Marjorie A. Westphal, a Tryon resident since 1983, passed away September 4, 2010.

Born in Peoria, Illinois, the only child of John L. and Annabel Hart Westphal, Marjorie spent most of her life in Springfield, Ill., until she retired to North Carolina, in fulfillment of a long standing dream. As a young woman she had admired the team of Lulu Belle and Scotty, who were regular entertainers on Station WLS, Chicago. Their occasional references to their home state of North Carolina determined Marjorie to plan for retirement many years later somewhere in that state. The place was determined when she found books written by Jean Hersey which described Tryon and fell in love with the town.

Marjorie was employed as a bookkeeper/secretary for 25 years in a private investment firm, and for the next 20 years by the state of Illinois at the Board of Governors of State Colleges and Universities as a budget analyst for the newly established Sangamon State University (now known as University of Illinois at Springfield).

During her years in Tryon she was active as a volunteer in many civic and educational organizations, as well as in the Christian Science Church, of which she was a lifelong member.

Her survivors include numerous cousins and dearly loved friends.

Cremation rites were accorded, and no funeral is planned.

Memorials may be made to the Christian Science Church, Tryon; Lanier or Polk County libraries; Foothills Humane Society; or the charity of choice.