Published in the April 20, 2018 edition
MELROSE — Marion Frances (Crosier) Ewell, 88, a longtime resident of Melrose, passed away peacefully on Friday, April 13, 2018 at Bear Hill Nursing Center in Stoneham.
Marion was married to the late Philip L. Ewell for 36 years before his early death in 1984. Marion was born in Waltham on November 14, 1929, one of two children of the late William W. and Edith Marion (Winslow) Crosier.
Marion graduated from Winchester High School in 1947 and received her associate degree. She also took additional classes at Bentley College. She began her career as secretary to Dr. Alan Hackett at Missions Council of the United Church of Christ in the mid 1950’s and early 1960’s. She then became assistant to the executive for the Board of Directors in Boston for Pierce College in Athens, Greece.
She later became human resource director for XTRA Corp. for over 30 years.
Marion lived in Melrose for over 55 years. She and her husband Phil, a World War ll and Korean War Veteran, enjoyed taking their children camping to various campgrounds around the country. They later bought a camp in Maine where they spent many springs, summers and falls enjoying the lake and surrounding area.
With a love for travel, she visited Europe several times, took several Caribbean cruises and went to Bermuda, Hawaii and China. She loved gardening, flowers and birds and was known as the “bird lady” by many of her friends for all of the different birds she fed.
Marion was a member of the First Congregational Church for over 50 years where she was a member of Circle 4. More recently, she was a member of Faith Evangelical Church.
Mrs. Ewell was a member of Melrose Chapter No. 14 of the Order of Eastern Star for many years. She was Past Worthy Matron for three terms.
She started and ran the chapter’s lobster roll sales for over 12 years.
She was Fraternal Correspondent for one year, and also Deputy Grand Marshall to the MA Grand Chapter of Eastern Star for one year. She also served as secretary to the Melrose Masonic Trusts for many years.
Marion was also member of Melrose Arts and Crafts Society for over 15 years and taught some of the classes. She worked as kitchen coordinator for several years and for many years worked as the chairman of the Friendship committee.
Marion helped establish and coordinate the Christmas International Program in Melrose to give foreign students from colleges around the country a place to spend Christmas during the college break. She coordinated housing and had several who stayed with her.
She also organized the trips the students took to Boston and Cambridge to see the sights. She traveled to China with close friends to visit one of the students, Jia, who had stayed with her and became a dear friend.
Up until six years ago, Marion was a volunteer for Melrose’s FISH program. She drove local residents to doctor and hospital appointments, including taking some of the residents into Boston. For a few years she also volunteered once a week at the Milano Senior Center teaching seniors how to use a computer, send emails and send pictures.
Marion loved all of her many friends whom she kept dear to her heart.
The Ewell family wishes to express a heartfelt thanks to the special nurses, social workers, and aides at Bear Hill Nursing Home for their care during the past many months and her times at rehab.
Marion was the beloved wife of the late Philip L. Ewell with whom she shared 36 years of marriage. Devoted mother of Joanne Runne and her husband Brian of Lynn, Sheryl Whitted and her husband Dennis of Winchester, IN, and William Ewell of Ripley, ME. Dear sister of the late William “Wade” Crosier. Cherished grandmother of Jeremy Whitted, and his significant other, Megan Neal of Houston, TX, Melinda Whitted-Lytle of Winchester, IN, and Brian Runne, II and his significant other, Jasmin Icay of Las Vegas, NV. Loving great-grandmother of Jasmine Lytle and Carson Lytle. Also survived by sister-in-law Connie Fennema, and predeceased by mother and father-in-law, William Frederick and Ethel (Clark) Ewell.
Relatives and friends will gather in honor of Marion’s life during visiting hours at the Robinson Funeral Home, 809 Main St., Melrose on Tuesday, April 17, from 4 p.m. to 8 p.m., and for her funeral service on Wednesday celebrated at 10 a.m.
Donations in Marion’s memory may be made to the Animal Welfare Society, P.O. Box 43, W. Kennebunk, ME 04094, or to Tiger Creek, P.O. Box 4968, Tyler, TX 75912. For directions or online tribute visit RobinsonFuneralHome.com
