Marguerite Treon

Marguerite Treon celebrated her final birthday on April 14th with her family at her home in Las Cruces. She was 86 years old and had lived here since 1976 when she moved from New Jersey. She was born in Kansas City, Missouri and later lived in Long Beach and Los Angeles, CA. She had a long career as a contemporary and experimental artist, combining a variety of materials and techniques into unique and often jewel-like collages. She was also known for her sensitive pastels of Las Cruces small streets and adobe houses. She received her BFA and MA at New Mexico State University and her last work before losing most of her eyesight was shown at the Williams Art Gallery where she is in their collection. She had received scholarships and studied at the Otis Art Institute in Los Angeles and at the Kansas City Art Institute, and at the Art Students League in NYC. An avid reader all her life, books on tape from the Library of the Blind were her constant and passionate companions in her last years. Ms Treon exhibited widely including New York, Washington, DC, Los Angeles, and many cities in Texas, Arizona, New Mexico and New Jersey where she received several drawing and watercolor awards. She taught at the University in Las Cruces, at the El Paso Community College and at the Las Cruces Community Art Center. She was formerly a member of the Border Artists. She traveled widely including Mexico, Venezuela, Japan and Ireland, and lived for many years in Hawaii, the Philippines and the Marshall Islands. She is survived by her three sons: Philip, an instructor in the English Department at New Mexico State University and his wife, Janet; Mark, an artist and potter and his wife, Jessie; and Robert Locke, a musician and retired fire fighter; two grandchildren, Travis Jon who will be married to Valerie Martos on May 10 and Tasha Jean Pfeiffer and her husband Jason and their son Maximilian; their mother, Jean Wiborg and her husband, Philip Wiborg; her two sisters, Henrietta Mantooth Bagley; and two nephews, David Bagley, his wife Lisa, son Andrew and daughter, Bianca, and Alex Bagley, his wife Judy, sons Halton and Kieran and daughter Ava; and Shirley Backhus, her husband Art, daughters Christine, Cheryl and Seglenda; and sons Erich, Michael, Bob and Calvin. Ms Treon was formerly married to Harold J. Treon, a retired Lt. Commander in the United States Navy. Her long-time artist colleagues were Rose McLoughlin and Bernadette Valdes. Teresa Marroquin was her close friend and confidante. Liz Lindsey was her devoted assistant. Tom Green, Romie Estevane and Lupe Aguilar were her Home Kare nurses and trusted friends. Gordon Daniels was her kind and alert neighbor. A memorial gathering for family and friends will be held on May 11th. PDF Printable Version