Marjorie M. (Skouge) Moore

Marjorie Merle Skouge Moore passed through the gates of Heaven Saturday morning, January 4, 2020, with family at her bedside.

Memorial services for Marjorie Moore will be held on Saturday, January 11, 2020 at 10:00 AM at First United Methodist Church, 201 3rd Avenue North East in Clarion, with Pastor Mike Gudka officiating.

Visitation will be held on Friday, January 10, 2020 from 4:00 PM to 7:00 PM at Ewing Funeral Home, 1801 Central Avenue East in Clarion and will continue one hour prior to services at the church on Saturday morning.

Marjorie was born to Arthur Joseph Skouge and Orelee Loretta Brooks Skouge on September 30, 1928, at her home on the farm north of Clarion, Iowa. Her sister, Marilyn, would join the family 3 years later.

Marj was a true farm girl who loved and could recall the names of favorite pets and farm animals throughout her life. She told of having her own milking stool in the barn where she would help her dad do the milking before she attended country school. She also learned the fine arts of cooking, baking, canning, and preserving fruits and vegetables from her mother and was an accomplished seamstress. “Grandma jammies” were coveted amongst grandchildren and great-grandchildren alike.

Marj attended Norway Township Country School and after 8th grade attended Clarion High School, graduating with the class of 1946. She played the piano, played clarinet in the high school band, and was also a member of 4-H. She was confirmed at St. Olaf Lutheran Church north of where she was raised. She still had a fond relationship with the ladies of the church and would often make potato cakes with them in recent years. Following high school graduation, Marj attended Iowa State Teachers College for a year. She was then employed by First National Bank as a teller.

Marjorie and James Ralph Moore of Dows were united in marriage on January 16, 1948. They lived in Dows for a short time, but eventually moved to the farm where Marj was raised and began a farming enterprise that continues to this day. Marj wasn’t one to drive tractors, but she knew her way around the garden, could pluck a chicken with the best of them, was a wonderful baker, cookie, pie, and Kringla maker and spent more hours ironing than anyone should.

Three children were born to Jim and Marj: Merle Michelle Reif, Alison Kay Underberg and James R. Moore Jr.

“So anyway”, Jim and Marj raised their family on the farm until 1993, when they moved to Clarion. Without chores to keep her busy, Marj found new interests and became a more active member of the First United Methodist Church, UMW, 3 C’s, and the Daughters of the American Revolution where she held the office of Chaplin. She always had a garden and loved to raise and can vegetables. Marj loved to have coffee with friends and she was a Wednesday night regular with her friends at Chappy’s. She looked forward to Sunday nights spent with family and adored doting on her great grandchildren. She loved hot roast beef sandwiches, popcorn and ice cream! The Minnesota Twins had a true fan, but she loved watching sports of all kinds. She had a mind like a steel trap and always had an answer for who was related to who. She also never met a stranger and loved “crashing” class reunions of graduating classes even remotely close to hers.

Surviving Marjorie are her children: Michelle Reif of Burlington and James Moore Jr. (Barbara), of Clarion, son-in-law, Dean Underberg of Ft. Dodge; nine grandchildren, James (Andrea) Reif, Maria (Brad) Walker, Alison (Derek) Jones, Andrew (Tracy) Reif, Andrea (Jarret) Ruddy, Thomas (Abby) Underberg, Laura (Nate) Byers , Elizabeth (Nick) McOllough, and Samuel (Kristina) Moore. Also surviving are 14 Great Grand-children: Lukas and Lara Reif, Jacob, Emily, and Nathan Walker, Matthew and Abigail Jones, Mary Reif, Allison and Blake Ruddy, Davis Underberg, Lane and Beau Byers, Amelia McOllough, and two step-great grandsons, Cayden and Carson Taylor. She is also survived by her sister, Marilyn Creger of Arizona, and nieces and nephews. Also surviving is Jan-Eric Arndt and family of Germany, an exchange student Jim and Marj hosted for a year. Marj was preceded in death by her parents, husband Jim (2014), daughter Alison Underberg (2008), and son-in-law Larry Reif (2007).

In lieu of flowers, memorial remembrances may be given to the United Methodist Church of Clarion or to the Holmes Christmas Club.