Marion Mc Killop

Matriarch, ambassador, and/or honorary mayor of wherever she happened to be, Marian Matthews McKillop, died on Monday, March 9, 2015. The eldest daughter of Willard and Katherine Matthews. Marian was born in Somers Point, NJ on Sept. 16, 1930. She attended Ocean City, NJ public schools and graduated from Trenton State Teachers College in the class of 1953.After graduating college, Marian married Jack McKillop in 1956. Together, they lived in north-western New Jersey, first in Califon, and then in Blairstown. During her career as a public school librarian, Marian worked in several New Jersey schools, including Mountain Lakes. Soon after Jack's death in 1983, Marian moved to her beloved Bradley Beach, NJ, where she volunteered for the local Habitat for Humanity chapter, Clean Ocean Action, and Literacy Tutoring. She continued to volunteer as much as her busy schedule would permit after moving to Francis Asbury Manor in Ocean Grove, and shared her enthusiasm for life with friends there for 14 years until her passing. Always eager to learn and travel, she visited a multitude of countries, often through the Elder Hostel program. Marian is best known by far for her gregarious nature and loving spirit, and was certainly NOT known as one who refused to disclose her feelings on almost any given issue or as one who fretted over trivial matters.Marian dearly loved, and is dearly loved by her family, and always showed interest in each of their lives. Her words and laughter will be deeply missed at family gatherings. Marian is predeceased by her brother, David Matthews and sister, Carol Simpkins. She is survived by her sisters, Catherine DeLucca and Nancy Matthews, as well as Catherine's husband Michael DeLucca and her many nieces, nephews, grandnieces, grandnephews and many friends. Funeral services for Marian will be held at 2 p.m. Saturday, March 14 at Unity by the Shore, located at 3508 Asbury Ave., Neptune City. Her family requests that in lieu of flowers, donations be sent to Coastal Habitat for Humanity, 200 Highway 71, Suite 3, Spring Lake Heights, NJ 07762.