Marj Creswell, 98, died Tuesday, March 29, 2016 at White Manor in Tryon, N.C.

Born in Cedar Rapids, Iowa on July 5, 1917 to Clara Inez Taylor and William Mansfield Deacon, Marj was the fourth generation of a pioneer Cedar Rapids family.

A Coe graduate, she was a member of the Delta Delta Delta sorority. She married Robert B. Creswell on May 8, 1943, in Cedar Rapids, where they settled to raise their family. In 1974, Marj and Bob moved to Tryon, N.C. where they could play golf “almost every day of the year.” They became members of the Tryon Presbyterian Church.

Preceding Marj in death were her parents, her husband, her daughter Corlyn (Corky), and her sister Inez Deacon Lyon.

She is survived by her son, John Deacon Creswell; her grandson, Jeremiah Creswell; her niece, Melissa Lyon Randall; and great nephew, John D. Randall III, and his family.

Marj was a lifelong volunteer. In 2014, she retired after serving 21 years as a volunteer at the Habitat of Humanity re-store in Landrum, S.C. In 1993, she started volunteering at the Polk County Travel and Tourism Visitors Center.  For many years she felt privileged to be able to help children with their reading at local schools. Marj and her blind dachshund, Doxie, frequently visited nursing homes spreading good cheer. In 2008 she was inducted into the Second Wind Hall of Fame.

Her family would like to express their heartfelt appreciation to the staff and caregivers at White Oak for their care and concern for Marj.

At Marj’s request there will be no services.

Memorials may be made to Thermal Belt Habitat for Humanity, P.O. Box 626, Tryon, NC 28782, Foothills Humane Society, P.O. Box 126, Tryon, NC 28782, or Coe College, 1220 First Ave. NE, Cedar Rapids, IA 52402.

An online guest register may be signed at www.mcfarlandfuneralchapel.com.

McFarland Funeral Chapel
Tryon, N.C.