Marion Glassey

Hastings resident, Marion Lucille Glassey, 100, of Perkins Pavilion, died Saturday, December 15, 2007; at Perkins Pavilion.

Private family interment prior to memorial service in Parkview Cemetery. Memorial service will be Thursday, December 20, 2007; 11:00 A.M. at First Presbyterian Church Chapel with Rev. Dr. William Nottage-Tacey officiating. Book signing will be Wednesday, December 19, 2007; 9 A.M. until 5 P.M. at the funeral home. Memorials may be given to Hastings College Scholarship Fund.

Marion Lucille Fabrique Glassey was the eldest of three daughters, born October 10, 1907 to Olive Mae Kelso, a teacher, and Henry Louis Fabrique, a blacksmith. She grew up in the small towns of south central Nebraska, graduating from Nelson High School in 1925. Although money was not plentiful, her childhood was rich. From her parents, she learned to be discerning in her judgment of all things, to appreciate beauty in life, especially through the arts, and to treasure her heritage. Her mother had come to Kansas as a child in a covered wagon and lived in a sod house before moving to Nebraska. Her father was descended from a long line of French Huguenots who arrived in America for "liberty of conscience". She was proud of her pioneer roots and her French Huguenot ancestry.

Through the generosity of her aunt and uncle, Mr. & Mrs. A.H. Jones, she attended and graduated from Hastings College in 1929. It was there that she met her future husband, John R. Glassey, who was at the time a professor of religion at the college. She taught for a time at Farnum before their marriage, and then returned to Hastings where her husband continued at the college.

During WWII, when her husband was an Army chaplain in the south pacific, she traveled across the U.S. with her two young sons by army convoy to live in Californian for the duration. After the war, the family lived in Omaha, where Rev. Glassey was a minister at Benson Presbyterian church and later served as Superintendent of the Omaha Home for Boys until 1953. Later, the Glasseys lived in Gresham and Gibbon where Rev. Glassey served as minister before returning to Hastings in 1956 where Rev. Glassey worked for the Hastings College Alumni Association.

Mrs. Glassey was for many years a respected and beloved teacher of English literature at Hastings High School. Following her retirement in 1973, Mrs. Glassey's library/sitting room became a sort of "salon" for family, friends, and many former students who would enjoy long and lively conversations. Topics ranged from race cares to Western history, from Pavarotti to the latest rock and roll group, from dogs to the Latin origin of a particular word. And of course, all things French!! Drop in visitors were frequent and Mrs. Glassey was always delighted to see her former students and guests.

Those privileged to be in her circle of friends and family will hold in their memories the image of her sitting in her chair in the library/sitting room, surrounded by her books and original artwork, asking thought provoking questions and telling her wonderful stories. Her memory for quotations and recall of events has always been amazing. We will treasure her example of a deep enthusiasm for life, all 100 plus years of it. "Tout passe Tout s'efface hors le souvenir."

Mrs. Glassey was preceded in death by her husband, the Rev. John R. Glassey, and by two sisters, Lois (Ray) Trenholm and DeEtta (Al) Orr.

Survivors include:
Sons & Daughters-in-law: Stephen Fabrique & Maxine Glassey - Gulnare, CO
John Timothy & Candis Glassey - Kendrick, ID
Several Nieces & Nephews