This is the first time I have seen a picture of her mother when she was young. Mary Kay looks just like her - it is amazing.
Marjorie Jean (Sullivan) Compton Marge was born July 17, 1930 in Boise to Arthur J. Sullivan and Rose (Malone) Sullivan.She was the youngest of eight siblings. Her family home was at the end of Warm Springs Avenue, just across the street from the Natatorium. She was so cute, the staff let her in for free. Needless to say, she became a fine swimmer, an activity she enjoyed her entire life. With her vivacious personality she had many East end neighbor friends, the Kading twins, Kathy Nixon, Ginny Buroughs, Bill Langrois, Ann Mendenhall, Pidge Reller, and Marilyn Pearson to name a few. She attended Roosevelt grade school where some of her new friends included children from the Boise Children's home, who often joined the Sullivan family for Sunday dinners.
At Boise Junior High, (now North), she expanded her friends to include many North Enders. One spring day her new best buddy, Kay Brooks introduced her to Chuck Griffin and Glenn Compton. Glenn was smitten, but a bit slow on his feet, so she dated Chuck for a year or two. In her junior year at Boise High School Glenn got his turn and they were steadies through high school, (class of 1948), and two years at BJC. With the Korean War in full swing Glenn enlisted in the Navy to become a Naval Aviator.
While he was enjoying Florida sunshine in Pensacola, Marge was employed as a secretary, and all around go-fer with the Idaho Department of Highways engineering department (which at the time had their offices in the old Idaho Statesman building at 6th and Main Street.) After a year and a half of flight training, Glenn was assigned to Patrol Squadron One at Naval Air Station Whidbey Island, Washington. Home for a Christmas leave, he entered the annual college ski race and ended up with a broken leg.
Flat on his back on the living room couch he proposed marriage. Marge said, "OK, but I can't cook and I don't want babies." To prove herself wrong, she raised five fabulous kids and became a wonderful cook and homemaker.
Although small in stature, she always proclaimed that "dynamite comes in small packages." How true, she had the respect of all five of her children and they all knew who was boss. She loved parties and family functions, and retained friends from high school, the Navy, and business friends throughout her 55 yeas of marriage.
Marge died Thursday, May 7, 2009 at home in the presence of her husband and all five children. Marge was preceded in death by her parents, four brothers, Fred, Harley, Willard and Kieth, three sisters, Evelyn Kennedy, Elva Lappin and Dorothy Sullivan.
Marge is survived by her husband, Glenn Compton, her sons Tom and Mary Anne, Brett and Elizabeth, Randy and Chris, Scott and Debbie, and her daughter Mary Kay Sprague and husband Steve. She is also survived by 14 grandchildren and one great grandson, and many cousins, nephews, nieces and a host of friends.
Memorial services will be held 4 p.m., Thursday May 14 at St. Johns Cathedral, 775 N. 8th Street. Services are under the direction of Bowman Funeral Parlor, Garden City.
Our family would like to give special thanks to the doctors and medical staff at St Luke's Hospital and a special thanks to St. Luke's Hospice for their excellent service.
In memory, donations could be made to the American Cancer Society , St. Luke's Hospice, or your favorite charity.
1 comment:
What a wonderful woman and a well lived life ! Thanks for sharing !
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