Marjorie Lee Eldredge, 85, of Silsbee, died Tuesday, October 26, 2010. She was born September 8, 1925 to George G. and Marjorie (LeRibeus) Badge in Bay City, Texas and was raised in Brazoria, Texas.
Marjorie was graduated from West Columbia High School at the age 16 as valedictorian in 1941 and attended The University of Houston before completing a Bachelor of Science Degree in General Business at Louisiana State University in 1946. While at her beloved LSU, she met her husband to be, I.F. "Cap" Eldregde (deceased), who was completing his degree in Forestry after serving in World War II. Following Cap's graduation, they moved to Huntsville, Texas where Cap began his career and then to Kirbyville, Texas, where they began their family. In 1958, the family moved to Silsbee, Texas where they raised their three sons. Marjorie was known to many people in the area as a free lance newspaper correspondent for the Beaumont Enterprise, Houston Post and the Silsbee Bee from 1959 to 1970. In 1972, after some post graduate work at Lamar University, she began a career in real estate with the real-estate firm Hay-Eldredge Real Estate, a partnership with Cap and Jim and Bonnie Hays. After the death of Cap and Jim, Marjorie and Bonnie continue the partnership until their retirement in 1990.
Marjorie loved her adopted hometown of Silsbee and was known for her civic involvement and leadership. She was a member of the original committee of nine Silsbee women which reactivated the Silsbee Public Library in 1960, and remained one of its most dedicated patrons throughout the years. She was the first female Silsbee City Council member, serving several terms including as Mayor Pro-tem from 1972-1973, and the first woman to serve as a director of the Hardin County Appraisal District. She was named Silsbee Citizen of the Year in 1986 by the Silsbee Chamber of Commerce. Marjorie and Cap were early members of the Silsbee Little Theater with some of its original meetings held in their home. She held numerous positions as member, director and officer of several organizations including the Silsbee Woman's Club, Silsbee Garden Club, Silsbee Chamber of Commerce, March of Dimes, Silsbee Independent Board of Equalization, Read-Turrentine and O'Neal PTA's, Hardin County Board of Realtors, Southeast Texas, Inc., and The Foundation of Southeast Texas as well as the scouting, little league and band programs in which her children got her involved. Marjorie was a life-long member of the United Methodist Church and was a member of the First United Methodist Church of Silsbee. She loved theater, traveling, young people and local politics.
She is preceded in death by her husband, her parents and her only sibling, Mary Ella (Badge) Johnston, formerly of Brazoria, Texas. Survivors include her sons and their wives George and Debbie Eldredge of St. Francesville, Louisiana, Frank and Colleen Eldredge of Conroe, Texas and Christopher and Laura Eldredge of Silsbee, and her loving niece Marjorie May (Johnston) Salyers of Bandera, Texas. She had nine grandchildren and three great grandchildren.
Funeral services will be held at the First United Methodist Church, Silsbee, on Saturday October 30, 2010, at 2:00p.m. with interment at Resthaven Cemetery. Pallbearers will be grandsons George Eldredge, Jr., Chris Eldredge and Franklin Eldredge, nephew Dustin Haseloff, grand son-in-law Chris Graczyk, and long time family friend Carey Georgas. Visitation will be at Farmer Funeral Home in Silsbee from 5:00 p.m. to 7:00 p.m. on Friday, October 29, 2010.
The family requests that in lieu of flowers, contributions be made to The Silsbee Public Library, The First United Methodist Church, Silsbee, or the Alzheimer Foundation. Our deepest gratitude goes to the staff of Atrium Collier Park, Silsbee Convalescent Center, Odyssey Healthcare of Beaumont (hospice), and to the caring and compassionate people who helped care for our mother, grandmother and great grandmother.
