Marjorie B. Anderson

Marjorie B. Anderson, age 92, of Orland Park, Illinois, died on Sunday, December 14, 2014 at her residence. 

She was born on December 8, 1922 in Monmouth, Illinois the daughter of Frank B. and Ruby B. (Miller) Raglin. She was a graduate of Monmouth High School, received her B.S. from Western Illinois University and her M.S. from the University of Nevada. Even though she worked in the Chicago area, she returned to her farm in Monmouth for business and family visiting, often enough to be called a part-time neighbor. With a lifelong interest in flying, at the age of 20 she earned her private pilot's license. Hoping to make a career in the field of aviation, she added a commercial license and a sea rating. Realizing the limited field for women in aviation at the time, Marjorie became a high school teacher keeping aviation as a high interest avocation. She was an active member of the Ninety-Nices, and the International Organization of Women Pilots. While participating in both Midwest and transcontinental cross country races, she won numerous awards. Her greatest satisfaction came in mentoring eager young women pilots with encouragement and with scholarships, today seeing many of these flying the airlines as once had been her own dream. Her teaching career began in Ohio, Illinois, then in Crystal Lae, and also in Schweinfurt, Germany. While in Germany, she married her American fiance Arthur Anderson in the small country Lutheran Church in Bygstad, Norway where he had been confirmed as a boy. Both being avid travelers, they toured Europe to the Arctic and the Antarctic, once teaching workshops in Krasnoyarsk, Siberia. Together, they enjoyed 40 years on the slopes as downhill skiers. Marjorie was a member of the United Methodist Church of New Lenox, IL and the American Association of University Women. She is survived by her husband Arthur, her adopted son James T. (Darlene) Coffey, and three grandchildren, James Coffey Jr., Ashley Christine Coffey, and Meagan Kelsey Coffey.

Her family will receive friends at Kurtz Memorial Chapel, 102 East Frances Road, New Lenox, Illinois on Saturday, December 27, 2014 from beginning at 10:00 am. A memorial service will begin at 12:00 Noon. Memorial Services in Monmouth will be held at 10:00 am on Saturday, January 10, 2015 at Fairview Center United Methodist Church. Her family will receive friends 1 hour prior to the service at the Church. Interment will follow at Monmouth Cemetery. A memorial fund has been established for the New Lenox Methodist Church or Fairview Center United Methodist Church. For more information, please visit www.turnbullfuneralhomes.com