Marjorie Miner, 97

Marjorie (Marj) was born June 22, 1927, in Tulsa, Okla., and passed away at Holly Lake Ranch, Texas, on Aug. 4, 2024, at the age of 97.

She is survived by her children, Betty Stewart and her husband, Bill, Clayton Derish and wife Mary Lou, Tyrone Derish and his wife, Linda, Jim Miner and his wife, Heidi, and Casey Miner and his wife, Vicki. Her grandchildren are Ted Reynolds, Eddy Reynolds, Fred Reynolds, Charlie Clayton Derish, Chris Derish, Travis Miner and Cimone Sherman. She has many great-grandchildren. Her family and many friends will miss her.

At a very young age, Marj knew that God was in her life, and she dearly loved the song “In the Garden.” She understood her purpose for living was to help free people from the slavery of big government. Marjorie began her mission in 1936 at age 9 when she supported Republican Alfred Landon for president, opposing Democrat incumbent Franklin D. Roosevelt. She understood Socialism’s evil intent to replace freedom with tyranny and poverty. Marjorie graduated with a BSc Degree in Secondary Education with a composite major in Political Science, History, and Sociology and a Minor in English and Physical Ed. While in college, she was a member of the International Relations Club and a strong advocate for Military Installations in Alaska. At age 21, she registered to vote as a Republican and voted in every election since. She served as a Block Worker, Election Judge, Chairman of the Shoshone County Republican Central Committee, Chairman of the ID Legislative District IV, Chairman of ID Region I, Vice-Chair of the ID Republican Central Committee, and Chairman of the ID Republican State Central Committee. She was the first female to be the Idaho State Republican Party Chairman and served on the National Executive Committee. Marj was the first president of the Shoshone County Republican Women’s Club, founded in 1963. She was a delegate to the 16th Biennial NFRW Convention and participated in a goodwill trip behind the Iron Curtain, including the Soviet Union, West and East Berlin, Poland, Hungary, Romania, Austria and France. She ran for a Senate seat in the Idaho State Legislature in a Union-dominated and heavily Democrat County and lost. Marj was a Delegate to the 1972 Republican National Convention in Miami. She was a Reagan Delegate to the 1976 Republican National Convention in Kansas City. She participated at the Institute of Politics Conference of State Party Chairmen at the JFK School of Government at Harvard University.

During the Reagan administration, she lived in Washington, D.C., and worked in the office of Idaho Sen. Steve Symms. After moving to Arizona, she was president of the Tempe Republican Women’s Club, worked at election polls, served as Precinct and State Committeeman and was a proud member of Ahwatukee Republican Women. In 2011, The Ahwatukee Republican Women created the Marj Miner Scholarship Fund. She moved to Texas and soon joined the Republican Women of Wood County.  Her advice to anyone reading this is, “If you are eligible, GO VOTE ON NOVEMBER 5; your freedom depends on it.”

The family is planning an open house Tuesday, Aug. 20, from 1 to 4 p.m. Please join us to celebrate Marj’s life at 370 Greenbriar Trail, Holly Lake Ranch. The theme is “Everything Chocolate.” Call Casey at 214-763-1327 for a gate pass.