Marian Elizabeth Warren

On March 13, 2011, Marian Elizabeth Warren arrived at the end of her wonderful 89-year journey through life.

Born in 1921 to Charles and Golda Bowman in Salem Oregon, she grew up in the Willamette Valley near Monmouth with her sister Edna. She graduated from Oregon College of Education (now WOU), became an elementary school teacher, and began nurturing kindergarten and first-grade students.

When World War II brought soldiers to Camp Adair, she met and subsequently married Fred Warren on New Year's Eve in 1944. In 1952 Fred and Marian, along with their three very young children, Charles, James, and Mary Lou, moved to Moses Lake, Washington, to clear sagebrush and begin irrigating the desert with the first waters from Grand Coulee Dam.

While continuing to raise her family, teach, and farm, Marian earned her MA from Eastern Washington State College. She retired in the early 1980's and returned home to Oregon.

Her ability and willingness to work tirelessly and her dedication to high standards in all she did earned her many awards and recognition as a "woman of achievement." She established herself as the perfect role model for her three children, her eleven grandchildren, fourteen great-grandchildren, and one great-great grandchild with another on the way. Always a "maker", never a "taker", she served on numerous boards and enjoyed many clubs and teams. Nature was her joy and the flowers and gardens and birds of spring will always bring fond memories to those who loved her.

The last years of Marian's life were blessed with the full-time help of her daughter, Mary Lou. As the effect of Alzheimer's disease began to take its toll, Mary Lou's dedication enabled Marian to end her journey with the grace and dignity that she demonstrated her entire life.

An open house for family and friends who would like to gather to remember and reflect on Marian's life will be held at the home of James and Natalie Warren in Monmouth, Oregon, on Saturday, March 26, 2011, from 1:00 to 3:00 in the afternoon. The family requests that in lieu of flowers or gifts, any efforts to comfort or aid Alzheimer's patients and especially their caregivers be considered.

Arrangements were entrusted to Farnstrom Mortuary in Independence where condolences may be left online.