Marjorie Bull

Civic Leader

Marjorie S. Bull, daughter of Jesse and Florence Dennison, was born in Jasper County on November 6, 1931. She graduated from Sarcoxie High School and went on to attend Joplin Junior College, Missouri Southern State College and Southwest Missouri State University (now Missouri State). Marjorie, widow of Frank Bull, has two children Tom (deceased) and Kathryn, one grandchild and one great-grandchild. She is a life-long resident and civic leader in Jasper County.

After graduating college, Marjorie began her career as a rural school teacher in Jasper County. In 1964, she started a new public career as a volunteer to the Jasper County Republican Party. Between 1967 and 1989 in Jasper County, Marjorie served as Deputy Assessor, Deputy Treasurer and then Deputy Clerk. In 1989, she was appointed by then Governor John Ashcroft to fill an unexpired term as Jasper County Clerk.

In 1990, Marjorie was elected to the post of Jasper County Clerk, 100 years after Annie Baxter was the first woman elected to Jasper County public office in 1890. She was re-elected in 1994 and continued as Jasper County Clerk until her retirement in 1998. In 1990, she was the first recipient of the Annie Baxter Award, recognizing an outstanding woman in local government. In her retirement she remains active in Republican events.

Marjorie is a member of Carthage United Methodist Church, serving in the bell and vocal choirs. She has been an active member of the Kiwanis Club for more than 25 years, holding offices including President and Lieutenant Governor. Marjorie is also an active member of a ladies quilt circle which has made more than 2,000 quilts to support babies and children in Jasper County. She was a member of Eastern Star for more than 50 years, serving as a Worthy Matron. As a member of the Eastern Jasper County Historic Sites Association, she was instrumental in the restoration of the Cave Springs School, now the first Jasper County park. She’s a current member of the Jasper County Cemetery Association. Marjorie has also volunteered her time and talents for more than 15 years to preserve the history of Jasper County by serving as a coordinator for the Records and Research Center. She even shares her skills as a research genealogist to those searching for family history in Carthage and Jasper County. Marjorie’s life-long and ongoing commitment to protect and preserve Jasper County is noteworthy.