Marie Emilie Anderson (Simonseth)
Marie Emilie Anderson (Simonseth), formerly of Stanwood and Mount Vernon, passed away September 8, 2013 in Kennewick, Washington at the age of 89. Marie was born on November 23, 1923 in Dawson, Minnesota to Nels and Gertrude Simonseth. During her infant years her family moved to Milltown; north of Stanwood. She graduated from Lincoln High School of East Stanwood in 1941. Following graduation she moved to Seattle where she worked as a secretary.
Marie was married in 1945 to Roy Anderson. They spent the first years of their married life in Bremerton where Roy toiled in the shipyard during World War II. Following the war, Marie and Roy moved back to Stanwood to tend the farm they purchased from Roy's parents. It was there that Marie perfected her skills as a homemaker. For years she would tend to the many needs of her family by caring for her large garden and fruit orchard as well as canning, baking and sewing. The wonderful meals she would prepare for the family were all labors of love. Besides working long hours at home, Marie would work evening shifts at Twin City Foods during the annual summer harvests to provide a little extra income for the family. In 1961 they sold the family farm, and moved into town where they lived until they moved to Mount Vernon in 1987. The mobile home that they lived in at Park Village was always meticulously cared for and was always a source of pride for her. After her children were grown, Marie went back to work as a secretary for General Telephone where she worked until retirement.
Marie loved to spend time traveling with their RV. Whether it was trips to Eastern Washington to fish or to the ocean to dig clams, it made no difference to her because it was time to be with friends and family and that made her happy. The many years of spending winters in Yuma, Arizona was always something she looked back at with fond memories.
Family was very important to Marie. Supporting her children and grandchildren in all that they did was a priority. Whether it was school work, sports, or 4-H, Marie was always there to encourage them and you always knew she was extremely proud.
Marie will be missed. She was a very good wife to Roy for 68 years. She was a loving and nurturing mother to her children and the best "Gammie" to her five grandchildren and eight great-grandchildren.
Marie was preceded in death by her husband Roy in 2013 and by her daughter Karlene Anderson in 1967. She is survived by her children Linda Varick of Kennewick, and Charles Anderson and wife Morrine of La Center, Washington; five grandchildren, Kelly Lindsley (Carlson), Tina Carlson, Kyle Anderson, Megan Bright (Anderson), and Ashley Kleinschmidt (Anderson); eight great-children; two sisters Esther Ulrich of Toledo, Ohio and Agnes Brodland of Coeur d'Alene, Idaho.
A memorial service will be held at Gilbertson's Funeral Home in Stanwood on October 27 at 2:00 pm. A reception will follow at the American Legion Hall.