Marie Wilson

Wallestine Marie Lucille Brady was born in Hutchinson, Kansas to parents Alexina and George Wallace Brady on May 20th 1914. She was named Wallestine after her father, but she never took to the name Wallestine. With her character to never settle for anything she did not want, she legally changed her name to Marie as an adult. She was the middle child of Alexina and George. She had two brothers, George and Ralph, and three sisters, Adaline (nickname Toadie), and twins Francis and Henrietta. Her work ethic was impeccable, which started very early in her life. When she was a child, she worked as a beautician. Her father, recognizing her skill with hair, built her a salon with a burner on the back porch to do hair. She pressed and curled the hair of all the church ladies in Hutchison, Kansas. After attending and graduating from Hutchinson High School in Hutchinson, Kansas, she left to attend college at Lincoln University in Jefferson City, Missouri. It was in Missouri that she met and eventually married George Foster. From this union was born their only child Shirley Marie. She was a devoted mother and loved doting over her only daughter; making sure that she always had access to the best life could offer. One of the many things she gave her daughter was a professional photo session after Shirley was disappointed with her high school graduation picture. The portraits still hang in Marie's room to this day. As with any couple there were ups and downs with her marriage, which ended in divorce. She then moved back to her parents' home in Kansas. Her devotion to her daughter, parents and siblings was always a priority. Her other devotion was music. She was a beautiful lyric soprano singer. At Saint Luke's AME church in Lawrence, Kansas she shared her musical skills with the congregation as the director of the church choir. She met her second husband, Woodley Wilson, while back home in Kansas. Not long after they married and moved to Denver, Colorado. Marie worked at the May D & F in Accounts Payable until she retired in 1976. Her grandchildren, great grandchildren and great-great grandchildren brought great joy to her life. Her strong disciplining voice was a foundation of growth to all of them through the years. She was also their biggest cheerleader and supporter. Without her involvement in their lives, none of them would be the people that they are today. Her daughter says that she was always fastidious, energetic, determined and bossy. "I, along with many others, never came up to her standards with cleaning and housekeeping". She never settled for anything she did not want. Her expectations with others were always made politely clear. Work was always woven into the fabric of her life. Even after retirement she focused on earning money for her household, working for many years as a childcare provider at her home. We thank both the Smith and Allison families for their continued love and support for Marie many years after she finished caring for their children, present in her life even in the weeks before she passed away. Marie was affectionately called "Rie-Rie" by the children she cared for, which is the nickname she came up with for them to call her. Her own great grandchildren and great, great grandchildren adopted the nickname for her also. Marie Wilson's beautiful journey for 102 years on this earth was released with her last breath on June 20, 2016. Her family is so grateful for all of her years with them. We have been blessed to spend so much time with her. We will move forward in life with her memory, lessons and voice in our hearts. Marie is survived by her daughter, Shirley Gentry; three granddaughters, Alison Gentry, Suzanne Gentry, Teri Gentry; great niece and nephew, Ralph & Shelly Johnson; 7 great grandchildren; 4 great, great grandchildren; the nieces and nephews of the Theus family; a host of other relatives and friends. We love you and miss you!

Funeral Home: Pipkin Braswell Funerals and Cremation - 2050 Uinta Street, Denver, Colorado
Visitation: 7/8/2016 at 12:00 PM - Pipkin Braswell Serenity Chapel - 6601 East Colfax Avenue, Denver, CO
Service: 7/8/2016 at 1:00 PM - Pipkin Braswell Serenity Chapel - 6601 East Colfax Avenue, Denver, CO
Cemetery: Ft. Logan National Cemetery- - - Denver, CO