Marjorie L. (Kepler) Vayda

Marjorie L. Vayda, 92, of Knox passed away on Sunday, August 3, 2025 at the UPMC Northwest Hospital in Seneca surrounded by her family.

Born August 16, 1932, Marjorie was the daughter of the late Earl and Louise Kepler.

On October 14, 1950, Marjorie married Kenneth Vayda who preceded her in death on April 18, 2018.  Along with her husband they established the non-profit organization Frontiers in Human Resources Inc. to educate people with intellectual disabilities in community and personal living skills which they ran from 1976 until 1991.

Marjorie loved life, she was a devoted mother and grandmother and an incredible cook.  She loved taking care of her TV dog Tinkerbell.

After fighting ovarian cancer Marjorie trained as a cancer patient volunteer at the Franklin Hospital to help cancer patients.  Marjorie was president of the Monroe Community Club for eight years.  She helped with the “we care committee” which acknowledged graduations, deaths, and weddings, held sauerkraut dinners and homemade buckwheat pancake dinners.

Marjorie was a member of the St. Paul Lutheran Church in Knox, where she was the first woman to be a member of the church board.  She also volunteered as a leader with the junior Webelos Scouts and the Girl Scouts, and was a member of the Great Books Club through Penn State.

Marjorie is survived by two children Joan Sharrow of Brookville and Jeff (Stacey) Vayda of Knox; three grandchildren Julie Vayda and Jamie Acain of California and Caitlyn of Vayda of Cranberry Township; three great grandchildren Caitlyn, Jamie and Julie and a sister Janet Maurer of Mechanicsburg.

Marjorie was preceded in death by her husband Dr. Kenneth Vayda, her son Gregory Vayda, her parents Earl and Louise Kepler and two brothers Robert Kepler and Edward Kepler.

The family will received friend from 5 to 6 pm on Thursday August 7, at the McEntire-Weaver Funeral Home, 504 East Penn Ave. Knox.  A memorial service will be held at 6 pm for Marjorie in the funeral home.

In lieu of flowers the family request memorials are made to the St. Paul Lutheran Church, 1051 Twin Church Road, Knox, PA 16232 or the Vayda Family Scholarship in care of Clarion University Foundation, 840 Wood St, Clarion, PA 16214 or online donations can be made at alumniandfriends.cuf-inc.org

To view and share photos or leave an online condolence please visit our website at www.mcentire-weaverfuneralhome.com.

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