Margery D. Eliason

Our dear Mom, "Gramma Marge," "Grams," and "GG" left us to join her loving husband, her mother and father, her grandson and many friends waiting for her in heaven early Sunday morning, March 24, 2019, surrounded with the abundant love of her family. She was 89 years young and lived a life of love and dedication to her family and programs that served children and families. She did not want a long obituary, so we are honoring her request to keep it "short and sweet" and more about others than herself.

Mom truly believed what you did is not as important as what you do, good or bad. Her greatest wish was that people continue to carry on the programs near and dear to her heart - some she started and all she enhanced with her passion for teaching and helping people succeed and live to their potential. Rarely did we go anywhere with Mom where someone didn't come up to reminisce about how she so positively influenced their life. Mom was always in awe at the impact she had on others because it came so naturally to her. Though proud of her work, she mostly cherished the wonderful friends and colleagues she made along the way.

Marge is preceded in death by her husband, Carroll Eliason; her mom, Sally Marion; her dad, Edward Marion; and her grandson, Callan Taylor Pyburn-Cole. She is survived by three sons, Steve, Jim (Debbie) and Stan (Jennifer); one daughter, DuRee Cole (John); 14 grandchildren, Sam (Gwen) Eliason, Sarah Ballard (Andreas), Shea Roth-Nelson (Jason), Sydney McKittrick (Terrance), Taylor Cole, Lizzy Axier, (Ben), Riley (Crystal), Joseph Eliason, Cade (Abby) Eliason, Reid (Ali) Eliason, Mitchell Sinnema, Colton Eliason, Nick Eliason and Hunter Eliason; and 21 great-grandchildren.

Our world will never be the same without her adorable sense of humor and presence, but there is great joy in knowing we will all be with her in a better place one day. In the meantime, per her wishes, a joyful celebration of her life, open to all who loved and adored her, will be held at Rose Park on July 5, with details to be announced closer to that time.

Three programs near and dear to Mom's heart were: The Young Families Program (1020 Cook Ave., Billings, MT 59102), The Callan Taylor Fund for Polycystic Kidney Disease (2937-1/2 Clairemont Drive, San Diego, CA 92117) and CASA of Yellowstone County (1201 Grand Ave., #5, Billings, MT 59102).