Marion Waterman, 93, a longtime resident of Greenfield, Massachusetts, passed away peacefully on September 21, 2013 at Bedford Falls in Bedford, New Hampshire, following a period of declining health.

Marion was born on April 29, 1920 in Brattleboro, Vermont, to Eli and Ada (Burkhardt) Bruce. Three brothers predeceased her. She graduated from Greenfield High School in 1938, and loved attending her class reunions and seeing her many friends.

In 1940, she was married to James B. Waterman, Jr. in Greenfield and was married for 60 years before his passing in 2000.

Marion’s travels took her to Miami, Florida, in 1940, where she and her husband owned a business. They moved back to Greenfield during World War II but managed to revisit Florida each year as their break from winter weather to enjoy Spring Training baseball and fishing in the Florida Keys. She was an avid Red Sox fan, having been a season ticket holder for close to 40 years.

Beginning in 1947, Marion and her husband James were the co-owners of the FH Brown Toy Company on Federal Street in Greenfield. Their summers were spent at Lake Wyola in Shutesbury, Massachusetts. Together, they retired from Brown’s in 1984 and spent winters in Haines City, Florida.

Marion often spoke of the many fond memories of multiple generations of local families she was privileged to assist at Brown’s. Those memories were indeed cherished in carrying her through her later years. Thank you to her many friends for all their support for so many years. She loved her friends’ kids and babies and could remember each and every one. Each time she would visit her family members, she would leave by saying, “Good-bye, Kids!”

Among Marion’s surviving family members are her granddaughter Karen Niemyer, husband Scott, and children Jesse and Garrett of Andover.

Funeral services were held on September 26 in Greenfield. Burial followed, beside her husband, in the Green River Cemetery in Greenfield.

At Marion’s request, donations may be sent to VNA Hospice, 1070 Holt Ave. Suite 1400, Manchester 03109; your local chapter of the American Cancer Society; or the Franklin County Sherriff’s Office, Regional Dog Control and Adoption Center, 2 Sandy Lane, Turners Falls MA 01376.