Marjorie D. Buys | Eastern NC Now

Born: August 01, 1922, Died: April 11, 2015

    Marjorie " Marj" Della Dawe Buys, age 92, a resident of Bayleaf Plantation, Washington, died Saturday April 11, 2015 at her home.

    A memorial service will be held 2:00 p.m. Thursday April 16, 2015 at Ware's Chapel United Methodist Church and will be officiated by Pastor Joan Fischer.

    Marj was born in Forestville, CT on August 1, 1922 to the late John J.G. Dawe and Rosa Ada Baldwin Dawe. She grew up in Forestville, CT and attended Bristol High School. She also attended adult courses in creative writing. On December 30, 1939 she married William "Bill" Day Buys in Swanzey, NH.

    During their child rearing years, Bill and Marj were active in the Burlington CT Congregational Church where they led the youth group known as the "Christian Teens" for over ten years. Marj enjoyed teaching her children how to sew, knit and crochet. She also loved teaching her children about nature and took them on many outings to explore the countryside where they lived. She was very fond of yellow colored cats and owned many over the years. Bill and Marj were avid square dancers for many years and members of the Farmington Valley Square Dance Club.

    As an enthusiastic quilter Marj made many quilts for her family. When each of her children had been married for twenty-five years she made them an anniversary quilt each with a unique design. As the "greats" came along Marj presented each one with a crib quilt.

    After Marj retired from Heublein, Inc., in Hartford, CT, they moved to Hamburg, MI, where Bill worked several years before retiring to Columbus, NY. They were very active in the Columbus Community Church. Marj became a correspondent for the Sherburne News and the New Berlin Gazette. After Bill's death Marj moved back to CT and rejoined her church in Burlington CT. In 2006 she moved to NC to spend time with her terminally ill daughter and ended up residing there.

    Marj was a member of the Pamlico Quilters Guild for many years. She was also a member of Ware's Chapel United Methodist Church and attended Sunday school there. She also enjoyed being a member of the Red Hat Honeys and the Grace Martin Harwell Senior Center. When she was in her late 80's, she taught herself to use the computer and enjoyed many hours emailing friends and family, playing solitaire and scrabble.

    During her later years Marj loved to travel. She spent time each year visiting different family members throughout the country. She always looked forward to those visits, as did her family. She made friends wherever she went and is fond of all of them. Marj also cherished the love and support of her Bayleaf Plantation family.

    Survivors include, two sons, William T. Buys and wife Barbara of Harwinton, CT, Seth A. Buys and wife Tanya of N. Little Rock AR; two daughters, Karen Smith of Shreveport, LA, Martha Hika and husband Gene of Ft. Myers, FL; seven grandchildren, Carrie Howe and husband Fred, William T. Buys, Jr. and wife Tricia, Colleen deBres and husband Arthur, Michael Rees and wife Tammy, Candra S. Upton and husband Eric, Jennifer Harden, Peter Hika and wife Chris, Kate Lavy; eighteen great grandchildren, Robby Mickle and wife Amanda, Michael Rees, Jr. Al deBres, Lila deBres, Daniel deBres, Wilma deBres, Lindsey Howe, Spencer Howe, William T. Buys III, Mallory Buys, Taylor Harden, Cassandra Harden, Jake Hika, Alison Hika, Cage Buys, Rachel Lavy, Luke Lavy, Harley Gilbert; one great great grandchild, Mackenzie Mickle, and several nieces and nephews.

    Ms. Marjorie is preceded in death by her husband of 61 years, a daughter Wilma Rees, a granddaughter Tina Gilbert, two sisters Ruth Boyd and Edna Tuttle, a brother John Dawe, and a son in law Glen Smith.

    In lieu of flowers memorial contributions may be made to the Ware's Chapel United Methodist Church Building Fund, 2788 N. Market St., Washington, NC 27889.

    Condolences may be made online by visiting www.paulfuneralhome.comily.