Marilyn Swanson Matthews

May 20, 1938 – December 3, 2015

Marilyn Swanson Matthews, a beloved, talented and compassionate woman, died at home in the presence of family after a difficult struggle with Alzheimer’s Disease. Her faith in the Lord brought her great joy and peace, and her devotion to family was the foundation of her happiness.

Marilyn was born in Muskegon, Mich., to Arnold and Margaret Swanson. A top student, she attended Wheaton College in Wheaton, Ill., where she met her future husband, Marshall Matthews. A college year abroad strengthened ties to her Swedish heritage, and she returned with music, food and holiday traditions that she would carry with her through her life.

Over twenty years as a U.S. Army doctor’s wife, Marilyn made warm homes and friendships at postings in France, California, Germany, Belgium, Washington and Hawaii. Along the way she created the big family she had always wanted, caring not only for her three girls and three boys, but also for foster children and her widowed mother.

Marilyn had an uncommon aptitude for business and finance, which she applied to becoming a professional tax preparer and realtor. After she and Marshall made a post-Army home in Moses Lake, Wash., she helped establish and manage his private medical practice, the Cameo Clinic.

Marilyn loved good coffee, fresh asparagus, blueberries, poetry, flower gardens and babies. An ardent reader, she was rarely more than arm’s reach from a book. She loved big family gatherings, family trips, and family group photos, and ideally all three together.

Marilyn is survived by her sisters Joyce Fraser of Spring Lake, Mich. and Phyllis Gowell of Muskegon, Mich., her six children Lynn Lockwood of Marysville, Wash., James Matthews of Hanover, N.H., Robert Matthews of La Palma, Calif., Joy Matthews of Portland, Ore., Daniel Matthews of Manhattan, Kan., and Karlaina Brooke of Portland, Ore.; 16 grandchildren, and numerous nieces and nephews. She was predeceased by her husband Marshall and her brother Vernor Swanson.

Donations to the music scholarship fund that Marilyn established in memory of her husband may be made out to the Columbia Basin Foundation and mailed to Columbia Basin Foundation, 234 First Ave NW, Ste B, Ephrata, WA 98823, with “Marshall & Marilyn Matthews Scholarship Fund” in the memo. Alternatively, donations may be made to two other causes that Marilyn supported strongly, Bibles and Literature in French (BLF-USA, PO Box 629, Wheaton, IL 60187), or your local food bank.

Public viewing will be at Schaefer-Shipman Funeral Home 804 State Ave., Marysville, Wash. on Thursday, Dec. 17, 2015 from 9:00 a.m. to 12:30 p.m. followed by a celebration of her life at Marysville Free Methodist Church, 6715 Grove Street. Marysville at 2:00 p.m. Graveside services will be held at Tahoma National Cemetery 18600 SE 240th St. Kent, Wash. on Friday, Dec. 18, 2015 at 1:15 p.m.