Marion Margaret Benson's Obituary
Marion Margaret Edwards Benson passed away Sunday, February 22, 2015, at her residence at Lake Cherokee surrounded by her family, at the age of 65 following a lengthy illness. A memorial service will be held at 3 p.m. Sunday, March 1, 2015, at First Baptist Church Longview. A private family interment will take place at Rosewood Park Cemetery in Longview under the direction of Rader Funeral Home of Henderson.
Marion was born July 29,1949, in Nipawin, Saskatchewan, Canada. The 3rd child of Crawford Edwards and his wife, the former Margaret Wall, both of Saskatoon, Saskatchewan, Canada.
She married Bryan Emerson Benson of Saskatoon in 1970 and graduated from Nursing School at the Saskatoon Institute of Applied Science that same year. Marion and Bryan moved to Longview in 1975 so Bryan could complete his Aviation degree at LeTourneau University. In 1994 she earned her Bachelor of Science in Business Management from LeTourneau University. Marion was employed as an RN for Longview Regional Hospital, East Texas Gastroenterology Associates, and then served as the Executive Director of the Good Shepherd Ambulatory Surgical Center since its inception in 1993. Marion was promoted to Vice President of Good Shepherd Health System in 2007. Under her leadership, the ASC was recognized for exceptional performance by state and national healthcare accrediting agencies, as well as excellent patient satisfaction reports. Marion truly loved and respected her colleagues at the ASC and within the GSHS.
Marion and Bryan reared two children, Stephanie Dayle and Travis Brooks. Marion was active at First Baptist Longview and loved her “Friendship” Sunday School class, was an accomplished and dedicated professional, and was a loving encourager to those around her. She had a passion for scouting French antiques, enjoyed outdoor activities including golf and spending time on the lake, and doing whatever her grandchildren wanted to do!
Marion was preceded in death by her parents, Margaret and Crawford Edwards, Travis’s twin sister Tobi Dawn, who died as an infant, and her brother Grant Edwards.
She is survived by her husband, Bryan; their daughter, Stephanie and her husband, Worth Jackson, of Longview; their son, Travis and his wife, Julie, of Keller; her brother, Donald Edwards, and his wife, Gloria, of Thunder Bay, Ontario; and her brother, Russell Edwards and his wife, Myrnalynn, of Calgary, Alberta. She is also survived by three grandchildren who affectionately called her “Gigi”; Margaret Frances “Meg” Jackson, Samuel Worth “Sam” Jackson, and Addison Brooke “Addie” Benson.
The Benson Family would like to thank Dr. Cary Hilliard and Dr. David English with First Baptist Church, Casey English with Beacon Hospice, Dr. David Barnett, Dr. Isaac Melguizo and the staff of Neuro Oncology and Roberts Radiology with Baylor Dallas, Dr. Bill Taylor with Texas Oncology Longview, Dr. Anita Scribner, Margaret Dodson, N.P., Dr. Robert Davis, and Cara Cline. Thank you Sherry Jones, CC, Andreeka, Charmaine, Vickie, and Trudy for the exceptional care and love you provided to Gigi over the last several years.To friends and family, thank you for your love and support through prayer, cards, meals, and caregiving.
In lieu of flowers, memorial contributions may be made to the School of Nursing at LeTourneau University, P.O. Box 7001, Longview, TX 75607, 903-233-3819 or Beacon Hospice, beacon hospice.net, P.O. Box 5908 Longview, TX 75608.
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