Marjorie Clearwater

1933 - 2017

On Feb. 10, 1933, in Boise, Marjorie Alice Tegnell was delivered into the world by her grandma, Minnie, and to the welcoming arms of her parents, Floyd and Melva. It was the midst of the Great Depression, and the family relocated to Idaho Falls in 1936 as Floyd sought better prospects for work. Marjorie's brothers, Jim and Steve, were born in 1940 and 1944 respectively, completing their family circle.

Attending Riverside Elementary and O.E. Bell Junior High, she graduated from the former Seventh Street location of Idaho Falls High School in 1951. While in high school, Marjorie worked part-time as a switchboard operator for the Hotel Rogers, and the opportunity to meet travelers from other places honed her interest in the world outside her small community.

An era of change arrived in Idaho Falls as 1949 brought the National Reactor Testing Facility (NRTF) to the desert west of town. Working in the security clearance office of the NRTF contractor Westinghouse, Marjorie met Edwin Roemer of Ohio, who was a trainee in the nuclear Navy program of S1W - prototype for the first atomic-powered submarine, the Nautilus. The two were married and Ed's next assignment took them to the submarine base in New London, Connecticut.

Marjorie inherited a love for history from her mother, and a keen sense of the history being made in New London at the time that she took a secretarial position at Electric Boat, the contractor building the Nautilus. Working for a liaison officer on the staff of Admiral Rickover, she had opportunity to come into contact with the dynamic man known as the "Father of the Nuclear Navy." She retained a lasting appreciation for the seafaring past of the Mystic-Waterford area and hoped for an opportunity to enjoy its rich history once more in her lifetime.

Marjorie and Ed's daughters, Becky (1954) and Sally (1957), were born at the New London submarine base. Following the completion of Ed's naval service, the Roemer family returned to settle in Idaho Falls in 1959. It was shortly after that return when Marjorie began to invest serious effort in developing her artistic talents. Joining the budding local art guild, she took every chance to learn from area mentors as well as those who traveled to Idaho to conduct workshops. She soaked in instruction from notable artists, such as Hayward Veal (Australia), Conrad Schwiering (Jackson Hole), Milford Zornes (California) and Sergei Bongart (Russian impressionist).

At the encouragement of her friend and mentor, Ina Oyler, Marjorie began to assist Ina in teaching art classes locally and to display her work in the guild's art shows. After Marjorie and Ed divorced in 1972, she began a period as a full-time artist, operating White Pine Gallery in downtown Idaho Falls for five years.

Second husband, Little Bear "Al" Clearwater, shared a creative streak with Marjorie and lent his Native American crafts to White Pine's offerings. Their marriage was brief as he was tragically killed in an accident in late 1973.

Artistic pursuits took a secondary role as Marjorie re-entered the mainstream workforce, and for a number of years, was an administrator in the low-level waste department of INL contractors EG&G and Lockheed. Following retirement from the INL, she enjoyed part-time work that left her time to again pursue creativity with zeal. In addition to her primary work as an oil painter, she enjoyed watercolor, and in later years, worked with wood to create bird carvings. She founded the Snake River Plain Air Painters to share the pleasure and challenge of on-location landscape painting. Coming home with a horse fly or mosquito stuck to your canvas is a badge reinforcing your authenticity!

Marjorie lived her life to the fullest with passion and was always encouraging others - gently or not so much - to reach their potential. In addition to the world of art, she enjoyed reading, travel of any kind, Friday night Scrabble with the family and her furry four-legged grandchildren. Rescuing and lovingly maintaining her unique country home in Ucon, she drew pleasure from her quiet little community and enjoyed her good neighbors.

Mom passed away on March 4, 2017, from a stroke and chose to exit as Willie sang "Always on My Mind" in the background. She is survived by her daughters, Becky Roemer and Sally (Jeff) Perry, and brother, Jim (Marianne) Tegnell, all of Idaho Falls, in addition to two step-grandchildren and four step-great-grandchildren residing in California. She was preceded in death by her parents, husbands and brother, Steve Tegnell.

Many people attended to Marjorie in her brief final days, and the family is especially grateful to Tiffany Hollist at EIRMC, Hospice of Eastern Idaho and the Hospice Home caregivers, Lisa, Bucki, Sedera and Dawn. In memory of Marjorie, she would be honored by a contribution to your local art organization of choice, a local humane society/animal shelter, Hospice of Eastern Idaho or Idaho PBS.

A celebration of life will be held from 2 p.m. to 5 p.m. with remembrances at 3 p.m. April 8 at the Idaho Falls Elks Lodge, 640 E. Elva St., in Idaho Falls. Condolences may be sent to the family online at www.woodfuneralhome.com.