Margie Lee Handley: A Trailblazer in Business, Politics, and Philanthropy

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Margie Lee Handley
September 29, 1939 – November 9, 2024

Margie Handley, a devoted mother, wife, grandmother, great-grandmother, and great-greatgrandmother, accomplished businesswoman, and philanthropist, passed away peacefully at her beloved ranch on Hearst Road along the Eel River on November 9, 2024. Born in Bakersfield, California to Bob and Jayne Harrah, Margie moved with her parents when she was 2 years old to Branscomb in Mendocino County where her dad joined his brothers and father in a sawmill business. Margie moved with her family to Willits where her dad started Remco, which at that time manufactured sawmill equipment. Margie spent a large part of her childhood trailing her father around sawmills. She had her first job at one of her father’s companies, a sawmill in Willits called Firco, scaling log tickets.

Margie met her husband, Gordon Lovell, in school and ceased her schooling to get married at the age of 16. She was blessed with the birth of four children before she turned 22 years old. She and Gordon moved to Montague, California where she raised her family for 12 years. While she was in Montague, she returned to school and received her GED while mother to two young boys.

In 1969, Margie started her first business, Shasta Pallet Company, which built boxes by hand to ship Nike missiles and Howitzer cannon barrels. From working as a secretary for the Superintendent of Schools, to owning a western store in Yreka, to serving as Vice President of Microphor and President of Hot Rocks, an asphalt, sand and gravel plant, Margie was a savvy businesswoman. She was part of her family business, Harrah Industries from 1981-2021 and held a General Engineering Contractor’s Class A license.

Margie was blessed to meet Bud Handley, the man she would always refer to as the love of her life, and they married in 1975. They shared 17 years together before his passing.

Margie struck out on yet another adventure when she decided to get into politics after serving as an alternate delegate for Ronald Reagan in Kansas City. She ran for the California Senate seat in 1990 and 1993 and then threw her hat in the ring for the California Assembly in 1996. She held multiple elected and appointed political positions across the state. This included serving on the California Economic Strategy Panel from 1995-2000, the California Transportation Commission from 1986-1990, and the California Rural Development Council from 1998-2000.

Her dedication to the town of Willits and the County of Mendocino was evident as she held the position of Chair of the Howard Foundation Board for 30 years (1993-2024) and sat on many boards of businesses throughout the County. She was a member of the Rotary International Club of Willits and served as President from 2004-2005. As Chair of the Howard Foundation Board, she led the charge for fundraising and negotiations that culminated in the construction of the new Howard Memorial Hospital and the neighboring Lamprich Medical Office Building.

These were the crowning jewels of Margie’s accomplishments. She gave generously of her time and money for the betterment of the town she loved. She will be deeply missed and impossible to replace for all who knew her. She was a strong woman of integrity. Margie loved to travel and was fortunate enough to visit 68 countries before her death. She had a beautiful large family that she relished, that included 37 grandchildren.

Margie found love again late in life. Her dear friend Tom Hawthorne, whom she had served on the California Transportation Commission with, asked her to marry him in 2020, and she said yes. He was 91, she was 80.

Margie is preceded in death by sons Gordon Lovell Jr. and Steve Lovell, grandsons Kyle Lovell, Shannon Lovell, Avery Lovell, and husbands Gordon Lovell, Bud Handley, and Tom Hawthorne. She is survived by her sister Bonnie Harrah, sons David and Ronald Lovell, numerous grandchildren including Alicia Logan (Lovell), Matt, Christi, Andrea, Seth, Clayton, and Cindy Lovell.

A memorial service will be held for Margie at 1 pm on Saturday, November 23rd at the Willits Senior Center. Donations in lieu of flowers can be made to the Frank R. Howard Foundation at 3 Marcela Drive, Suite A Willits, CA 95490.