Marjean Roush Baldini

Marjean was born in Kansas City, MO and adopted by Raymond and Stella Roush, farmers in Lebanon, KS. She is survived by a brother Leland, daughter, Laura Ramoly, sons Demetrio William Baldini, III, and Anthony David Baldini as well as grandchildren Angelo Dino Baldini, Valentina Baldini, Alexa Baldini, Grabriel Baldini and 2 great grandchildren, Roxanna Baldini and Alexis Osborne. Marjean grew up working on a farm learning hard work, responsibility and consistency at an early age. Due to farm responsibilities, vacations were few and farm commitments like feeding and milking every morning were priorities that instilled values which carried her through life. Margie, as her friends called her, grew up in the Christian church in Lebanon and was gifted in music and compassion with a hunger for a deeper relationship which Christ. She received a music scholarship to Phillips University in Enid, Oklahoma and in her first year met, Demetrio William Baldini, Jr., (Bill) who was working as an aircraft mechanic at Vance airforce base. To her parent's dismay, this little Christian girl married a worldly Italian Catholic boy from Utica, NY in June 1958 and was pregnant with Laura who was born 9 months later. As in all new marriages, times were difficult and along with spiritual incompatibility between Margie and Bill, Margie wanted to move back home with her parents to Kansas. But the terms were to give up her daughter. Being adopted herself, Margie couldn't do this and stayed with Bill who took a job at the Federal Aviation Administration moving the family to Oklahoma City. Margie had two more children Billy in 1960 and Tony in 1964. Bill wanted to raise the children Catholic but didn't attend church himself so Margie eventually left the Catholic Church for Airline Christian church in Oklahoma City. Margie took jobs to supplement the family income but in the 60's women working was not common so hours were long and pay was low. Yet Margie was dependable and hardworking taking on the bookkeeping role with no formal bookkeeping experience. All the while she continued raising her family, living a Christ-like life and taking her children to church. Due to her musical background this little church enlisted her as the piano player then eventually the choir director. She assured her children were involved in this experience and took them to late night choir practices, Sunday school, extra-curricular church events, grounding them in the principles of the word. This lifestyle began having an effect on Bill. With the constant love, compassion, and testimony Margie showed her husband and visits from the pastor, Holy Spirit began quickening Bill's heart. Shortly after Tony was born, one Sunday morning in 1964, Bill put down his cigarettes, alcohol, gave his life to the Lord, was baptized, began going to the Christian church and reading the bible. God continued moving in the family. Bill became a deacon in the church, Laura was baptized and began witnessing to parents of children Margie babysat. With Bill's newfound knowledge of the word and learning of the supernatural events in the book of Acts, he looked for a church that practiced the word literally. The family moved to Amazing Grace chapel with Pastor Tanner where Margie was filled with the Holy Spirit and Billy was healed of asthma no longer requiring late night visits to the emergency room and hospital stays for oxygen tent breathing treatments. The family moved to Capital Hill Assembly of God where Margie began playing the organ. Margie got the children involved in Sunday school. They inherited her musical gifts and were all involved in the choir while Bill served in other ways. After minimum wage jobs, late night hours and babysitting, Margie got a job at Western Electric as a secretary. She began doing the office bookkeeping as a collateral duty, bringing it home on weekends and going the extra mile which was her trademark gradually being promoted through the ranks. Because of Margie dependability, her willingness to do things others wouldn't, and her servant attitude, they began sending her to classes eventually promoting her to a quality checker of circuit boards. The family moved to Southern Oaks Assembly with Pastor Guy Heath in 1971. Under his teaching and musical leadership, the family spiritually grew. Guy immediately enlisted Margie to play organ and introduced the children to a unique brand of praise and worship as he lead the youth choir in tunes from Andre Crouch, Al Green, and other contemporary artists, they hadn't experienced before. This leadership led all the children to singing with Laura picking up trumpet, Billy the saxophone and Tony the drums. While the children were getting more involved in school and church music programs, Margie accompanied them on piano at home for school competitions and always pushed them to excel. Even though times were usually hard and there was never enough time or money, Margie sacrificed to make sure her children were always able to go on every school band trip, church choir trip, and summer church camp event enriching their relationships with God and the gifts He'd given them in music. The family often went to nursing homes with Margie to minister, were involved in music prison ministries and today continue in these services based on the foundation Margie established. Margie encouraged a career for Tony in the Barber industry. After getting his license Margie and Bill sacrificed to open a salon for Tony in the 80's launching the career that would eventually result in 3 barber schools, a salon in Penn Square, Quail springs, contracts with the OKC Thunder and Channel 9 news. This feat was accomplished through the favor of God, hard work and Margie's continued dedication and support in those early years to do the accounting, payroll, tax prep and general day-to-day oversight of that first school during the day while she continued to work full time at AT&T allowing Tony to expand the business into what is now Anthony David's Hair Academy. Even working two full time jobs Margie was never too busy to provide emotional support and relationship with her children and grandchildren. She listened to every problem and was a confidante. After the children's marriages in 1991, they dropped out of church and wandered far from God. Margie continued to pray for her family always asking God to draw them back. After Tony and his wife Vicki had children, Margie and Bill moved closer to them so that Margie could spend time with the grandchildren and help Tony with his businesses. She was diagnosed with Parkinson's disease and diabetes in 1999. She retired from Lucent Technologies in 2001 with a perfect attendance record. Shortly after retiring, Margie who rarely took vacations went with Bill back to his hometown in New York. They had a wonderful trip before Bill was diagnosed with pancreatic cancer. Throughout surgery and chemo treatments which went on for several months Margie was always there for him until he died in Dec 2003. Margie continued praying for her children. After Laura's husband died in 2007, Margie moved in with her daughter to provide love and care. Laura who'd been out of church for 15 years began talking with her mother in the evenings, listening to her mother's tender words and testimonies God began breaking the cold stone that had grown around Laura's heart and rebuilding their relationship. God ordered the circumstances that would result in the family meeting Carl and Suzanne Chandler where they would all join together in deep bible studies and learn more of God and his goodness. Those times were precious to Margie and what Satan would destroy God restored. Margie's health began deteriorating and in 2010 after a bout with the flu she had to quit her job at the hair academy. This was a sad time for Margie since this is the work she loved. But God used this time to draw her even closer to her family. Margie entered Legend Assisted Living facility in 2014 and was able to impact a whole new group of people there. Even through all her afflictions, Margie always put the needs of other before her own. Relationships she made with caregivers, nurses, and residents had impact on their lives. She always had a smile, a kind word, a testimony and encouragement for whoever came through her door. Caregivers would often linger just to be in the presence of Jesus when they were in her room. She always had hope, joy, peace and constant concern for the spiritual welfare of her family and everyone she met. During her last Christmas, she was able to be reunited with her granddaughter Valentine and her two great granddaughters which she hadn't seen for 18 years. She was able to see her son and daughter reunited and serving God. She was able to be with her family and enjoy Christmas to know how much she was truly loved before she went home to be with Jesus. Margie is an example of what God can do in the earth if you let him use your life for his purpose. She will never know all the lives she impacted for Christ. Until her last breath she spoke and ministered the love of Jesus to everyone she encountered. Then she fell asleep and went peacefully to be with God where I know he will say, "Well done my good and faithful Daughter. Come enter my gates with gladness and enjoy the rest I've prepared for you."