Marian was the daughter of Arthur R. and Aleen Hinkle McQuiddy, Roswell. She moved with her family to Salt Lake City, Utah, and subsequently to New York City, NY, where she was an honor student at Spence School. She graduated with distinction from New Trier High School, Winnetka, Ill., and chose Purdue University for her undergraduate degree in Journalism, Radio and Television, graduating cum laude. At Purdue, she was president of the Purdue Radio Network and president of Tomahawk Women's Honorary Society.
In a 20-year newspaper career, she worked on the Roswell Daily Record, was sports editor for United Press International in Iowa, and editor of daily newspapers in Indiana, Michigan and the editor-in-chief of the tri-county Portage Wisconsin Courier. She returned to New Mexico and subsequently moved to Alamogordo, where she was sports editor for the Alamogordo Daily News, winning numerous journalism awards including three prestigious E.F. Schaeffer Awards from the New Mexico Press Association. While there, she was the first woman president of the Sertoma Club.
Marian was a natural teacher and graduated cum laude with a master's degree in education from New Mexico State University. She was a dedicated teacher at Socorro High School for the last nine years and was recognized by her peers for her enthusiasm and her devotion to her students. She also taught at El Paso Community College.
During her life, Marian was active in the Episcopal Church, numerous community groups and professional organizations. While in El Paso, she served as moderator of the board of deacons of the First Presbyterian Church. She was a founding member of the National Society of The Colonial Dames of America in the state of NM, a member of the Daughters of the American Republic, and the Junior League.
Survivors, in addition to her mother and father, are her sister Amanda S. McQuiddy Kent, and her brother-in-law Nicholas Coburn Kent. Other relatives include: Rolla R. Hinkle II (Marge), Julie S. Hinkle, Rolla R. Hinkle III (Rosemary), and Madison M. Hinkle (Susan).
