Marjorie J Chiles

Marjorie J Chiles (Marje) was born on February 13, 1933, in Lynn, Massachusetts, and passed away at age 91 in Kirkland, Washington on June 6, 2024.

After graduating from Swampscott High School in 1950, Marje attended Burdett College, in Boston, Massachusetts, after which she worked for General Electric and met her husband William (Bill) Chiles in Cincinnati, Ohio.  They spent the early years of their marriage in Peabody and Swampscott, Massachusetts, later moving to Woodinville, and Kirkland, Washington.

Bill worked in the aerospace industry as a design engineer. Marje started a travel agency, Travel MC, in Woodinville Washington. She traveled to all 7 continents and many countries around the world.

In retirement, Bill and Marje moved to Oak Harbor where they could easily go boating in the San Juan and Gulf Islands.

Marje was a dynamic businesswoman, a world traveler, and a lover of learning. At age 89, she succeeded in her ambition to visit all of the world’s continents, visiting the final continent on her bucket list on a cruise to Antarctica. Above all, Marje adored her family, which counting spouses, numbered close to 45, instilling in them a love of travel, knowledge, trivia, and card games. She took an active interest in the lives and careers of her children. Marje was well-loved by many, not only her beloved family but also her childhood and high school classmates and close friends she made on Whidbey Island.

 She was preceded in death by her beloved husband, William (Bill) Edward Chiles, her parents, John S. Cryan and Margaret A. Cryan; her sister, Barbara Puopolo; her grandson, Adam Becker; and her much-loved dog Ray.

She is survived by her children: Laura Boyes (Dick), Tracy Becker (Mike), William Jr. (Debbie), Becky Backstrom (Guy), and Robert (Kathy), and by her niece, Lee Stemler (Karl), grandchildren, great-grandchildren, and many nieces, nephews, and cousins.

The family would like to thank Cogir of Kirkland for their staff’s kind care during her last months.

Please join her family for a Celebration of Life for Majorie Chiles

July 28, 1-4 pm 

 Dugualla Bay Clubhouse Maplewood Loop Oak Harbor

 Light Lunch

Marjorie will join her husband at Tahoma National Cemetery in Kent, Washington.

In place of flowers, donations may be made to the American Heart Association