Marion E. Wood

Marion E. Wood passed away Oct. 15, 2007, in Spokane.

She was born April 4, 1920, in Great Falls, Mont.; the daughter of Jerry and Ethel (Justice) O'Brien. Marion graduated from Great Falls High School and later pursued undergraduate work at Montana State University. She was first married to Francis Oliver Proteau in the early 1940s; however, Oliver was killed in a crop dusting accident shortly after he returned from WWII, where he had also been a prisoner of war. Six months after Oliver's death, Marion and Oliver's son Mike was born. As a single mother, Marion was employed by the Great Northern Railroad Company in Great Falls.

While in Great Falls, Marion met U.S. Air Force Capt. Orval Wood and was married in 1950. Orval and Marion were blessed with their twins Gloria and Scott in Great Falls. Together they shared military life living in California, Japan and South Carolina, where Orval retired. While in South Carolina, the couple was blessed with two more children, Barbara and Paul. Following their birth and Orval's military retirement, the family moved to Washington State where they eventually settled in Moses Lake.

Marion was a committed homemaker who truly loved her family. When the children were at home, she enjoyed family vacations and holidays. Over the years she and Orval continued to travel the country in their motor home and recall with great fondness their many trips to Alaska. Marion enjoyed playing bridge with a close-knit circle of friends. She was a recognized volunteer in the community, particularly in the Catholic church, where she served as the director of religious education and taught for many years. After her children left home, Marion volunteered at a local elementary school and also taught children with learning disabilities at her home.

Marion is survived by her loving husband, Orval; children: Michael (Rosie) Proteau of Spokane, Scott Wood of Moses Lake, Paul (Michelle) Wood of Bellevue, Wash., Gloria (Tom) Slagle of Two Rivers, Alaska; and Barbara (Randel) Wagner of Spokane, and eight grandchildren.

A vigil service will be Friday, Oct. 19, at 5 p.m. at Hennessey Smith Funeral Home, Spokane. Mass of Christian Burial will be celebrated Saturday, Oct. 20, at 10 a.m. at The Cathedral of Our Lady of the Lourdes, 1115 W. Riverside, Spokane. Interment will take place at East Lincoln Cemetery in Amery, Wisc., on Saturday, Oct. 27, at 3 p.m.

Arrangements have been entrusted to Hennessey Smith Funeral Home, 2203 N. Division St., Spokane.