Marjorie McGennis

Thursday, September 20, 2007

Marjorie McGennis, age 95, of Rich Hill, passed away on Monday, Sept. 17, 2007. Marjorie was born on April 20, 1912, at the family homestead in Prairie Township, Bates County, Mo., to John Volney and Mary Douglas Himi Bradley. One brother, James Newton Bradley was born Aug. 22, 1910. She attended Seelinger School near her home and went to high school at Schell City, Maplewood and graduated from Rich Hill High School in 1930.

She stayed on the farm for a short time during the depression; then in the early '30s went to St. Louis to stay with her aunt and uncle, Nobel and Ruby Smith. During that time she attended business school and worked as a secretary for several years.

She then returned home and resumed a friendship with an old classmate, Connie (Cornelius) McGennis. After living two months in a small home near Sprague, they moved into the McGennis home to care for Connie's sick mother. She remained there until June of 2004, when she moved to the Willow Lane Nursing Home in Butler. Connie became an auctioneer in 1947. In the '50s and '60s, Marjorie enjoyed traveling the states with him as he conducted livestock sales.

In 1946, Marjorie was baptized into the Body of Christ and attended church Sprague Christian Church. In 1962 she moved her membership to First Christian Church in Rich Hill. She taught Sunday school for all ages for 25 years. She felt the years she taught gave her life real meaning.

Marjorie enjoyed people and was a member of the Sprague Community Club, Foster Garden Club, Foster Art Club, Harmony Mission Chapter Daughters of the American Revolution and her women's group at church. She was appointed to fill her husband's place on the State 4-H Foundation Board after his death in 1967. She kept up an interest in the McGennis Youth Center throughout the years.

Besides her husband, Connie, she was preceded in death by her parents; three sister-in-laws, Virginia Bradley, Mary McGennis, and Ruth Bradley and one brother, James Bradley.

She is survived by one niece, Mary Frances Bradley, of Booneville, Mo.; three nephews, James Bradley, of Sedona, Ariz., and David Bradley, New Franklin, Mo.; three great nieces, Sara Bradley, Indianapolis, Ind., Jessie Bradley, Washington D.C., and Laura Bradley, Brattleboro, Vt.; three great nephews John Bradley, Phoenix, Ariz., Nathan Bradley, Boulder, Colo., and Matthew Bradley, Columbia, Mo.

She had two mottos: "Never stop learning," and "Praise God anyhow." She always tried to see the humorous side of things, believing to laugh is helpful and healthy. She enjoyed writing short essays, letters, and verses. Marjorie was grateful to the J. F. "Boots" Steuck family for over 40 years of friendship and she considered them her family. She also loved her own family of nieces and nephews.

Services were held Thursday, Sept. 20, at 2 p.m., at Rich Hill Christian Church, with Bro. John Doolen officiating. Interment was at Oak Hill Cemetery, in Butler, Bro. Arraignments by Beuser Funeral Home, out of Rich Hill.