October 21, 1936 – November 14, 2020

Marjorie Lou "Marge" Alamilla, 84, of Prairie Village, KS peacefully passed surrounded by family on November 14, 2020.  She leaves behind a legacy of love and devotion to her family.  Marjorie was born on October 21, 1936 in La Crosse, Missouri to Othia O. Hiles and Wilma Mae (McCullough) Hiles.  Marjorie spent most of her formative years living in NE Missouri where life could be harsh in the country.  She walked to and from a one room school house (Murry School) with her siblings and managed to recover from Rocky Mountain spotted fever as a child.  Marjorie’s childhood provided her many fond memories.  After graduating from high school in Baring, MO she followed her parents to Kansas City and began working first at National Bellas Hess and later as a switchboard operator at International Paper in Kansas City, Missouri.  While riding on the city bus to work, she met her husband Robert Barajas Alamilla and they married on January 28, 1961 in Kansas City, KS.  Together they had one daughter, Jeannette Elizabeth; Marjorie chose to stay home and care for her after she was born.   

Marjorie was preceded in death by her parents; brother Othia Eugene Hiles; sisters Shirley Mae Hiles and Mary Jo Miller; and two nephews.  She leaves behind her husband of 59 years, Robert; daughter Jeannette Klinkenborg and husband Derek (Overland Park, KS); grandson Chad Allen Klinkenborg (Bozeman, MT); granddaughter Katie Lynn Nail and husband Andy (Overland Park, KS); one adorable great granddaughter Eden Grace Nail; sister Madelin Carrol Hardman (Kirksville, MO); five nieces and three nephews. 

Marjorie was known by her family and friends to be an outstanding cook although she was her own worst critic.   She worked and reworked many recipes that live on in her family today.  Holiday meals were not to be missed and you never left her home hungry even if it wasn’t meal time.  She enjoyed picking fresh seasonal fruit to share with family and freeze enough for the year.  Her grandchildren have many memories of outings with her to pick fruit.  Marjorie was an animal lover and enjoyed her toy poodles; she was always willing to do whatever it took to care for animals domestic or wild.  Marjorie treasured the beach spending hours picking up seashells on trips and she loved tending to her beautiful flower gardens and landscaping.

But most of all, Marjorie loved her family and would do anything for them.  She was a devoted wife, mother, grandmother and known as “Nannie” to her grandchildren and those close to her.  Her pride and joy was always her two grandchildren and Marjorie didn’t miss a ballgame, swim meet or any event they participated in.  Whether her grandchildren won or lost their event, they were always winners in her book.  Many friends of her grandchildren knew Marjorie as the “candy lady” because she always had a big bag of candy in her purse and was ready to share.   

Marjorie suffered from Alzheimer’s for the past decade.  She is leaving her body to science and will be remembered with a Celebration of Life to be scheduled at a later date.  In lieu of flowers, the family has requested donations to The Alzheimer’s Association (alz.org/donate) to support research in finding a cure.