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GRESHAM -- Nancy Marie Gresham, age 91, a resident of Albuquerque, passed away on Saturday, September 20, 2003. She was preceded in death by her husband of 65 years, George E. Gresham, in 1997. She is survived by her son, William P. Gresham and wife, Shirley of Albuquerque; son, Jack W. Gresham and wife, Clara of Ocala, Florida; daughter, Nance G. Rose and husband, Dr. George Rose of Albuquerque. Other survivors include five grandchildren: Shawn Kirby and husband, David of Atlanta, Georgia; Dr. John Gresham and wife, Dr. Rachel Gresham of San Antonio, Texas; Michelle Rose-Hughes and husband, Kurt of Denver, Colorado; David Gresham of Alton, Oregon; and Dr. Gregory Rose of Albuquerque. Six great grandchildren include: Lauren and Steven Kirby, Madeleine and William Hughes, and Rebekah and Sarah Gresham. Marie was born February 6, 1912, to Cynthia Surber and Marshall W. Smith. The youngest of 11 children, she was raised in the Spring Hill and Des Moines, Iowa area. After marrying her husband, George of Booneville, Iowa, they eventually moved to Harrisburg, Pennsylvania in 1940 where they became proprietors of Dixie Cream and Tender Maid donut businesses. Marie and her husband moved to Albuquerque in 1964 to live close to their children and grandchildren. They soon became proprietors of Gresham's House of Hallmark on Lomas from 1965 to their retirement in 1974. Marie felt she had always lived a very busy and rewarding life as a business woman as well as a nurturing mother. She valued education highly and extolled the accomplishments of her grandchildren whenever she could find a listening ear. One of her proudest personal lifetime achievements was to have updated 82 years of genealogy and published the addendum to John Marsh of Hartford, a family genealogy volume which documents lineage from 1635. She was also blessed to have been baptized in the River Jordan while on a trip to the Holy Land in 1994. Marie's family was her life. A memorial service to celebrate Marie's life was held by her immediate family on Tuesday, September 23, 2003, at French Memorial Mausoleum Chapel at Sunset Memorial Park. Interment followed at the Mausoleum. Honorary pallbearers were Dr. Gregory Rose, David Gresham, Dr. John Gresham, Kurt Hughes and David Kirby.
        Published on: Tue October 21, 2003