Marjorie Tibbets

Marjorie May (Hensley) Tibbets, 84, long time Baker City resident and cherished mother, grandmother, great-grandmother, sister and friend died peacefully March 14, 2019 at St. Alphonsus Regional Medical Center in Boise, ID. A Celebration of Marjorie's life reception will be held on May 31, 2019 at Quail Ridge Golf Course in Baker City at 2:00 p.m.

Marjorie was born in Eagle Valley, near New Bridge on July 10th, 1934 to Naomi May and Charles Moscoe Hensley.  As the eldest of three siblings, she was often tasked with helping her father tend to the stock and crops, with the help of her childhood best friend, a horse named Prince.  Marjorie attended schools in Pine Valley and Baker, before graduating from Baker High School in 1952.

On June 15th, 1966, Marjorie wed Kenneth Tibbets of The Dalles, OR.  Together, in a three-bedroom house on Elm street, they raise their blended family of eight children.  To help make ends meet, she tended bar at Scotty’s Tavern and later was a housekeeper for several years at the Sunridge Inn.

There was always plenty of meat in the freezer, because Margie was a crack shot with a rifle and an excellent hunter.  She was known to pick a dry spot under a tree and patiently wait all day for a deer or elk to happen by.  The Tibbets filled many a tag in her and Ken’s favorite hunting spots on Lookout Mountain, White River (near Dufur), and others that are to remain nameless.  They frequented fishing holes at Phillips Lake, Wolf Creek Reservoir, the John Day, the Snake and the Columbia, with Marge usually out-fishing everyone.  Many summer days were also spent in the mountains hunting for morel mushrooms and picking huckleberries, or just camping with the family.

Before his passing in 2009, Ken and Marge spent most of their last 20 years together living like nomads in their travel trailer, starting with a trip through the coasts of Oregon and Washington, across the Olympic peninsula and up into Canada to the headwaters of the Columbia River and Banff.  This was a trip that she recounted details of often, and with a familiar twinkle to her eye.  From there it was a cycle of seasonal migrations: wintering with their daughter and grandson that lived outside of Portland, spring and summer were spent camp-hosting and fishing at Giles French Park near Rufus, and come fall, they would join family at deer camp, then elk camp.  They often had a grandson in-tow, and were never without the company of a good dog or two.  Her story would not be complete without mentioning her favorite dogs Tosha, Chami, Blue, Tucker and Duke, whom she loved so much.

Margie exuded warmth like the shining sun on an early spring morning.  Whether it was sending over a batch of devilled eggs, a meal, baking you a cake for your birthday, writing you a thoughtful letter, or offering to lend money (then refusing to take repayment), she always had her loved ones on her mind.  Her nature was without fault.  With an honest kindness, she had something pleasant to say about most everyone.

A pinnacle of self-sufficiency and resilience, she beat cancer and lived for many years with a heart condition that couldn’t slow her down.  Her motor was always running, whether in fluid conversation, or doing chores, she was seldom idle.  Her lawn, flower garden, and home were always among the best kept in town.  She was superbly resourceful, an excellent cook, and in her middle years a decent golfer.  Until her last few days, she was so full of energy and a zest for life, that it is hard to believe that she could be gone.  Gram will be greatly missed, and remembered well.    

Marjorie is survived by her children; Tommy Gilbert of Baker City, Robert Gilbert of Washougal, WA, Donald Gilbert of Boardman, OR, Steven Haney of Echo, OR, Sandra Vanderpool of Baker City, Vickie McAdams (Max) of Baker City; step-daughter Tammie Lee (Dana) of Salem, OR; step-son Kenny Tibbets (Margaret) of Eugene, OR; numerous grand and great grand children; and her brother Edward Hensley of Weiser, ID.

She was preceded in death by her parents Naomi VanSickle and Moscoe Hensley, her sister Betty Red and her husband Kenneth Tibbets. 

For those who would like to make a memorial donation in memory of Marjorie, the family suggests Best Friends of Baker (animal rescue and adoption) through Tami's Pine Valley Funeral Home & Cremation Services PO Box 543 Halfway, Oregon 97834.  On line condolences may be shared at www.tamispinevalleyfuneralhome.com