Trying to get together on words and music is a group of Iowa WAVES gathered in "date" lounge of barracks at Ottumwa naval air station. Dorothy Faye Hinze, Hamburg is at piano. The others are (left to right) Pauline Dryden, Waterloo; Geraldine Kassler, Marion; Phoebe Ann McMillin, Sumner, barracks counselor; Harriet Neal, Greene; Bernice Geronzin, Clinton; Dorothy Appel, Mount Pleasant; Laura Stover, Des Moines; Virginia Chandler, Des Moines; Delores Busse, Britt, and Marjorie Durrell, Leon.
Source: The Des Moines Register, October 15, 1944 (photo included)
COUNTY NEWS
Cooper: Marjorie Durrell, a WAVE, came from Ottumwa for a visit in the home of Mr. and Mrs. Ray Gumm.
Source: Jefferson Bee, October 24, 1944
Obituary ~ Marjorie Bell (Durell) Carson
March 30, 1924 ~ April 06, 2014
Marjorie Bell Durrell Carson, the third child born to Sindia "Louie" Evelyn Bronson Durell and Alvie Daniel Durell, was born March 30, 1924 at the family farm in Eden Township, Leon, Iowa, in Decatur County. The roads turned icy and the doctor and his nurse (doctor’s wife) had to stay in the home a couple days before roads could be traveled again.
She attended West Eden Country School and graduated from Leon High School in 1941. She taught at the Holden County school (Hamilton Township) and the Buzzard Roost County School (Eden Township). When she was 20 years old she enlisted in the Naval Reserve. She served her “boot training” at Hunter College, New York and then served at the Naval Air Base at Ottumwa Iowa, working in the enlisted personnel office until her discharge in May 1946.
Marjorie returned home and attended Gem City Business School in Quincy, Illinois, studying for a CPA degree. She then worked at Decatur County State Bank until her marriage March 21, 1948 to Charles Richard Carson of Woodburn. They made their home on the farm homesteaded by Richard’s great grandparents, Abraham and Elizabeth Chambers Carson from Pennsylvania. Here they raised five children; Judy Ann, Joyce Marie, John Richard, Thomas Paul and Lisa Kay.
She was a charter member of Women’s Memorial in Washington D.C., a lifetime member of Herndon-Oehlert American Legion Post #157 and Paid up for life Legion Auxiliary. She served as Jackson Township Clerk since 1975 and also was the secretary of Woodburn Methodist Sunday school for many years and taught Bible School while Lisa was small. In 1994, she and Richard were awarded “The Volunteer Hall of Fame” from Governor Branstad. She was proud to receive a pin from the Legion Auxiliary for 1000 hours volunteer work from the 350 plus lap robes she made for the Veterans in Knoxville. She also made blankets and quilts for children, grandchildren and great grandchildren.
Richard, John and Marjorie volunteered many hours in Jackson Township Cemeteries laying out burial plots, answering letters and phone calls concerning family history. Marjorie and Lisa walked the cemeteries recording names and dates for the cemetery book. Marjorie started working on family genealogy when the children were raised. She compiled a Carson Genealogy book, also worked on her family genealogy which has been traced back to George Little who came to America on the Mayflower.
Marjorie was preceded in death by her husband, Richard in 1999, four year old brother, Billy Leon in 1926; father, Alvie in 1973; mother, Louie who lived to be 106 years in 2005; sister, Helen in 2008 and three brothers in law.
She is survived by her children, Judy Barber (friend Larry marker) of Woodburn; Joyce Knight (Albert Jr) of Lincoln, NE; John Carson (Donna)of Woodburn; Tom Carson (Sandy) of Osceola and Lisa Hemesath (Tom)of State Center. Also surviving are twelve grandchildren, nine great-grandchildren, sisters, Kathryn Hughes of Leon and Pauline Baker of Corydon; brother, Jim Durell (Barbara) of Leon; as well as many nieces, nephews, cousins and friends.
Memorials may be directed to Herndon-Oehlert Post #157 American Legion.
Memorial services were conducted at 10:30 a.m. at Kale Funeral Home, Osceola, Iowa, on April 18, 2014. Interment was made at Ottawa Cemetery [Clarke County, Iowa].
Source: kalefuneralhome obituary
