Marjorie Ruth Baker Bullock Troy, 92, passed away Wednesday, Nov. 13, 2024, at Parsons Presbyterian Manor with her family by her side.
Marge was the fifth of nine children born to Nelson Miles and Thelma (Pickens) Baker. She was born Aug. 31, 1932, at home in Sullivan County, Missouri. She grew up in the Osgood and Harris communities, helping on the family farm. Marge enjoyed playing in the school band and participating in many of the school’s activities. She graduated from Milan High School in 1949 at the age of 16. Following high school, she attended a few semesters of college at Trenton Junior College, taking business classes. Her first adult job was working in Jefferson City, Missouri, at the state capital as a secretary. Throughout her life, she worked professionally as a bookkeeper and in retail sales. She had a knack for numbers and customer service.
Marge married Robert S. Bullock in Trenton, Missouri, on Nov. 18, 1953. Their union was blessed with two daughters, Natalie Ann and Karen Rae. Bob and Marge were active in their community and enjoyed successful retail businesses in Trenton, Missouri, and Pittsburg. They prioritized education through travel for their daughters, taking the girls on numerous road trips in the western United States.
When Bob died suddenly in 1977, Marge managed Bullock Jewelers in Pittsburg as she single-parented her teenage daughters. On Sept. 12, 1981, Marge married longtime friend, John J. Troy. From this union, John’s six children, Mary, Judy, Jane, Joe, Charles and Rick, were added to Marge’s family.
Marge and John moved to Parsons permanently to operate Pfeiffer’s Jewelers in 1982. Following retirement and the sale of Pfeiffer’s, John and Marge operated a fitness center in downtown Parsons for a handful of years before selling the business to focus on family and travel.
Marge was extremely committed to the Pittsburg and Parsons communities. It would be impossible to gather an exhaustive list of the organizations she was involved in, but here are some: She was an adult leader for Rainbow Girls, a 50 plus year member of Order of the Eastern Star and worthy matron of Rob Morris Chapter No. 74 in 1978, an active member of St. Patrick Catholic Church, a volunteer at the St. Vincent de Paul Society, a member of Parsons Soroptimist International, a member of Chapter BS of P.E.O., an active participant in the Parsons Senior Center, a member of Labette Health volunteers and was instrumental in the development of the Labette Assistance Center. These organizations benefited from Marge’s dedication, as she often led or served on their committees or boards, staying active through 2023 before her health began to decline. She made an indelible mark on the Parsons community.
Her passions included card games, especially bridge and pitch. She and her siblings could often be found sitting around the table, as adults, reminiscing about their upbringing while trying to make their opponents go set in pitch. She played bridge with a group of friends once or twice a month and weekly at the Senior Center. Besides card games, Marge was a formidable Scrabble player and could be ruthless while playing Monopoly or Quiddler.
Marge loved to travel. She enjoyed going to market to purchase inventory for the jewelry stores and seeing the sites each city held. She had fond memories of a month-long trip to Alaska via an RV with John and her sister and brother-in-law, Martha and Quinten. Traveling throughout Europe and seeing the places she read about as a child was another highlight.
Marge’s greatest passion, however, was her family and friends. Many Baker family reunions were attended in the last 90 years. Following the deaths of her three brothers, she and her sisters made it a point to spend time together once or twice a year. Besides her children, she was most proud of her grandchildren and great-grandchildren. She was interested in their activities and loved to hear about their accomplishments. If there was an event the grandchildren were a part of, she wanted you to save her a seat.
Marge is survived by her children, Mary (Don) Spradlin, Colorado Springs, Colorado, Judy (Gary) Peterson, Hot Springs, South Dakota, Jane Beyers, Silver City, New Mexico, Joe Troy, Parsons, Charles (Pam) Troy, Fort Collins, Colorado, Natalie (Bill) Roberts, Pomona, Karen (Bobby) Barger, Erie, and Rick Troy, Parsons; 23 grandchildren; 19 great-grandchildren; a sister, Mary Oothout, Des Moines, Iowa; a sister-in-law, Joyce Baker, Barrington, New Hampshire; and numerous nieces, nephews and cousins.
Marge was preceded in death by both husbands, Bob Bullock and John Troy; her parents, Nelson and Thelma Baker; an infant brother, Lonnie; siblings and in-laws, Annabel (Dale) Baugher, Amil (Ilene) Baker, Martha (Quinten) Sterling, Kathryn Ralls, Dick Baker, Lonnie Baker and Eddie Baker.
The family would like to extend a special thank you to those who provided assistance to our mother/grandmother this past year, including her physicians, Labette Health, Woodridge Estates and Presbyterian Manor.
Marge was a person of incredible faith, strength, determination and devotion. Her kindness, compassion, support, attentiveness and encouragement will be remembered as some of her greatest attributes.
She loved being a part of this world. The rosary will be prayed at 5 p.m. Thursday, Nov. 21, at the Carson-Wall Funeral Home in Parsons. Then the family will receive friends from 5:30 to 7:30 p.m. at the funeral home. Mass of Christian Burial will be at 10 a.m. Friday, Nov. 22, at St. Patrick Catholic Church in Parsons. Burial will follow at Highland Park Cemetery in Pittsburg.
The family suggests memorials to St. Patrick Catholic Church and the Parsons Senior Center. These may be left at or sent to the funeral home, P.O. Box 942, Parsons, KS, 67357.
Leave online condolences at www.wallfuneralservices.com.
