Margie Ellen Mattox

Our beloved wife, mother, grandmother and great grandmother, Margie Ellen (Ferrell) Mattox went home to be with the Lord on Thursday, October 3, 2024. She left this world surrounded by her loving family. Margie was born to Willard Truman and Georgia Ferrell on June 16, 1934, in Newberg, Oregon. The family lived in Frog Pond and Ladd Hill, Oregon before moving to Hubbard, Oregon in 1945. Margie attended Hubbard Elementary School until it closed and the students were transferred to North Marion School in Aurora. After graduating from high school, she attended Capitol Business College in Salem, where she studied bookkeeping. Her first job after graduation was at McLaren School for Boys in Woodburn.

Margie and Claud met in August 1953 in Portland, Oregon, while Claud was stationed at the old Portland Air Base. They were married on April 3, 1955, at a friend’s home in Vancouver, Washington after Claud ‘s deployment to Korea ended. The minister was ill and performed the ceremony while wearing his pajamas and robe! They made their first home in Fort Worth, Texas where Claud finished his Air Force enlistment. The couple then moved to Jacksonville, Florida, where they lived for several years before returning to the Pacific Northwest. They lived various places in Washington and Oregon, before making their long-term home in Salem, Oregon. They moved to Stayton shortly before Margie’s death.

Margie worked sporadically during her marriage but preferred to focus on being a wife and mother. One of Margie’s greatest joys was spending time with her family. She and Claud were inseparable, and it was very rare to see one without the other. Even after 69½ years of marriage, her smile would light up her whole face when she told Claud she loved him and he replied, “I love you, too. I’ve loved you for a long, long time.” She enjoyed visiting with her children, grandchildren and great grandchildren and took great pride in their accomplishments. Margie also liked to travel and go dancing, camping, fishing, and boating in her younger years. She and Claud vacationed in Florida multiple times, celebrated their wedding anniversary in Hawaii, attended shows in Branson, Missouri and witnessed a naval ship their grandson was stationed on being commissioned in Galveston, Texas.

In later years, Margie enjoyed going on drives, reading, catalog shopping, putting together jig saw puzzles, collecting teapots, and playing games on her computer. She was a member of Mt. Olive Missionary Baptist Church and enjoyed attending services when her and Claud’s health permitted.

Margie is survived by her husband Claud, daughter and son-in-law Claudia and Keith Davis; son and daughter -in-law Willard and Patty Mattox; grandchildren Paul and Kristin Davis, Jennifer and Denny Wood, and Jamie Mattox; and, great grandchildren Daphne and Ameilia Davis, and Makayla, Hailey and Ethan Wood. She was preceded in death by her parents, brothers Lanie (Bud) and Donald Ferrell, and sister Hazel Best.