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Marjorie Bothun, longtime Atherton resident, dies at 87

Marjorie Burnett Bothun, a 48-year resident of Atherton, died Feb. 7. She was 87.

A native of Aurora, Illinois, Ms. Bothun earned a degree in economics from Duke University in 1946. After graduation, she took a job as an economist with Time-Life in Chicago. In the mid-1950s, she relocated to Palo Alto and was employed at Stanford Research Institute, now known as SRI International.

It was at SRI she met her future husband, Richard B. Bothun. They were married on Sept. 28, 1957. They moved to Atherton in 1964.

When her son, Brian, was in school, she was involved in the Laurel and Encinal PTAs and frequently played bridge with other members of the Menlo-Atherton chapter of the American Association of University Women.

Ms. Bothun was a member of the Los Altos chapter of the Daughters of the American Revolution and was proud of being a descendant of James Pardee, who fought in the Revolutionary War.

She retired from Allied Brokers in Palo Alto in 1996. In retirement, she loved a good crossword puzzle challenge and often awoke at 4 a.m. to download that day's puzzle from the London Times website, say family members.

Ms. Bothun is survived by her son, Brian; sister Eugenie Taylor of Atherton; nieces and nephews; and her caretaker Lincoln Hancock. She was preceded in death by her husband, Richard, who died in 1973. At her request, there were no funeral services. Burial was at Alta Mesa memorial Park in Palo Alto.