could yell at them!!! She loved animals and was never without out a dog. She raised her family with some very fond memories of their childhood dogs: Buttons, Lulu, Curley, Ruby and Mocha.
She loved and cared about each one of her friends, and because of that she had many. After moving to Logan she met her dearest friend, Eva Risk, who became a second mother to her children. Once they met they never parted and never even had a fight. They had some great times together, sometimes getting into mischief, but most of the time just going out to eat or talking for hours on end. If you met momma once
you had a friend for life. Momma spoke her mind, she was honest, blunt, and did things her way! She was also very independent. Oh, but what a sense of humor she had about her- it was truly unmatched. A lady full of life, and a very elegant one at that, she was a mother and father to all her children, grandchildren, and great-grandchildren. She was always there for her children and she never gave up on any of them. She had so much knowledge, love, and understanding to give to them. They were not always the best children for such a great lady, and like most children at times they drove her nuts. She always had good advice, but again like most children, they had to learn things the hard way.

Momma loved to send birthday and thank you cards, never missing anyone, family or friends. She was always giving but didn’t receive gifts well. It was as if she didn’t know how, because she had learned to become self-reliant. After all, she did raise some very fine children on her own that she loved to spoil and give her all to. Her world was her family, friends and dog, Mocha. Everything she did or said was centered on their well-being and happiness.

Momma had many jobs in her younger years. When she lived back East she worked as a telephone operator. When she came to Logan, around 56 years ago, she first worked at the U.S.U. High Rise as a cook. She later worked at Logan Golf Course, then in a tiny office on Center Street as a dispatcher for a taxi company, and finally in 1968 she started what would become over a 25 year career at the Hi-Lo Lounge, (Country Friends). She met and loved everyone that came in. Oh, the memories and stories she could tell were great! They were a (comedy) movie with in themselves.
There is so much to tell about momma's 90 years of life. There are so many stories and memories that will become silent, but her legacy of love, laughter, kindness, and honesty will carry us on. She is greatly loved and will be greatly missed by all who knew her.
Marge is survived by 7 of her 9 children, 2 brothers, 27 grandchildren, 9 step grandchildren, 31 great-grandchildren, with 2 on the way, due May 13 (Lilyana Mireya Keyes) and July 27 (Baby Egbert) and 11 step great-grandchildren.
She was preceded in death by her parents, her husband Lee Nelson 10/28/1969, her son-in-law Stan Freeman, her daughter Jeanine (Pete) 5/14/1984, her granddaughter Brockjail Felhman 12/25/1998, her son-in-law James Engle, her granddaughter Ginger Schooley 5/17/2003, her step-grandson Nelson Day 11/28/03, her sister Juliana 5/5/2009, and her son Thomas 5/23/2009. Paul Schooley her first husband passed away 4/30/1984.
We'd like to express sincere appreciation to Dr. Huffman, Dr. Graham, Dr. Broadbent, and nurses: Shannon, Kim, Deborah, and Heather. She wanted Dr. Huffman to know how she trusted him and she appreciated his kindness, honesty, jokes, and most of all putting up with her through the years.
Also, Momma would want to Thank you - Jack, Bernie, Karidi, Mary, Amber, and all family members for the prayers and love and support you gave her,

The funeral is scheduled at noon on Saturday, February 20, 2010 at the Allen-Hall Mortuary. Interment will follow at Logan City Cemetery. Condolences may be sent to the family at www.allenmortuaries.net