Marjorie Ellen "Marge" (Smith) Abel

**THE LOCATION FOR THE LIVE STREAM HAS BEEN CHANGED FROM THE BRADFORD-O'KEEFE FACEBOOK PAGE TO THE ST. PAUL UMC FACEBOOK PAGE.** Marjorie Ellen "Marge" (Smith) Abel, 95, of Ocean Springs, Mississippi, passed away on Tuesday, January 12, 2021. She died peacefully, from old age, with her daughter Susan at her side, at the end of a long and happy earthly life. She was born to Orus Frederick and Eliza Araminta (Hill) Smith, July 20, 1925, in Hudson, Michigan. Marge grew up in Flint, Michigan, where she loved spending time with friends and roller skating. She met the love of her life, the late Albert Reed "Abe" Abel, a student at the General Motors Technical Institute, while skating. Abe and Marge were married in 1943 in Pensacola, Florida, where he was stationed in the Navy. They settled in Michigan after the war, where they worked, farmed and raised their family. They retired to sunny Southern Texas, and finally settled in Ocean Springs. She was preceded in death by her brother, Orus Charles (Catherine Izett) Smith of Mount Clemens, Michigan, in 1972, and by her loving husband of 66 years Abe in 2010. She is survived by her four children: William Abel (Mary Meyer) of Mokena, Illinois; Susan Fink (Rudy) of Ocean Springs, Mississippi; James Abel (Virginia Papay) of New Market, Maryland; and Joseph Abel of Paris, Michigan. She was the proud grandmother of 6, and great grandmother of 12. Marge loved reading, particularly science fiction. She was an avid "rock hound," collecting beautiful stones wherever she travelled. She loved flowers, and birds, and time spent traveling and outdoors. When nearing retirement, she and Abe took up square dancing and they spent many nights at clubs near and far. She loved spending time with her family, and with her St. Paul's Halfway Home Sunday School class. As her health declined, the wall full of family pictures in her bedroom was her constant joy. Everyone who met her spoke of her smile, and the stories she loved to tell. Family and friends are invited to a memorial service to be held on January 22, 2021 at 12:00 noon at St. Paul United Methodist Church, 800 Porter Avenue, Ocean Springs, MS. The service will also be live streamed (as well as available for viewing later) on the Facebook page of St. Paul UMC. Visitation for family and friends will start one hour prior, at 11:00 AM. The family is grateful for the love, prayers and support of all who have known Marge. The care provided by Crystals Place and Notre Dame Hospice greatly eased her last days, and are appreciated beyond words. Interment will be at a private ceremony in Michigan in the future.