Margaret Mary Gillem

Marge was born in Portland, Oregon on July 25, 1933, to Minnie A. Gillem and Charles T. Gillem. She grew up in Milwaukie, Oregon across the street from St. John the Baptist Catholic Church and School and was a lifelong parishioner. She later attended Milwaukie High School, which was also across the street from her childhood home.

After graduation, she went to work for the Catholic Youth Organization where she worked for six years. She then received an appointment from the FBI in Portland, Oregon in 1958 and worked at various jobs during her 31-year career. For the last 15 years with the agency, she served as an Investigative Clerk, where she assisted Special Agents in tracking down fugitives by obtaining background information. She was instrumental in the Agents’ arresting many fugitives.

Upon retirement she embarked on her passion for travel. A portion of every paycheck went into the “fun pot” travel fund. She first took a retirement cruise to New Zealand and Australia. She traveled extensively with her childhood friend and FBI colleague Lois Manning. Another goal was to see the US - which was completed with a visit to their last state of North Dakota. They took four major driving trips across the lower 48. A trip to Hawaii in the early 1960’s became an annual winter trip for many decades. In Europe they visited 20 countries during four trips of two months each. Marge also loved playing basketball and softball, including playing shortstop for the Milwaukie team in a woman’s regional softball league. She and Lois also attended the games of Notre Dame, Green Bay Packers, Boston Red Socks and others. Go Irish!! They also had season tickets to University of Portland women’s soccer matches. Go Pilots!!

She was preceded in death by her older brothers and sisters, Virginia Ann Gallinger, Charlotte Eloise Earlson, George Thomas Gillem, Mary Frances Shindler and John Bernard (Jack) Gillem. Her 14 nieces and nephews, their spouses, children, and their children all adored her.