On Friday, March 1, 2024, our beloved Nana, Marygene Fagan, passed from this world to the eternal afterlife. Marygene possessed a beautiful, left-brained soul. She was passionate about all of life's wonders, especially those that are best enjoyed without precise instructions: family, reading, writing, poetry, storytelling, traveling, cooking, all types of animals, and of course clothes.

Her adventurous spirit led her to the American West, Europe, Africa, Asia, and Central America. Marygene was equally at home in a spartan tent or a luxurious hotel. As an animal lover and world traveler she searched for gorillas, bears, birds, buffalo, elk, moose, and lions, among others. She adored her pets - dozens of cats and dogs - over her lifetime.

Marygene loved the beach. She dragged Jim to the beach whenever she could. For many years, they made Ocean City, New Jersey their Christmas home. In Ocean City, Marygene reveled in her favorite pastimes: cooking, decorating, and entertaining.

She volunteered voraciously as a drama teacher, director, and actress in numerous community productions and as the coach of high school gifted and talented teams competing for regional and national titles.

Marygene grew up in St. Marys, Kansas, graduated from Benedictine College, and later earned a master's degree from the University of Kansas. Among the many schools she blessed with her creativity were Leavenworth High School, Swift Creek Elementary in Chesterfield Virginia, and Seoul American High School in Seoul, South Korea. She was an avid reader, writer, and published poet.

Marygene is predeceased by her parents Maurice and Regina Coleman of St. Marys, Kansas, and her beloved husband LTC James F. Fagan, US Army Ret., and her many cherished aunts, uncles, and cousins. She is survived by sons of her first marriage, Brian Perry and Kevin Fagan, and their spouses, Debra Perry and Elizabeth Fagan. She is also survived by her treasured step-daughters, Heidi Fagan Anderson and Nicole Fagan Kimble, their spouses Todd Anderson and Shawn Kimble as well as grandchildren, Nicholas Perry, Michael Perry, Conor Fagan, Caitlin Fagan, Molly Fagan, Owen Fagan, Cameron Kimble and Courtney Kimble.

A celebration of Marygene's remarkable life will be held in the late spring or early summer in New Jersey, where friends and loved ones may come together to honor and remember an extraordinary woman who touched the hearts of all who knew her. Though she may no longer walk beside us, her spirit will live on in the cherished memories we hold dear.

Rest in peace, dear Marygene. May your soul find eternal peace as you embark on your next great adventure.

In lieu of flowers, please do something kind for a stranger.

To plant trees in memory, please visit the Sympathy Store.

Published by The Times from Mar. 14 to Mar. 15, 2024.

Memories and Condolences
for Marygene Fagan

Sponsored by Eickenhorst Funeral Services.

2 Entries

Janet A. Pearl

March 8, 2024

My late father, Bob Pearl, was Marygene's first cousin and although she was 12 years younger than him, they had a lot of fun memories of growing up in St. Marys Kansas. Their friendship carried over into their adult years and we always had a good time visiting Marygene and Jim with lots of stories and plenty of laughs. The highlight of visits was when my parents went to see the Fagans in South Korea where Jim was stationed in the Army. They were wined and dined, had tailor-made suits and shoes fitted, and shopped up a storm with Jim "negotiating" the lowest prices possible at all times and Marygene leading the way to all the fun. She had a zest for life that was contagious when you were in her presence. God bless her beautiful soul and I'm sure she's leading the social activities in Heaven already!

Gerry Lou Marstall

March 6, 2024

My first Memory of my cousin Marygene is when she would visit my parents. Later is when she would be visiting her parents. In the Summer of 1985 she hired me take of her parents in their home so they didn't have to go to a nursing home. After her Dad passed in 1986 Marygene set up a trip to Virginia, Washington DC, New York and Connecticut. For 3 weeks I took her Mother to travel around and meet relatives. She had a plan for almost every evening and weekend. I caught the traveling bug from her and a treasured cousin. My Dad and her also were close cousins. With every visit there was always an adventure, lots of laughs, and stories.
Sending hugs and prayers
Sincerely,
Dan & Gerry Lou

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