Marna Jean Wooldridge

Marna Jean Wooldridge, 92. passed away in the early morning hours of Wednesday, July 14, 2021 while at Herrin Hospital. Born December 2, 1928, to Wayne Lawson and Helen (Lashbrook) Lawson in Huntsville, Illinois. Survived by: Brother Charles Runkle, her 4 sons Steven, Michael, Jace and James Wooldridge Daughter in Law Sharon Wooldridge and future daughter-in-law Darlene Frye Grandchildren Nicholas, Kaci, Abby, Ethan Wooldridge, Nathan Ellison, Tara Ellison, Lori Beth Meadows and future grand daughter Jordan Frye 2 Great Grandchildren Theodore (Theo) Sheets and Sway Wooldridge 2 Great Great Grandchild Rowyn Ronquille and Braysen Wooldridge and close family friends Connie Sieveking and Susan Simmons. She was preceded in death by grandson Jason Lee Wooldridge When only 7 years old, Marna's father died suddenly, leaving a huge void in her young life. She went to live with her grandparents, on a farm. They had animals, which she loved,.... all except a "mean-old" rooster that would chase her around the yard if she got too close. She would spend her days with horses, Topsy and Patsy Montana, who could do tricks. There was also a cow she rode around like a horse. She was a tom-boy. Picture "Scout" in the movie, To Kill A Mockingbird. As a young woman in her 20's, Marna played golf and was athletic. At the time she worked as a telephone operator in Peoria, Illinois. She would remember these as some of the best years of her life and made life-long friends there. Marrying, and moving to Ottawa, Illinois, she had four children, all boys. After several years there, she and the family moved to Wichita Falls, Texas. But after only one year in Texas, the marriage dissolved. Marna packed up and moved all 4 boys back to Illinois to raise them on her own, this time in a little town called Energy. Times were tough for women in those days, and tougher still with 4 boys in tow. She took any Job she could get. One was at a fast food restaurant in Herrin called the "Moo and Cackle" .... another was on the factory floor of Olin Matheson. She would come home in her steel toed shoes and collapse in exhaustion. Eventually, she landed a job at the Veterans Hospital in Marion as a key punch operator and telephone receptionist. After more than 20 years there, she decided to retire early so she could move to Colorado and help raise two of her grandchildren, Kaci and Abby. Her life always centered around her children and grand children. Although Marna didn't belong to a particular church, she would often drag her sons to a Baptist or Lutheran church. This, in an effort to instill in them the importance of God, Jesus Christ, and christian values. Years later, she was pleased to see that many of those lessons were not lost on them. Marna was always ready to lend an ear, offer encouragement, share some of her down to earth wisdom.... or share a laugh with. She was always focused on someone other than herself. She was one of those people that others were drawn to because deep down, you knew she really cared about you. If you did know her, then you were lucky. And I was one of the luckiest of all, because I called her Mom. Services will be Sunday July 18, 2001 at Van Natta Funeral in Herrin at 3:00 pm and visitation will be from 1:oo pm until time of service at the funeral home.