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Marion, also known as Mickey, Big Mare, or Moth (short for “Mother, not the insect…) was born in Buffalo, New York where she lived for most of her life.
After graduating from Bennett High School and the University of Buffalo, she married William E. Degen on September 18, 1948. Their only child “Little Bill” was born in July 1950.
Mickey worked part-time for years at Buffalo General Hospital as a medical technologist, but always found time for family gatherings, days at the beach, and Little Bill’s sporting events.
After many Florida vacations, Mickey and Bill bought their beloved Vero Beach condo, where they lived part-time until about 15 years ago when they moved to Florida full-time.
Mickey and Bill loved the Vero Beach lifestyle. They enjoyed dinner with family and friends, parties at the clubhouse, bridge with “the girls,” Blue Grass night downtown, and theater season tickets right up to their final days.
Mickey took up golf when she retired and played regularly in both New York and Florida. She even won the Women’s Club Championship at the Buffalo Golf Club. She always took her clubs on trips to the west coast, and on Caribbean vacations.
Bill preceded Mickey in death exactly one month after celebrating their 72nd wedding anniversary. They are survived by their son William (Sarah) in Santa Barbara, California, and by a grandson (Brookes) in San Francisco.
A joint service for both Mickey and Bill will be held at a future (yet undetermined) date. Mickey and Bill were long time members of the First United Methodist Church (1750 20th St, Vero Beach, 32960) The church was incredibly supportive of both Mickey and Bill in their final days. Donations in memory of Marion Degen would be welcome and appreciated.
Arrangements by Thomas S. Lowther Funeral Home & Crematory, Vero Beach.
© 2024 Lowther Funeral Home. All Rights Reserved.
Dan Lodovico - Neighbor from Vista Gardens
February 7, 2021, 2:48 am
The best next door friends. Will miss you when we can get back on the bus to the casino. Went to visit them one day after a hurricane. They were paying bills Bill had a pile of bills in front of him and would check them out and pass them to Mickey one at a time. Sitting in the middle of the table was a bottle of wine. She then would make out the check with her beautiful handwriting, pass it to Bill and then poured each a glass of wine. This continued with a glass of wine after every check. She said it made writing out the checks much easier. I told them that I was paying bills all wrong all these years. Rest in peace dear friends. Dan Lodovico
Amy Hartmann Gilbert - Next door neighbor
February 22, 2021, 1:30 am
Rest In Peace Mickey from your Treehaven Rd next door neighbors The Hartmanns. We were sad to hear about Bill’s passing when mom talked to Mickey at Christmas time. Such great memories for Amy growing up next door to the Degens: watching the Muppet Show with Mickey, putting with Bill on his backyard golf green and taking care of their German Shepherd Elgin when they had golf games. I will cherish my yearly Christmas cards with Mickey’s beautiful handwriting which always included a photo of us or some artwork I had made for them as a girl. You will be missed.
Marcia & Norb Zinteck - Friendship
July 14, 2021, 1:21 pm
The world has lost two very wonderful folks with the passing of your parents. I worked with Mickey at Buffalo General and our friendship began there Mickey and I began carpooling to work as I lived in Kensington Village near your old home on Treehaven. Our friendship grew to include Bill & my husband and later my boys enjoying the putting green and Elgin the watch dog. Your mom snd I would call each other every Bastille Day and hum/ sing the Marseille; even though we only communicated on July 14 and Christmas lately, it meant a lot to catch up. Your mom was always better at remembering to send cards at birthdays / anniversaries ( ours were a week apart 9/18 & 9/25) and last year come Christmas, i misplaced their address after moving to Florida ironically; so checked out Safari where I found out your dad had passed just after his birthday. I was so shook up and wasn’t sure if you had scooped her off to California with you all and didn’t send card. Funny thing is, your mom up & sent Norb (my husband ) , a birthday card belatedly as he had a pre- Christmas Bday, so I knew she was still in Florida & sent delayed condolence for your Dad . Sorry for this chapter letter, but being Bastille day 2021, and getting out of service from the phone lines I had in my phone, good old safari came through and I read your nice article . I had to write something to you as my whole family was very fond of your parents. We always got together when they had the Harlem Rd apartment for summers; unfortunately, when they could no longer maintain “reverse snowbirding ”, our contact with each other lessened greatly God Bless Bill and Mickey and you all . I was not surprised, she passed so soon after Bill as they were two most devoted partners in life and not unusual they join again soon in afterlife. God Bless you all in your loss. Marcia and Norbert Zinteck I’ll include my boys, Jeff and Tom to whom I’ll relay the sad news.
George Blythe - Family Friend
May 25, 2022, 6:55 pm
To the family; probably 15 years ago my wife Patty Ripley Blythe revived her childhood interest in collecting single playing cards. Wanting to know of others with similar interests she placed an ad in the Vero Paper; Mickey answered it, and Patty bought the then surplus collection. Patty has died and I am working to downsize. Would any of the family like some of Mickey’s cards back. Call me George Blythe 772-633-1824 I will be glad to share.