Marjorie Swartz Jouett went to her final sleep Sept. 8, 2006, in Lake Owego, Ore., at the age of 88. Marjorie, known to her friends as Marj, was born in Oelwein, Iowa on July 13, 1918 to Carl Eric Swartz and Myrtle Viola Swartz (nee Johnson). Marj is survived by her husband of 58 years, Jack; son, Eric Hargrave; daughter Jane Fredrika; and four grandchildren. Marj passed away with her husband and two children at her bedside.

Marjorie graduated from the University of Iowa. She was a medical secretary prior to WWII and in 1943 was asked by the U.S. Army Tropical Medical Research Unit to work in Manos, Brazil. She spent two years in Brazil and during this time traveled extensively throughout the region.

Traveling became second nature to Marj. In 1946 she visited the Virgin Islands and quickly found a job. It was on St. Thomas that she met her future husband, John K. Jouett (Jack). Marj and Jack were married in San Juan, Puerto Rico on Jan. 30, 1948. Jack returned to his military career so Marj donned the role of military wife until his retirement in 1965. Marj, Jack and their two children traveled broadly during those years living in Washington, D.C., California, Taiwan as well as traveling extensively throughout Asia.

In 1965 Marj and Jack moved back to St. Thomas where they remained until 1987. In 1988 they retired to Mariner’s Cove on Whidbey Island where they built their dream home. Bridge was Marj’s greatest love and she was rated as a Goren Instructor. She will be sorely missed by all that knew her.