Mother, longtime El Roble PE teacher, athlete, equestrian

Marjery McBurney Jollymour was born in Pomona on March 17, 1938. She and her older sister Barbara lived with their parents Benjamin Alport McBurney and Jean Pitzer McBurney on Base Line Road in Claremont, amongst the family’s citrus groves. Her grandparents were Lee and Blanche Pitzer.

She graduated from Claremont High School, where she was senior class vice president, was crowned Christmas queen, and was part of many GAA inter-class championship teams. She continued her studies and graduated from UCLA.

“Her high school sweetheart, Raymond (Bim) Wellwood Jollymour, Jr. could not stand the thought of losing her and followed her to UCLA,” her family shared. “The two were married after graduation and returned to Claremont where they made their home and had two wonderful sons, Douglas and Christopher.”

She was an admired PE teacher at La Puerta and El Roble intermediate schools. “She inspired those who followed in her footsteps teaching courage, discipline, and dedication, and several of her young successors became lifelong friends and a second family to her,” her family added.

Her love for sports resonated beyond the classroom and throughout her life. She coached soccer,  was known as the best “golf mom” to Bim’s many Claremont McKenna College golf teams, always baking cookies for their away matches. She was a devoted Oregon Ducks football fan and she and her husband traveled to every game to watch their son Doug play. In 1984 she won the Natural Bodybuilding Championship for 20 to 30 year olds, even though she was in her late 40s!

She was an accomplished equestrian, showing her mother’s walking horses and riding with her sister and cousin in the foothills. She loved gardening, and flowers flourished under her care. She was an animal lover and many strays she took in became family pets. She loved to travel with friends and family. She loved to cook and host parties and many of her recipes are referred to as “Marj’s.”

“Marjery passed peacefully on April 1, 2024, with special loved ones by her side,” her family said. “She will be laid to rest in Oak Park Cemetery, in Claremont with her beloved husband and next to her sons.”

She is survived by her sister Barbara Rainer of Carmel, California; and her cousin Patricia Lautmann of Tucson, Arizona.

Services will be held at 10:30 a.m. Saturday, May 18 at Oak Park Cemetery, 410 Sycamore Ave., Claremont, CA 91711.

In lieu of flowers, donations may be made via check to El Roble Intermediate School’s Physical Education Department, 665 N. Mountain Ave., Claremont CA 91711, with “In honor of Marjery Jollymour” in the memo line. For donation information and instructions, call CUSD’s Business Services Department at (909) 398-0609, extension 70402.