Marie Georgia Offen-Harrop

Marie Georgia Offen-Harrop passed away at McCrite Plaza Health Center on Sunday, December 30, 2007, at the age of 93.

She was born in Topeka, April 8, 1914 to George H. and Ada M. Craig Offen. She graduated from Central Park Elementary School, Boswell Jr. High, Topeka High, and Emporia State Teacher's College.

On November 28, 1934, she married Joseph M. Trickett. They divorced in 1946. She married Walter E. Harrop on July 28, 1967. He passed away in 1971.

Marie grew up working in the family business, The Exchange Grocery, founded in the late 1800's by her grandfather Herman A. Offen. In the 1940's it became Offen's Hardware, and she rejoined the business as a cashier and giftware/housewares buyer until it closed as a result of Urban Renewal in 1967. Following the death of her second husband, she worked for several years at the Schaffert Grimes Pharmacy in Holliday Square.

She was a member of the First Presbyterian Church where she volunteered at Let's Help for many years. She was a longtime member of The Knife and Fork Club, The Women's Club of Topeka, and a supporter of The Topeka Civic Theatre.

Her passion was travel. During her lifetime she visited nearly every state in the U.S., plus Canada, Mexico, the Caribbean and Europe. However, her favorite destination was Hawaii, where she went on numerous occasions.

Marie was an avid gardener, with a special fondness for raising roses and iris. She also enjoyed knitting and needlepoint. But perhaps her greatest surprise and pleasure came from discovering in her late 60's that she had a talent for drawing and painting. She particularly enjoyed doing florals and landscapes in oils and watercolors. For several years, she designed and drew her own Christmas cards.

She is survived by her daughter, Dorothy Trickett D'Anna and son-in-law, Russell J. D'Anna, of Croton-on-Hudson, NY; two nieces, Joy Offen Davis and Marcia Trickett of Topeka; three cousins, Olga Offen Persson, Ft. Meyers, FL; Kathryn Offen, Lawrence, KS; and Walter Offen, Scottsdale, AZ; two step-sons, Robert Harrop, Leawood, KS, and Daryl Harrop, Topeka; four step-grandchildren and five step-great-grandchildren. Her brother, George H. Offen, Jr., died in 1987.

Funeral services will be held at 11:00 a.m. on Wednesday, January 9, 2008 at Penwell-Gabel Mid-Town Chapel. Burial will follow in Penwell-Gabel Cemetery. Marie will lie in state at the funeral home after 2:00 p.m. on Tuesday and visitation will be from 6:00 to 8:00 p.m.

Memorial contributions may be made to Topeka Rescue Mission, PO Box 8350, Topeka, Kansas 66608 or The Salvation Army, 1320 SE 6th, Topeka, Kansas 66607.