A Southern Oregonian who stands out for her contribution to the region and its children is Marjorie Skeeters Sax, who lived in Oregon from 1902 to 1996, except for a few years in California.
Sax began life in mining camps and did not attend school until she was nine. Later she taught school in Gold Hill and led one of the largest Girl Scout troops in the nation. Soon she worked full time for the Girl Scouts and supervised construction of the Lake of the Woods camp.
In an oral history for the Southern Oregon Historical Society, Sax recounted her trouble finding anyone to provide lodging for a young mixed-race woman who arrived to direct a recreation center for Camp White’s black soldiers. Ministers and Girl Scout board members turned her down, but a teacher and her mother took her in.
After Sax turned 65 she became director of the Rogue Valley Council on Aging, and promoted building the Medford Senior Center on East Main.
Sax used to say, “the best preventive medicine is socializing,” and spent her life providing opportunities for people to join together in healthy activities and mutual support.
Sources: Hutchinson, Peggy Ann, Mail Tribune [Medford, Ore.], “Mrs. Sax led scouts, senior programs,” April 27, 1996, p. 2B. Sax,Marjorie Skeeters, interviewed by Avis Farber, Oct. 24, 1978. Oral Manuscript. Southern Oregon Historical Society Oral History 590.12