CTOCS Marjorie "Margie" Joyce Garrison Gilligan, USN (ret.), 68, of Pensacola, FL passed away Thursday, September 16, 2021.

Margie was born on October 6, 1952, in Kirkland, WA. She was the youngest of four children born to Mary and Doug Garrison. The family loved the outdoors, camping in the Teanaway river valley and swimming, water skiing, and crabbing at Aunt Dolly's place on Camano Island. Margie's love of animals also started early, with the family pets, including dogs, cats, and a guinea hen, then horses, a raccoon, and even a pet skunk of her own.

Margie was a talented artist and considered studying art. Instead, in 1977, after a period of exploration and inspired by her Uncle Dick's WWII stories, she enlisted in the Navy. Margie's career advanced steadily, and she retired twenty years later as a Senior Chief Petty Officer.

Trained as a Cryptologic Technician, Margie's career took her all over the world, including Puerto Rico, London, Japan, and Iceland. Margie was proud to be part of the country's national security, fascinated by her interesting (and highly classified) work, and pleased to eventually lead the Navy's training for Cryptologic Technicians, the reason she settled in Pensacola.

In 1984 Margie married Rich Carter and gave birth to her beloved son Jimmie. She and Rich later divorced. In 1990 Margie met Patrick Gilligan, who would become her husband, best friend, and the love of her life. He was a loving father to Jimmie, who also gained a big brother in Patrick's son Matthew. Margie and Patrick were married on July 25, 1992. They remained happily married until Patrick's untimely death from cancer in 2011.

Although grieving for Patrick, Margie built a full life for herself in Pensacola. She stayed close to her family and her many Navy friends. She kept busy with outdoor activities old and new, including kayaking, orienteering, and many volunteer hours with Search & Rescue.

She also devoted many hours to the Her foundation of Northwest Florida which supports homeless female veterans, as if that weren't enough, she devoted numerous volunteer hours with other causes.

Her hobbies included reading, horseback riding, caring for her Koi in the pond, gardening with that green thumb, and going to the shooting range.  Margie's companion Cara was by her side everywhere she went and will dearly miss her as will we all.

She was an outdoor enthusiast and an accomplished artist, woodworker, which inspired her to leave a legacy of paintings and works of art to be treasured by friends and family.

Margie is preceded in death by her husband, Patrick Gilligan; her parents, Mary and Doug Garrison; as well as her beloved, Aunt Dolly.

Margie is survived by her son, Jimmie Carter of Suffolk, VA; stepson, Matthew Gilligan of Virginia Beach, VA; brothers, John and Jim Garrison of Sun Valley, ID; sister, Pat Garrison of Kirkland, WA; as well as nieces and nephews, Dana Garrison, Katy Garrison (Eric Mott), Steven Antonsen (Jackie), and Carli Midstokke (Fraser).

Visitation will be held 12:00noon until the Memorial Service to begin at 12:30pm Wednesday, September 22, 2021, at Harper-Morris Memorial Chapel with Chaplain Ken Griffin officiating. Committal service will follow at Barrancas National Cemetery with full military honors. For those who would like, please join the family as they continue to celebrate Magie's life from 5-8pm at Margie's Home, 551 Seapine Circle, Pensacola, FL 32506.

In lieu of flowers, memorial contributions may be made to the Her Foundation.

The family owes a very special thanks to Carol Williams, Margie's cherished friend, for her help and support during Margie's brief illness, as well as a thanks to the doctors and all staff involved in her care at West Florida Hospital.

Click this link to view additional details about Margie's Services, including any available live streams: https://my.gather.app/remember/marjorie-gilligan