Marge Budworth

Marjorie E. Budworth, 73, known to family and friends as either "Marge" or "Buddy", died at her Gresham residence on May 15, 2010 surrounded by family. Born September 10, 1936 in Monrovia, California, she was the youngest child born to Elmer and Peggy Winkler. She graduated from La Puente High School in 1954 where played both the accordion and xylophone in the school band. Marge married Calvin Budworth on January 8, 1955 and they made their home in nearby Anaheim. Marge was a wife, mother and homemaker. The couple later divorced. In 1964 Marge moved to Portland. Marge always wanted to be a nurse and she began her career working in local nursing homes. In 1977 she graduated from Mt. Hood Community College with her RN degree. Her score on the state boards were among the highest, beating out those of her future son-in-law Ronald! For over 15 years she worked at Providence Medical Center in Portland as an R.N. in ICU and the ER. On November 7, 1976 she met Guylund Mapes, then a patient in Providence Hospital. They were united in a ceremony of commitment in Portland on February 25, 1978. They made their home in the infamous Bledsoe/Budworth/Bledsoe home on Bush Street in southeast Portland until it burned down (thank you, Mr. Coffee). In 1979 Marge and Guylund moved to Newport, Oregon. Residing in nearby Beverly Beach Marge learned to crab and boat and became proficient in creative home remodeling. Marge worked for the Lincoln County Health Department where she was in charge of adult health programs. Marge returned to Gresham in 1982 to be near family. Together with Guylund she operated an adult foster care home specializing in complex medical and mental health issues. She also was employed for 3 years at the Portland VA Medical Center in ICU. In 1986 she was diagnosed with multiple sclerosis but this hardly slowed her down. For the ensuing 20 years she was a nurse for Mt. Hood Hospice, known for her dedicated care to patients and their families alike. She was proud to be the author of "Hospice Referral & Care: A Practical Guide for Clinicians" written for physicians to give them a better understanding of the role hospice plays. The publication was frequently known as: "Doctors get your head out of your rear." Known for her uncanny ability to whip up a wonderful home-cooked meal at a moments notice, Marge was not well known for her ability to follow traditional medical advice, calling her own shots until the end. Her hobbies included family, golf, family, flowers, family, fishing, family, boating, family, bowling and family. She pretended she could knit; loved her canine companions (who often went with her on hospice visits); was known to make an occasional visit to Reno; and she lived life to the fullest until eternity called. This past September she, Guylund and her sister Betty traveled to Italy for the trip of a lifetime, visiting Barcelona, Venice, dipping her toes in the Aegean Sea and spending her birthday at a casino in Monte Carlo, Monaco. Besides her partner Guylund of Gresham, Marge is survived by her daughter Elizabeth (Ronald) of Chinook, WA; sons Dennis (Barbara) Budworth of Gresham and Michael (Rhonda) Budworth of Portland; grandchildren Lindsey Hylton, Geoff Hylton, Misty (Andy) Pomeroy, Alyssa (Brian) Gonzales, Darcy Budworth, Eric Budworth, Corey (Laura) Budworth, Danielle (J.R.) Robling, Sara Budworth, Carlie Budworth and Zach Budworth; great-grandchildren Dezeray, Dominic, Devan and Will, sister Betty (Charles) Bledsoe of Portland; and brother Bud (Joan) Winkler of Kokomo, Indiana. Celebration of her life will be held Wednesday, May 19,, 2010, 1:00 PM at Gresham Funeral Chapel with a luncheon reception following. The casket will be open at the chapel 11 AM until 1 PM Wednesday. Private niche placement will be at River View Cemetery Mausoleum in Portland. Those wishing may make memorials to the hospice of their choice. Marge's guestbook is available at www.penttilaschapel.com.