Mable “Marjory” Venema

Mable “Marjory” Venema passed away peacefully while attended by family members on July 4, 2009 at Life Care Center in Richland, WA. Marjory was born December 5, 1915 in Colorado Springs, Colorado to Tamar and Robert Beadle. After her parents divorced, her mother moved the family to Seattle. Her mother answered an advertisement for a cook in a logging camp owned by Gustav Isackson. The cooking was agreeable and soon Gustav and Tamar were married. That union produced brother’s Claude, George, and sister Winona.Marjory was preceded in death by her parents, sister Isabelle, brothers Robert, Edward and Claude. Husband Harry passed away in 1993.Her father, Robert Beadle, never forgot Marjory and her family, visiting and always remembering her during his lifetime.Marjory attended elementary schools in Carnation and Fall City. Her secondary education included a year at the Auburn Academy and graduation in 1933 from Fall City High School. While in high school Marjory met her future husband Harry W. Venema. They married December 7, 1934 and lived in the Avondale area north of Redmond, WA. In the Spring of 1938, the young couple purchased 80 acres of land on Patterson Creek and made the beginnings of a traditional Western Washington “stump ranch”.With ax, crosscut saw, splitting maul and wedges, and a shovel Marjory helped Harry build an 800 foot cedar road and bridge across the Patterson Creek Valley. They built a two room cabin that was enlarged as the family grew. For the first year Marjory carried water for household use from across the valley.The couple worked side by side in clearing land, building houses and barns, and the keeping of a fine herd of Jersey dairy cows. During her lifetime and fifty nine years of marriage Marjory quietly and competently managed the families home, financial, farm and real estate interests. Like many other women of her generation she was a Western Washington pioneer woman in the truest sense.The union produced three children: William (Bill) Venema of Pasco, WA and daughters Judy Gillis of Pomeroy, WA and Janet Richardson of Idaho Falls, Idaho. She has six grandchildren and eight great grandchildren. Marjory was a positive and generous supporter of her children and grandchildren’s educational efforts, assisting each in obtaining a university or college education.Marjory was a member of the Avondale Friendly Circle Club, the Fall City Federated Women’s Reading Club, and an informal group of women from the Patterson Creek Valley. She was honored by WSU Steven’s Hall as a “Mother of the Year”. Marjory was also a long time member of the Fall City Methodist Church and participated in the Bell Ringer group.Throughout the years during the holidays or when families combined for work projects, Marjory would produce a great meal. She was a world class mountain blackberry and apple pie maker of renown.In 1972 Marjory and Harry moved to the Portland, Oregon area to manage family real estate interests. After liquidating those properties, the couple moved back to their Patterson Creek home place of 60 years, in 1983 building a second fine home.Marjory resided on the Patterson Creek Valley place after her hus-band’s death for several years. She then moved to Kennewick, WA to be closer to her children. She resided at the Manor of Canyon Lakes and later due to serious health complications moved to Life Care of Richland, a skilled nursing facility. She continued, despite difficult health issues, to live with that smile and sparkle in her eyes in her own quiet, determined, and loving way. In her passing she taught us loving patience, humility, diligence and the respect for life.A Graveside Burial service will be held at Cedar Lawns Memorial Park, 7200 180th Avenue NE, Redmond, WA, Saturday, July 11, 2009, at 10:00am, followed by a Memorial Service and gathering at the Fall City United Methodist Church, 43326 337th Pl. Fall City, WA.The family invites you to sign their on-line guest book at www.muellersfuneralhomes.com. Mueller’s Greenlee Funeral Home in Pasco is in charge of the arrangements.