Marjorie Elaine (Grimm) Evanson, 95, of Brant Beach and Princeton Junction, NJ, died on October 2, 2012, following a short illness. She lived previously on Long Beach Island, Fair Haven and Little Silver, NJ.

Marjorie was born in Newton, NJ, on October 19, 1916. She earned her RN degree in 1934, a BA in Education in 1971, and a Masters in Special Education in 1973.

During the course of her life she worked as hospital nurse, psychiatric nurse, office nurse, public health nurse (Sea Bright, NJ), special education teacher (Long Branch, NJ) and school nurse (Barnegat, NJ), retiring at the age of 81. She was particularly proud of helping to open the first half-way house (group home) in NJ for mentally ill individuals in the early 1960s.

She was known as Margie to her many friends and Grammie or Nana Margie to her grandchildren and great-grandchildren. She was a woman with remarkable energy, varied interests and a positive outlook on life. She enjoyed knitting, beading, sewing, crafting, reading novels, playing with her great-grandchildren and socializing with her numerous friends of all ages. She was a true animal lover and had rescued many pets. Margie had a true "green thumb" cultivating an incredible orchid collection.

She had been an active member in the Long Beach Island Garden Club, Brant Beach Home Owners Association and Brant Beach Yacht Club. She helped her husband, Edward Evanson, found the Brant Beach Homeowners Association.

Marjorie was predeceased by her husband, Edward (Red) Evanson, her daughter, Sandra Guinan and her grandson, Robert St. John. She is survived by her daughter, Dustra Lee Weinstein (Melvin), her grandchildren, Joanna Lee Partridge (Lukas), Michael Jacob Weinstein (Kirsten), Evan Scott St. John (Tiffany), Stacy Robbins (Scott), and Christopher St. John, as well as 10 great-grandchildren.

A memorial service will be held at 3:00 PM on Saturday, October 13, 2012 at Holy Innocents Episcopal Church in Beach Haven, NJ.

In lieu of flowers, please send donations to: Holy Innocents Episcopal Church, Marine Street, Beach Haven, NJ 08008 or Humane Society, Pop Corn Zoo, P.O. Box 41, Forked River, NJ 08731-0043.