Marjorie Ellen Marsh

Marjorie, at the amazing age of 101, passed away at Samaritan Evergreen Hospice in Albany. She was born in Gilman City, Missouri, to Joshua and Nellie (Duncan) Shenkel, and grew up in and around LaMoure, North Dakota. There she met and late married Lee Raymond Marsh at age 16 in Broken Bowl, Nebraska. With her family, they moved to Nampa, Idaho, during the Great Depression. She often spoke of how they “made do” but still had fun with friends and family. In 1940, they heard of job opportunities in Seattle, Washington, and moved there where Marjorie worked for Boeing as a “Rosie the Riveter” in the war effort. In 1947, the family moved to Roseburg, where she fell ill with polio and spent some time in an iron lung. Marjorie received so much support from the March of Dimes through her illness that she later became an activist for the organization. In1956, they moved to Corvallis, where they raised their family. Marjorie was very active in her church, Gideons International, and other social groups. She also spent many enjoyable days salmon fishing at the Oregon Coast. After Lee’s passing in 1988, Marjorie accepted a position as “House Mom” to the Alpha Gamma Rho Fraternity. She loved her AGR boys and made many lasting friendships. With her AGR family, she renewed her love for OSU basketball. The ball games were a very important part of her life and she looked forward to every season where she got to know the new players and loved every coach. She rarely missed any conference games for 30 plus years. In 2000, she move to the Regency Retirement Home and enjoyed the many friendships, activities and an independent lifestyle. In 2014, she moved to Quail Run Assisted Living in Albany to be closer to family. Marjorie never had idle hands as she was always busy crocheting afghans, baby blankets and doing needlepoint. Her creations became her most cherished gifts of all. The most important things in her life were her faith, her church, and her family. She served them all well and will be greatly missed. Marjorie was preceded in death by her husband, Lee Marsh of 57 years; parents, Joshua Shenkel and Nellie Shenkel Goodman; brother, Willard Shenkel; and sisters, Beatrice Hill and Elsie Pheiffer. Marjorie is survived by her daughter Barbara (husband John) Lewis; sons Raymond (wife Frances) Marsh of Albany, Terry (wife Barbara) Marsh of Arlington, Washington, and Gerry (wife Marilyn) Marsh of Camano Island, Washington. She is also survived by eight grandchildren, 18 great-grandchildren and five great-great-grandchildren. The family would like to acknowledge Quail Run Assisted Living and Samaritan Evergreen Hospice for their care and loving assistance to Marjorie and her family. A memorial service will be held at 2 p.m. on February 24, 2018 at Corvallis Evangelical Church, 1525 NW Kings Blvd. In remembrance of Marjorie and in lieu of flowers, donations may be made to Samaritan Evergreen Hospice, Corvallis Evangelical Church, Gideons International, or March of Dimes.

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Marjorie Ellen Marsh

September 5, 1916 - January 8, 2018