Margery Harder Bennett died Tuesday, Jan. 6, 2015, at her home in Pullman. She was 84 years of age.

Born Sept. 2, 1930, in Garrett, Ill., her parents were Claris Harder and Mildred Colyer Harder. She graduated from Atwood High School and received her undergraduate degree from Butler University in Indianapolis with a bachelor of arts degree in history. At Butler, she met and married Edward M. Bennett on the day after she turned 20 because she said she didn't want to be a teenage bride. At Butler, she was active in the Young Democrats, International Relations Club, Delta Gamma Sorority and many other groups. She then received a master's degree in history from the University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign.

After briefly living on Travis Air Force Base in California and teaching junior high history and English in Urbana, Ill., she moved with Edward to College Station, Texas, where he served as an assistant professor of history for one year at Texas A&M. After Ed accepted a professorship at Washington State University in 1961, they moved to Pullman, where they lived for the rest of their lives.

Though Margery had given up her teaching career by the time her son, Michael Dana Bennett, was born in 1962, she continued to serve as Edward's editor and research assistant on all his writing projects, including the eight books Ed authored or co-authored. She helped his research projects in such far-flung places as the Roosevelt Library in Hyde Park, N.Y., and the Public Records Office in London. Together they traveled the world, to Japan, the far Pacific, Latin America, North Africa and Europe, and she accompanied him to the Soviet Union twice.

Margery was actively involved in the Pullman community. She founded a vision screening program for preschoolers and served in leadership positions with the Pullman Memorial Hospital Board, Pullman Women's Golf Association, Pullman Women's Historical Association, PEO and Community Congregational Church. Marge received the Cable Award from Delta Gamma, which is given by the national organization to a member who has established an outstanding record of community service and service to the sorority, which included being alumni adviser to the chapter at WSU. Marge and Ed were avid bridge players and American Contract Bridge Directors. Both became life masters in the American Contract Bridge League in the early 1970s. Together their commitment to making the world a better place was manifested in the numerous charities they supported, contributions to the arts through donations to the WSU Museum and Washington-Idaho Symphony, and through lifelong support for Democratic causes.

Margery is survived by her son, Michael, who lives with his partner Juan Battle in New York City where they are both full professors. Just days before she passed away, Marge was with Mike and Juan on a cruise, which is something she loved to do. Two more cruises were already planned for 2015. Marge enjoyed coming to New York for a visit, going to Broadway shows and museums, traveling to exotic locales and spending time with friends. Though she was terrible at telling jokes, often forgetting the punchline, Marge loved to laugh.

The memorial service and light reception luncheon will be held from 2 to 4 p.m. Jan. 23 in the Pavilion at Banyans on the Ridge in Pullman.

Kimball Funeral Home of Pullman is caring for the family. The family suggests memorials to the Congregational United Church of Christ (CUCC), 525 N.E. Campus St., Pullman, WA 99163; the Edward M. and Margery H. Bennett History Fellowship, WSU Foundation, P.O. Box 641925, Pullman, WA 99164, or a charity of choice.

Online condolences may be sent to www.kimballfh.com.