1929 – 2023
Our wife, mother, grandmother, and great grandmother Marrium Anne Croom passed away March 11, 2023 in her home with loved ones near after prolonged health challenges.
She was born in Pasadena, California Feb. 16, 1929 – the year of the great depression – to Delmar & Lois Taylor. When she was 5 they moved to Washington, D.C. for improved employment opportunities. She had the joy of participating in the Easter Egg Roll celebration at the White House where she had a brief conversation with the President’s wife Eleanor Roosevelt. After several years they returned to the northern California area. Her father started to work at a very isolated fish hatchery. She reminisced how as a very little girl she had to walk over a mile along a logging road to catch the bus to school-a very different time. At 14 the family moved to Reno, Nevada where she graduated high school 3 years early. She then enrolled in the University of Nevada becoming one of the first woman to graduate with an advanced science degree in Physics with a minor in German. At this time, she met her future husband Thomas W. Croom, a returning WWII Veteran, at the local Church of Christ. Marrium was a lifelong devoted member of the Church of Christ where she taught Sunday school classes, weekly women’s classes, vacation Bible classes, and many door-to-door proselyting efforts only stopping teaching in her late eighties due to health difficulties. In 1970 Marrium and her husband chose to use an inheritance to buy the property and the building to be used as the meeting place for the Tooele Church of Christ, the same as she is having her funeral services. After several years they moved to the Spokane, Washington area where they proceeded to have their 4 children Tom, Carol, Tim, and Terry. At this time, she started teaching at local schools at which she excelled. They moved to Grantsville, Ut in 1964 due to the government ordinance depot in Washington closing and them choosing to transfer to Tooele, Utah ordinance depot to retain employment benefits. Marrium continued working as a schoolteacher for 5th and 6th grades for over 20 years. When Grantsville middle school was built, she moved to it and started teaching 6-8th grade science. In this 30-year period she taught nearly every person in that age range in the city of Grantsville. One of her ideas was to start a yearly Science fair which continues today. When teaching 5-6th grade she helped to initiate the “school dance” which many of her students still fondly remember. She has won more awards than we can note here but they include the state Science teacher of the year and the state teacher of the year. She was also president of the teacher’s “union” in the mid 80’s where she was involved in negotiating health care and retirement benefits that are better than the current ones. She also was able to continue attending advanced study ending with a master’s degree and was starting to enter Principals/Superintendents positions when she chose to retire to allow for her to care for her parents who were failing in health. After a time she entered a 10-15 years period where she had the time and the where-with-all to travel. She went to Europe 5 times including a treasured trip including 2 of her best friends Pat Sorenson and Clio Rigs. At this time she did a China river tour with another friend, Dawn DeWitt. The Great Wall and the imperial city were high lights of the trip. She also visited Vietnam and visited Mexico 3 times. She was also the President of the Grantsville Senior Citizens center. She also saw the need of transport of older people in Tooele county to Dr’s appt. In Salt Lake City and after about 6 months work of seeking grants she got the grants for a new van and operating expenses. She was a member in many clubs but she possibly held G.F.W.C. as her favorite. She attended many local and out of state gatherings. She served as the Utah state president and attended national conferences in this position. I could keep going on but….
She was preceded in death by her parents, Delmar & Lois, her husband Tom, by her son Thomas, and her daughter Carol. She is survived by her two sons, Tim and Terry plus numerous grandchildren, great grandchildren, nieces and nephews.
Funeral services will be held at 1:00 PM, Saturday the 25th of March at the Tooele Church of Christ,
430 W Utah Ave., Tooele, Utah, Viewing 1 hour prior to the services. Burial will follow in the Grantsville City Cemetery in care of Dalton-Hoopes Funeral Home. 435-884-3031
A brief gathering at the cemetery and then everyone is welcome to meet at her home.
Online condolences and memories may be shared at DaltonHoopes.com
13 Comments
Oh my goodness……I have such fond memories of Mrs. Croom. Like many before me she was my 7-8th grade teacher. An utterly phenomenal woman who inspired me to pursue the sciences. She made learning fun. The world has lost a truly wonderful woman. I will always remember her. Always!!! To her family, I am so sorry for your loss but you must be so proud of the woman, mother, teacher, community advocate she was. My deepest of condolences.
Mrs Croom was a wonderful teacher. I know she personally went to bat for me a few times in different situations. After I graduated as an elementary school teacher, she sent some of her classroom master for copying to me. I was touched she would remember me, and regard me enough to share.. Sending my deepest condolences to the family at this time. .
Oh, Mrs. Croom ! A definite favorite of mine. We had the best time “bird walking” in her 8th grade Science classes in the mid-eighties. She was a great teacher who really connected with her students. She was a great example for me with my own students. May she rest in peace and her family feel comfort at this hard time. Maybe now she will finally “get-back-to-the-ranch” as she tried to do so many times in Science class. RIP Mrs Croom!
Mrs. Croom your will always be in my mind and heart. Between you and my father I grew to have a true love of science. From our 8th grade trip to California that I’ll never forget to u encouraging me in the science fair where I was able to dissect a fetal pig and report on pigs in general. I’ll always remember your love of owls. Also being allowed to care for your aquariums and other animals u had in the class room, including the rats!!
Your loving “teachers pet””.
Sam Hulet!
Marrium was such a wonderful, smart and caring individual and educator. We served together as leaders in the Tooele Education Association . We traveled together to a couple of national conventions and I will never forget her dancing in the streets of New Orleans and collecting necklaces! Had such a great time! She will be fondly remembered by many.
She was my 6th grade teacher and a friend to my dad, a fellow Grantsville school teacher. Definitely made the world a better place. A great contributor of good things to our community.
Mrs Croom was my middle school math and science teacher. Her classes were challenging, but she was delightful. She was the first to tell me I was an honor student and made me believe it. Inspiring, funny and intelligent. I regret not going back to visit her. Sending much love to her family.
Mrs. Croom played a pivotal role in keeping my interest in science alive, which led to me becoming a scientist with a Ph.D in plasma physics. . I appreciated her attitude towards teaching and her attention to detail. I know other students tried to get her to bird walk off topic; from those stories I could tell there was more than meets the eye. Reading her obituary here finally filled in some of the blanks. May she rest in peace. Wish I would have visited her in person..
My sincerest condolences to the family. She was one interesting lady. Her presence will be missed. We shared some interesting and darling grandchildren.
Mrs. Croom was an amazing teacher and role model, she ignited my love of science. I was fortunate to have her as my science teacher in for grade 6-8, she emulated her love for learning through her teaching. I admired her strength as a strong woman leader with many ambitions accomplished, her influence on my young mind has stayed with me my entire life and lead me towards my career and love of the sciences. Mrs. Croom influenced and improved many lives, a life well lived. To her family, thank you for sharing your amazing mother, and to Mrs Croom I say thank you for your service.
Mrs. Croom was my 6th grade teacher. I remember helping with the sound effects for “The Hobbit”. I also remember going to her home for a party. She was a good teacher. And holds a special place in my heart.
I was in her 6th grade class and I remember we did the play scrooge and also had to read The Lion, the Witch and the Wardrobe,. She was the first teacher to give me confidence in myself. Also she had us go outside one day at school and we were able to watch Some of Savannah Smiles being filmed .
My mom Garnet just loved her, the three musketeers along with Cleo. No drought they are reunited and planning an adventure or some civic organization volunteering. I always stopped to say high when I was in town or to bring her raspberry’s . She will be missed and one of the last of the good ones!
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