Marjorie Anne (Montgomery) Nicholson

STOW (formerly SILVER LAKE), Marjorie Anne Nicholson was due to arrive Christmas Day 1927.  The doctor paid a home visit to her mom and felt like it was time to head to the hospital.  So, the doctor drove her to the hospital where she was delivered 3 weeks early on December 4th.

The third of five children born to Homer and Annabelle Mann Montgomery, Margie grew up in Akron on North Hill. Her dad was a hard-working entrepreneur, allowing them some luxuries not seen by many, especially during the depression. Her family had the first home phone in the neighborhood, and she often remembered running to nearby homes to let them know a phone call had been received at her house.

It was at a church youth group meeting that Walter Nicholson spotted her and asked someone to introduce him to Margie.  He went home that night and told his mom he had met the girl he was going to marry.

Walt enlisted in the Army during WWII, and Margie wrote to him every single day.  Upon his return from Japan and the Philippines, they married April 27, 1947.

Margie was blessed with a beautiful voice and was a soloist at many weddings. She even learned the lyrics in Greek for a friend’s wedding.   She sang in the Goodyear Musical Theatre, the Carillons, Silver Lake Singers and always sang in the church choir.  She loved poetry, both reading it and writing it.

Her favorite gift of all time was her very own pair of tap shoes that she received on her 50th birthday.  She even brought them out every year on her birthday and performed on the terrazzo floor in the hallway well into her 80s for all her family to enjoy.

A lover of learning, she went to college and took an Eastern Civilization course alongside her daughter; and of course, she got an A.  She learned how to use a computer, pay her bills online and text her grandchildren on her smart phone to always stay in touch well into her 90s.  Family vacations centered around learning something new; and oh, how she loved a good museum.

She contributed to many church cookbooks, served on several committees and was on the Board of the Women’s New Initiative at First Congregational Church of Tallmadge where she was a member.

She was active in Eastern Star -Cuyahoga Falls Chapter for over 50 years and was a member of DAR.

She loved holiday meals with the family, and she cooked everything from soup to nuts.  She was known to include people that didn’t have a place to go for a holiday, and she squeezed them in at the family table in Silver Lake.  Desserts were her specialty, and we always had several choices to choose from. Every year for Walt’s birthday she made his favorite…” Slice a Lemon” pie.

Once the three daughters were a little older, Margie worked with Walt, the manager of the Carter Lumber Company in Solon, assisting him in the office.

She was preceded in death by her brothers, Homer, Bill and Jimmy and is survived by her sister, Mona (Marie) O’Neil of Stow and their extended families. She leaves behind the love of her life, Walt Nicholson to whom she was married 77 years, and her 3 daughters, Debb Jirous of Cuyahoga Falls, Monna Frankovits (Nick) of Hudson and Nancy Nicholson of Hudson. Her grandchildren meant the world to her-  Carson Frankovits (Abby) of Hudson, Army Cpt. Evan Frankovits (Melissa) of Washington D.C. and Cassie Jirous of Cuyahoga Falls.  She loved Sunday afternoon visits from her first great granddaughter, Quinn, and the photos of her newest great granddaughter June that were sent nearly every day from Alexandria, VA.

Margie volunteered at CVCA for several years while her granddaughter attended there.  She loved volunteering at the school and even continued several years after she graduated.  She volunteered for the National Museum of Education at the National Gallery for America’s Young Inventors Induction Ceremony for more than 20 years and was a judge for the Frieda J. Riley Teacher Award.  Her generosity and dedication to education will live on as her legacy.

Memorial Contributions may be made in her memory to the National Museum of Education, 4301 Darrow Road, Suite 3200, Stow, OH 44224. The family would like to send a special thank you to Crossroads Hospice for their loving care.

Arrangements are being made by Bissler and Sons Funeral Home in Kent.  As per her request, cremation has taken place. Private services will be held for the family and then Margie will be laid to rest at Stow Cemetery.   A Celebration of Life will be planned for a later date.

Services in the care of Bissler and Sons Funeral Home and Crematory, 628 W. Main St. Kent, OH 44240.