In Memory
Marjorie McGhie McRae Klingman ’57

1935 – 1999

Reflections from Forrest Klingman.

Clockwise: Marjorie McGhie McRae (top), Jill McRae, mother Louella McGhie amd Ann McRae. Photo taken in 1996.

Marjorie Ann McGhie was born September 1, 1935, in Minneapolis and grew up in Rochester, Minn. Once at Macalester, she graduated with a degree in Education and also met and married Kermit McRae. She taught grade school in Illinois before settling in Roseville, Minn. Marjorie continued to teach for close to 30 years before retiring in 1997. She was more than a devoted mother to daughters Jill (46 and a police officer in St. Paul, Minn.) and Ann (42 and a sales representative in Green Bay, Wis.). Marjorie became their hero. Her diagnoses with cancer forever changed many courses of lives. She continued to teach those around her how to be courageous with her quiet determination to fight a very difficult and scary disease. Marjorie met and married Forrest Klingman, a gentle man equal to her character in kindness and generosity. They spent the last few years of her life traveling, visiting with friends, volunteering and loving and caring for each other.

Marjorie’s life can simply be described by what was important to her: her family, her church, her students, her college and college friendships, maintaining a sense of humor, cheering for the underdog, collecting mugs, cotton candy and her unconditional love. Marjorie had intended to live a much longer life with still much to accomplish, but she quietly passed away on August 26, 1999. Her life and memory have forever changed the many who knew her.