Marjory Gay Nelson Wade died on March 27, 2026.
She was born two months prematurely on May 17, 1929 to Jack O. and Marjory L.R. Nelson in Portland. She joined older sister, Patty Joy.
After growing up in Portland and Welches and graduating from Roosevelt High School in Portland in 1947, Gay attended Oregon State University in Corvallis where she met Grant Wade in April 1949 at a Sigma Nu house dance. They became engaged in July 1949 and were married in Portland on Aug. 28, 1949. Grant graduated from OSU later that fall, and they then moved to a wheat and cattle ranch in Gilliam County near Clem. They raised five children, living on the ranch in the summer and in Condon during the school year.
After the children were raised, they spent several winters in Yuma, Ariz., where Gay started using Marjory rather than Gay. Grant passed in January 1993; Marjory had moved to The Dalles before Grant passed, but they had remained married.
She started to collect dolls, attended many doll conventions across the country, and sewed clothing, purses and doll clothes. She also worked as a dietary aide at Mid-Columbia Medical Center.
A few years later, Marjory met Forest Pool whom she married on April 4, 1998. From The Dalles Marjory and Forest moved into Willamette View Manor in Portland in 2001. She and Forest did a lot of traveling, especially to Cabo, before he passed in November 2019, missing the COVID pandemic and leaving Marjory a widow yet again. She continued to sew and do jigsaw puzzles while living at Willamette View Manor until her death on March 27, 2026.
She is survived by her children, Kathy Gay Peal (Bill) of Pendleton, David A. Wade of Clem, Marianne and Barbara Wade, both of The Dalles, and Ronald
Grant Wade (Tina) of Pasco; nephew, Rob L. Wade (Becky); nieces, Nancy J. McElligott (Pete), Sarah L. Edwards (Ron), Susie Storm and Sally Bowron; stepson, Duane S. Pool; and two stepdaughters, Deborah J. Hawley and Sharon L. Erskin. She is also survived by numerous grandchildren, great-grandchildren, great-nieces and great-nephews.
She was preceded in death by her parents; one sister; two husbands; niece, Janet Wade; and two nephews, Steve and Dan Schalles.
Services were held on April 17.
Please leave your condolence messages for the family at https://www.sweeneypaytonmortuary.com/.
Sweeney Payton Mortuary has been entrusted with the arrangements.
