Atascadero Historical Society

By Atascadero News Staff

Marj Mackey

A memorial service will be held on Friday, May 29 at 10:30 a.m. at the Community Church of Atascadero United Church of Christ, 5850 Rosario Ave. Rev. Susan Brecht will officiate. A reception will be held immediately following in Fellowship Hall.

Marj was born in April 1921 in Lewistown, Mont., the eldest child of Frank and Ola May Hogeland. She graduated from Fergus County High School in 1939. After graduation, she worked various clerical jobs in the area. In 1942, Marj moved from Lewistown to Los Angeles to work at Lockheed in the clerical pool. At Lockheed she met her future husband, John C. Mackey, after he returned from serving in the Army in the South Pacific during World War II. They were married on Sept. 7, 1946 in Lewistown, Mont. in Marj’s parents’ home, which she had owned since she was 21.

They continued to work at Lockheed until John was hired by the state to be an accountant-auditor in the Department of Employment in Sacramento. Their eldest daughter, Marjorie “Candy,” was born there in 1948. Soon after Candy was born, they moved to Riverside where they lived for 13 years. Their son John was born in 1951 and their youngest daughter, Melinda “Dean,” in 1954.

They moved to Atascadero in 1961 when John was transferred to San Luis Obispo County. They moved into a colony house on Bajada Avenue, where their children grew up. They immediately got involved in girl scouts, boy scouts and PTA. Soon after they moved to Atascadero, they joined the Community Church of Atascadero and were members until their respective deaths.

In 1965, Marj led a group of citizens to save Atascadero founder, E.G. Lewis’ estate, which was where Vons currently stands. They did not succeed in their attempt and the buildings were burned to make room for Williams Bros, which was not built for another 10 years. Out of that attempt, the Atascadero Historical Society was formed. Marj served on its board until her resignation in April. The society’s museum was first opened on Sept. 16, 1967 in what is now the City Administration Building.

Marj worked at the Santa Margarita Library as a librarian and was a substitute librarian at the Atascadero Library, which was then located in the City Administration Building.

Before the days of postcard voter registration, Marj was a registrar of voters and got paid 10 cents for each person she registered. She also worked in the election office during the time of getting ready for an election. She worked there from 1970 to 1976.

Marj served on Atascadero’s advisory committee for 11 years and ran for a seat on the City Council the first year the city had the opportunity to vote for incorporation. Incorporation failed and Marj was the ninth highest vote-getter out of 31 people running for the five open seats. In 1979, incorporation was on the ballot again and passed that time, with Marj being the third-highest vote-getter and being the only female council member on the five-person council. Her first term was for three years and she served a total of 11 years on the council. She served as the first woman mayor in 1983 to 1984 and served as mayor again in 1986 to 1987.

Marj has been known as a tree protector and a big believer of recycling. She served on the traffic committee after Barbara Norris asked that there be a citizen representative on it.

Marj founded the Atascadero Land Preservation Society in 1989. From ALPS, Atascadero Native Tree Association was formed. Marj is well-known for planting native trees in Atascadero and hauling around milk jugs full of water to water the seedlings to be sure they survive in Atascadero’s hot weather.

A testament to Marj’s character is that in the month before her death, she started Friends of Stadium Park from her bed.

Marj is preceded in death by her husband, John, and her brother Jim Hogeland.

She is survived by her sister and brother-in-law, Nancy and Fred Wagner of Seattle; her children and their spouses, Candy and Jim Hood of Kite, Ga., John and Rosann Mackey of Grass Valley, and Dean and Larry Young of Ellinwood, Kan.; grandchildren and their spouses, Steve Hood of Los Gatos, Ken and Nikki Hood of Walnut Creek, Tom Hood of San Jose, Jason Mackey, Joey and Jenn Mackey and Jeff Mackey, all of Grass Valley, Heather Young Curry of Atascadero and Tyler and Jen Gray-Young of Kansas City, Mo.; great-grandchildren, Juliana and Joshua Hartman and Lucas and Logan Mackey, all of Grass Valley, Kyne and Cameron Hood of San Jose and Amalia Young of Atascadero; and many cousins, nieces and nephews around the country.

In lieu of flowers the family asks you to contribute to the Friends of Stadium Park, P.O. Box 940, Atascadero, CA 93423, Atascadero Historical Society, 6600 Lewis Ave., Atascadero, CA 93422; Atascadero Land Preservation Society, P.O. Box 940, Atascadero, CA 93423; or to go out and plant an oak tree in her memory.

Comments are closed.