Marjorie Ellen Conger was a force for joy. She could find the upside in just about any situation — cloudy days always had a patch of blue somewhere, and if she was tired at the end of one, it was because she had worked hard getting something worth doing finally done.

Her joy was not the Pollyanna variety. It came from a genuine understanding of what happiness looks like — not manufactured or superficial, but found in the beauty of things that often aren't perfect. For Marj, perfection was rusty, sometimes cracked, or maybe had seen better days, but still useful. Well-worn simply meant well-loved, and that went for objects and people alike.

Born Marjorie Watson on March 13, 1937, in Spingfield, Massachusetts, she was raised by her grandparents on a farm. At 18, fresh out of high school, she bought an airplane ticket to visit her mother in San Diego, California. There she met Miller R. Conger, then a Private in the Marines. Their first date had been arranged by her mother, who thoroughly approved of this handsome, 6'2" young man from Olustee, Oklahoma. After a long walk along the Balboa Park promenade, Marj had developed blisters from the borrowed heels she'd worn, so Miller picked her up and carried her the rest of the way home. Less than a year later, on November 19, 1955, they were married at Camp Pendleton.

The following year, Miller and Marj began their family, welcoming daughters Marla and Micki in close succession. Miller took a job with Shell Oil Company on the seismograph and exploration crew, and over the years the Conger family moved a total of 25 times, with children Miller Dean, Marie, and Matthew arriving along the way.

In 1968, the family settled in Gaylord, Michigan for nine years, becoming active members of Gaylord First United Methodist Church. They were then transferred to Yukon, Oklahoma in 1978. During this period, Marj pursued and earned her nursing degree, taking a position as an LPN at a Breast Cancer Screening Center in Oklahoma City. In 1982, the family relocated to Houston, Texas, where Miller eventually retired after 33 years with Shell.

In 1991, they made their final move together, to Flower Mound, Texas, where they became active members of Trietsch United Methodist Church. Sunday School Class was the highlight of Marj's week, but she also found so much joy and community in Baptism Quilters, Heart Ties Quilters, Mozambique Silent Auctions, MAD Camps for Inner City Kids, Trietsch RV Group and recently worked on Rise Against Hunger.

In 2020, at the height of COVID, Miller passed away suddenly, leaving Marj to find her footing. But true to form, she found that blue patch in the sky. After several housing repairs she set out with her daughter, Marla to find a new place. Together they discovered RiverWalk Flats, where she enticed a hand full of friends to join her, and built a vibrant new community — playing Bridge, Hand and Foot, and Chair Volleyball, sharing meals at the Senior Center, and filling her new home with the imperfectly perfect things that brought her such joy.

On April 9th, Marjorie went to be with her husband, Miller R. Conger, and her two sons, Miller Dean and Matthew Guy Conger. She is survived by her daughters, Marla Rae Conger, Micki Gaye Lacker, Marie Ellen Murphy, and their children, and grandchildren.

Marjorie had this note, written to herself, on her desk: "If you expect to be happy, healthy, and fulfilled in your life, then likely it'll work out that way — and isn't that worth a try?".

We think she did a pretty great job.

In lieu of flowers, we encourage you to please donate to a few causes that were near and dear to her heart:
National Park Foundation:
https://Nationalparks.org

Plant a Tree:
https://shop.alivingtribute.org/

Malala Women's Education:
https://Malala.org