Marilyn Stark

1924 - 2015

Born February 18, 1924 Died May 12, 2015 Marilyn Jean (Giertz) Stark, 91, of Elgin, now Portland, OR, passed away peacefully with her eldest, devoted and loving daughter by her side on May 12, 2015 in Portland. Mrs. Stark spent her working career in the fashion industry. Most of that career was spent as a manager/buyer at the Joseph Spiess Company in downtown Elgin, Illinois. She always stated she wanted to die on the floor wearing a fabulous, classy outfit with her "Spiess Sales Manual" in her arms. She took much pride in "fitting" everyone so they could look their very best. Mrs. Stark started the "Miss Elgin" department back in the 1960's and organized live fashion shows throughout the Joseph Spiess Department store. Mrs. Stark's step-father, Harry Gustus Lagerstrom was a pillar of the community and held great status at the Joseph Spiess department store. Her Mother, Florence Lucille (Morgan) Lagerstrom, owned a small antique store near the Brody coat factory in Elgin back in the 40's and 50's. Mrs. Stark was born in Elgin, Illinois and graduated from Elgin High School. She was a life long member of The Episcopal Church of the Redeemer. Mrs. Stark's grandfather and uncles, the Morgan's, were among the men who dug out the church basement by hand, back in the 1930's. The Morgan families were one of the original founding church families. Mrs. Stark grew up on Congress Street. Growing up, she was practically surrounded by her entire family who lived on the same block, dubbed "Morganville". Her Grandparents, William Morgan and Susan (Cole) Morgan owned a farm on Bent St. with the home still standing today. One and two doors down from the original farm home lived her uncle, Walter Morgan and aunt Alice (Morgan) Lindner with their families. Upon the death of her grandparents, the farm home was then occupied by her Aunt Helen (Morgan) DeWitt and family. Mrs. Stark's grandparents originally came to Elgin from England, to find employment at the Elgin Watch Factory. Many of the Morgan's were watchmakers and jewelers. Her uncle, Leslie Lindner held an office at the watch factory for years and her uncle Pete Morgan was a watchmaker/jeweler as well. Following in their path, daughter, Beth Davis, received her jeweler's certificate in the 1970. On the corner of Bent Street and Illinois Street, "The Little House" was built. Mrs. Stark and her first husband, William McFarland Davis, lived there during and after WWII. During the Great Depression, other Morgan family members also habited that location just to survive. The story goes, that during the depression, children threw vegetables at the house as a Halloween prank. The Morgan family gathered all the smashed vegetables and prepared a stew. "Morganville" also built homes on Illinois Avenue and George Street between Congress Street and Bent Street where Aunts and Uncles and their families lived for decades. Mrs. Stark married Bruce R. Stark, Sr. and lived on Oakdale Drive. Bruce was the owner and President of Starro Precision Products in Elgin. They enjoyed traveling to many places including much of Europe, China, and Egypt to visit her daughter, Kathee, who taught school in both Germany and Cairo and is a world traveler. Kathee has recently retired after teaching special education for 36 years. Mrs. Stark lived in Elgin for the majority of her life and was very much entwined with the love and history of Elgin. She moved to Portland, Oregon to be close to her eldest daughter in 2008. She made many Oregon friends, attended many community and cultural functions and enjoyed many a "happy hour" with Kathee and her friends. She loved her family deeply and missed them and her Elgin friends to the end. Mrs. Stark was proceeded in death by her parents, Elmer (Emmie) George Giertz and Florence Lucille (Morgan) Giertz Lagerstrom, her first husband, William McFarland Davis and her late husband Bruce Robert Stark, Sr., her son, Michael William Davis, her step-daughter, Sharon Lynn (Stark) Mousley and her grandson, Dacey C. B. Armstrong. Survived are her daughters, Kathleen Jean Davis of Portland, OR and Beth Ann Davis of Abilene, TX, her step-daughter, Susan Kay (Stark) Winter of Elgin, her step-son, Bruce (Biff) Stark, Jr, her daughter-in-law, Lana Smith Davis of Naples, FL, grandsons, Scott Michael Davis of St. Louis, MO, Bradley Michael Davis and his wife Kirsten of Bartlett, Christopher L. D. Armstrong of Abilene, TX, Robert Winter of Elgin, Jason Winter of Elgin, David Jan Mousley of Wisconsin, along with her great-granddaughter Finley Davis of Bartlett. A funeral service will take place at the Episcopal Church Of The Redeemer, 40 Center St., Elgin, IL. beginning at 10:30 followed by a gravesite prayer at Bluff City Cemetery. In lieu of flowers, the family asks that donations be made to the charity of your choice. Laird Funeral Home, Elgin is in charge of arrangements. 847-741-8800 or www.lairdfamilyfuneralservices.com.