, 93, passed away at Banner Baywood Hospital in Mesa on Aug. 28, 2015, after a short illness. Marie was born in Pauls Valley, Oklahoma on Sept. 8, 1921. She and her family moved to Arizona in 1938. She met George Townshend and they were married January 21, 1940. They moved to Ray in 1946 and, then, moved to Kearny in 1963.
Marie was employed by Kennecott Copper Corporation as a secretary in the Ray Mines Industrial Relations Department for 24 years. She was a charter member of the American Legion Auxiliary John H. Pruitt Until 18 and served several unit positions as well as District President. She was a member of the Pythian Sisters, Professional Secretaries Association and Church of the Good Shepherd in Kearny. She lived in Mesa and Silver City, New Mexico prior to moving to Florence in 2013, with her son Jack. She enjoyed yard work, reading, working word search puzzles and music, especially going to Karaoke, when it was held in Kearny.
Marie was preceded in death by her husband of 62 years, George; an infant daughter, Mary Alberta; her parents, George and Hazel Davidson. She is survived by her son, Jack Florence; daughter, Nancy Wilkinson of Kearny; grandsons, Earl Cummings of Washington and Scott Wilkinson and his fiancee Penny Sherman of Fairbanks, Alaska; and great-grandchildren, Kyndra Cummings of Casa Grande, Jack Cummings of Payson and Crystal Cummings of Washington; sisters: Melva Geare of Hurricane, Utah and Lorene (Bill) Welch of Longview, TX.
Graveside services will be held Sept. 18 at Valley of the Sun Cemetery in Chandler.