| FEBRUARY 28, 2011 -- Marion Beecher was Secretary of Winchester Grange for over 50 years, Lecturer of Mountain County Pomona for just as long, Secretary of the Connecticut State Grange for 32 years (plus 12 years assisting State Secretary Ellsworth Covell), Secretary of the Connecticut Agricultural Fair for 36 years, Material Coordinator for the Connecticut Granger for many years, and leader of the Mountain County Choristers and the Connecticut State Grange Choristers... the list goes on and on. In 2010 Winchester Grange was pleased to present her with her 70 year seal... she wouldn't want you to do the math.
If the late Donald Peck was considered “Mr. Grange” by many, then Marion Beecher could easily be considered “Mrs. Grange.” (And yes, I can hear Marion laughing off that title). For all that knew Marion, there were only two things most important to her... Bud and her beloved Grange.
Even after all of her difficulties with health in recent years, the Grange remained so very important to her. She was one of the few residents at Laurel Hill Healthcare to have her own telephone. With that phone she was able to keep up on all of the news around the state and feel connected. She really missed writing her monthly “Marion’s Memos” and “Miscellaneous” columns for the Granger. One day last November she called and asked if there would be interest in printing a new column featuring pictures and short histories of some of the more notable members of the State Grange through the years. “Do You Remember” started running in the December issue and she was so excited to have Grange work to do looking up photos and writing the accompanying articles.
After “retiring” as Secretary of Winchester Grange, she continued writing the famous Mini-Letters that all members receive at each meeting along with the “Annual Letter” sent to the members to “gently” remind them to pay their dues. In her letter last month to Winchester members she said, "I am able to do the mini-letter for every meeting, which is a source of satisfaction to me as it makes me feel 'a part,' and also as though I am helping a bit. And you know I'm nosy and want to know everything that is going on."
For so many years I relied on Marion to write these articles to honor the many distinguished members that have gone on before us. She was a wealth of information about so many people and things. She will be greatly missed by all.
I recently spent some time talking with Bud and he said several times, “We had a lot of fun together, a lot of fun.” I think everyone who knew her could say the same. |
