Margery Byrne

BYRNE, Margery
Eleanor Little
Former Vice President of Marine Midland Bank
Age 89, passed away peacefully at the Chemung County Nursing Facility on Monday, November 19, 2007. Margery is survived by her loving family: daughter and son-in-law Melody and Steve Spencer of Horseheads, NY; stepson and daughter-in-law Tom and Ann Byrne of New Hampshire and their family; beloved grandsons Jeffrey, his wife, Chrystelle and great-granddaughters Sylvia Marie-Melody and Noemie Marie-Margery Spencer, in whom "G. G." delighted, of Pine City, NY and Lee, his wife, Charity and great-grandson Thomas Edward Spencer, his great-grandfather's namesake, of Apalachin, NY; numerous cousins, nieces and nephews and many, many friends. Margery was a graduate of Van Etten High School and Elmira Business Institute. After working in a variety of positions in Cleveland, Ohio at the George P. Little Co. (her father's firm) and in New York City, she began her local banking career in 1946 at Elmira Bank and Trust Company, which later became Marine Midland Bank of Southern New York. In 1949 she was promoted to secretary to Charles A. Winding, Chairman of the Board – a position she continued to fill until his death. In 1962, she was elected the bank's first female Corporate Secretary, and then its first female Vice President ten years later, which earned her recognition in Who's Who in America. Margery was also honored in 1966 as Secretary of the Year of the Glider Chapter of the National Secretaries Association, of which she served as Vice President from 1964-1966, and then President in 1967. Margery was also active in the Elmira Little Theatre for many years, serving as president in 1951. Margery resided with her daughter and son-in-law for the past nine years, enjoying remarkable good health and creating a legacy as family correspondent extraordinaire, remembering birthdays, anniversaries and all other notable events with greetings written in her own beautiful hand. Her gracious manner in all circumstances followed her throughout a variety of medical crises beginning this past June, and all who encountered Margery grew to love her as we do. Heartfelt thanks to her caregivers from Home Sweet Home Care, Arnot Ogden, St. Joseph's Rehab, and the 5th Floor of the CCNF. Margery was predeceased in 2000 by Thomas Edward Byrne, her loving husband of 47 years and former Star-Gazette Sunday Editor and Chemung County Historian. Family and friends are invited to call at the McInerny Funeral Home, 502 W. Water St., Elmira, NY on Friday, November 23, 2007 from 2:00-4:00 PM and 6:00-8:00 PM. A service celebrating her life will be held on Saturday, November 24, 2007 at 2:00 PM at the First Presbyterian Church, 1054 W. Clinton St., Elmira, NY., with her pastor, Rev. Betsey Crimmins, officiating. In lieu of flowers, please consider donations to the Living Endowment Fund at First Presbyterian Church.