Margie Ann Morin

1949 - 2025

Margie Morin could hitch a horse trailer to her pickup, sew an apron and, for good measure, bake a killer cake.

She sang and played the piano, knocked pins down at the bowling alley, rescued animals from shelters and farms, and volunteered for many causes and organizations, notably the Elks.

She adored her family, in particular her three grandchildren, and was the kind of person who gave her son-in-law the keys to "Betsy," her beloved Chevy, as a birthday gift. The next day, she rolled up in a bigger truck.

Funny, loyal and fiercely independent, Margie died Sept. 19 at Queen of the Valley Hospital from complications related to falling from her horse. She was 75.

Margie Ann Matheson was born on Dec. 14, 1949, at Parks Victory Memorial Hospital in Napa to James and Jean Matheson.

Jim was a World War II Navy veteran who later drove a Teamsters truck. Jean worked as a certified nursing assistant at the Yountville Veterans Home. The couple lived next door to Jim's parents at the family's Carneros ranch.

The eldest of five, Margie sewed her own clothes and often did chores before going to school. She learned the value of hard work growing up on the ranch, and the healing power of horses, a passion she clung to the rest of her life.

Margie attended Carneros Elementary and Ridgeview Junior High Schools before graduating from Napa High School in 1967.

On June 23 that same year, she and Henry Joseph Morin were married in Austin, Nevada.

The couple had begun dating after Hank spotted Margie on horseback. Slowing down in his car, he called out to ask whether he could ride, too.

"That was pretty much it," Margie recalled.

Margie was a janitor working the graveyard shift at the Yountville Veterans Home and helping raise the couple's two children - December and Clinton - when she enrolled in Napa Valley College's nursing program. She earned her degree in 1983.

Margie worked at the Veterans Home for nearly three decades before retiring as a nursing supervisor. The family was then living in Carneros, down the road from the Matheson ranch.

Margie relished having a stable and taking her horses on her family's camping trips. A favorite getaway was Kyburz, along the south fork of the American River.

Margie was Hank's primary caregiver after he suffered a major stroke in 2001 until his death in 2018. The couple lost Clint in a vehicle crash in 2004.

Through it all, Margie found support in family and friends, in pursuing her many interests and hobbies, and, as always, while riding.

"Trail riding, camping out and communing with my horses keeps me centered," she wrote in an online profile for Napa High alums.

Margie loved road trips and traveling to farflung places. Most recently, she and a friend cruised the Panama Canal this year.

Margie performed with the Sonoma Valley Chorale in many holiday productions, and she was often called upon to sing the national anthem.

After joining the Napa Elks Lodge in 2021, Margie quickly ascended the ranks of elected officers, and at the time of her death, held the title of Esteemed Leading Knight.

Participating in Elks enabled Margie to pursue her passion of helping others on a greater scale by organizing volunteers and drives to benefit charities in the area.

For her dedication and efforts, the Elks recognized Margie as its 2024-25 Officer of the Year.

Margie also researched family genealogy to gain membership in Daughters of the American Revolution.

Margie is survived by her daughter, December Moore, her husband Derek, and their children, Jack and Claire, of Napa, as well as a grandson, Alex Morin of Hayward, and daughter-in-law, Sandra Rock, and her husband Michael, of Ione, Calif.

She also is survived by siblings Charlie Matheson (Mary Lee), of Smartsville, Calif.; Ben Matheson (Linda), of Feather Falls, Calif.; and Janice Owens (Allen), of Salmon, Idaho, as well as numerous nieces and nephews.

One brother, Bob Matheson, preceded Margie in death.

The family extends its sincerest gratitude to staff at the Queen's Intensive Care Unit for their care and compassion in caring for Margie.

She will be interred in a private ceremony at Tulocay Cemetery Funeral Home and Crematory in Napa.

In lieu of flowers, the family suggests donations in Margie's name to the Veterans or Scholarship funds at the Elks National Foundation (https://www.elks.org/enf/), or to your favorite animal rescue organization.

A celebration of Margie's life will be held at 2 p.m. on Sat., Nov. 15 at Napa Elks Lodge.

To share an online remembrance, please go to www.tulocaycemetery.org.