Margie Ann Hengst Ewen

1923 - 2023

Margie Ann Hengst Ewen, at the age of 100 years and 10 months, began a celebration of life with her Lord and Savior. Margie was born March 23, 1923 in Exeter California to Golda Gilcrease and William E. Hengst. Margie attended grammar school and high school in Exeter graduating in June of 1941 . She then went on to four years of college at UCLA, majoring in Home Economics attaining a Bachelor of Science Degree and a minor in Physical Education. She was a self­driven person, very creative, hardworking, and always achieving at the highest level.

Upon completion of college she embarked on an early career with Southern California Gas Company as a Home Economist from 1945-1957 in Southern California. On Feb. 1, 1947 she married Alan Douglas Ewen in Los Angeles. During the next 20 years Margie and Alan had the great fortune to be involved in many unique experiences in a variety of locations. A couple years were spent in Lake Tahoe as executives with the 1960 Winter Olympics at Squaw Valley Ski Resort, Lake Tahoe. Next, they were in Mill Valley, Marin County where Margie was president of Mill Valley Art Club and served as the SF Bay Region campaign chairperson for the Reinecke, Lt. Governor race. Next, they moved to Sacramento wherein she began her second career as a Realtor with Coldwell Banker Allied Realtor from 1977-1999. Even with her busy schedule she was involved with the American Cancer Society, Sacto Girls Club, Sacramento Symphony and numerous philanthropic organizations along with organizing many social and civic events.

They spent a few years in Lake Havasu City, Arizona before returning to the Sacramento area more specifically, Fair Oaks, California for a number of years. Upon retiring they moved to Three Rivers where Margie again designed and oversaw construction and landscaping, as she had done on a number of their previous residences, of the Skyline Drive home in Three Rivers. One of the most unique and notable residences she completed was the "Pavillion" in Fair Oaks, which was featured in Comstock Magazine. Upon their return to Tulare County (what she called her real home), and in typical "Margie-style" she became very involved and active in her community. Margie dedicated time to serve on the Tulare County Grand Jury for two terms, and was heavily involved in multiple civic organizations including the Three Rivers Woman's Club (serving as president), and the Three River's RedBud Garden Club {also president for a couple terms). Margie was also a board member holding various officer positions on the West Mineral King Cabin Owners Association and spent much of her time volunteering and spearheading numerous other civic and landscape projects, i.e.; the sign on SH 198 at Horse Creek, Lake Kaweah, landscape design and oversight at the new Fire Station in Three Rivers and new landscape at the Cal-Fire Station on Lovers Lane at Walnut Avenue in Visalia.

A couple stops to change over to fresh water including one overnight they then arrived back to the Granite cow camp subsequently planting the fish in Upper and Lower Granite Lake, Eagle Scout Lake and the associated streams below. Infrequent trips over many years confirmed the success of the plantings, Margie personally attesting the same on a few pack trips over the decades; she caught some beauties.

Noting the above details it can easily be seen how the Hengst genes carried into Margie's life and love was for all things Mineral King. Her fond memories while growing up of camping at Atwell Mill with her mother, grandma Gil, sisters and cousins fishing, hiking, exploring, backpacking and then owning a cabin in 'Faculty Flat' West Mineral King beginning 1977 – 2018, where she, as time allowed, was found hosting guests, landscaping, reading, relaxing and thoroughly enjoying her Sierra Nevada Summers till she couldn't. Again, as was Margie's nature, of course, she volunteered as a Park Ranger Assistant at the Cold Springs Ranger Station, WMK helping visitors with information, maps, permits, etc. and not surprisingly always gracious and quite knowledgeable. She was a natural in her 'Park Ranger Uniform' and green 'Forest Ranger Hat' which both remain in the old cabin along with her favorite fly-fishing pole and old bamboo fish creel.

Margie was an extreme lover of cats from her time as a young girl through nearly her entire adult life. From the mid-1960s to 2014 she typically had multiple Persian or Himalayan cats (her kiddies) of course each astutely named and treated like children or be it said 'like royalty.

Margie Ann's life was amazingly lived to the fullest. A consummate lady who gave of herself unselfishly with grace and pleasure.

Margie and Alan never had children but she enjoyed her nieces and nephews, great-great-great nieces and nephews, her cousins and other extended family.

Margie was preceded in death by husband, Alan D. Ewen, parents Bill and Golda Hengst, older sister June (Hengst) Maze and brother-in-law Robin Kauling. Surviving Margie are her sister Wilma Kauling and daughter (niece) Kim Kauling of Three Rivers, cousin Jeff (wife Karen) Gilcrease of Lemoore, cousin Lowell Hengst of Exeter, cousin Robert (wife Linda)Hengst of Woodlake, nephews Dr. Daniel and brother David Ewen of Kentucky, nieces Claudia Huff of Rancho Mirage, Donna Phillips of Exeter, Pamela (Jim) Pyle of Exeter, nephews E.W. 'Bill' (wife Becky) Maze of Visalia, John (wife Marti) Maze of Idaho, Louise McFetrige (sister) of Idaho and Marie Dalrymple (sister) of Maryland and families. The Family extends our appreciation and thanks to Bristol Hospice Care for their sincere, orderly and excellent services they provided. A celebration of life will be held February 18, 2024 from 1-4 PM at the Veterans Memorial Building in Three Rivers on East SH 198. Lite refreshments and cookies will be served, Please attend and plan to share stories, memories and your pictures of Margie. No formal presentation will take place. Donations to your choice of the Mineral King Preservation Society, Three Rivers Woman's Club or Three Rivers RedBud Garden Club as a remembrance are appreciated. Online condolences to www.salseranddillard.com.