Marcelene D. Rowe

Marcelene D. Rowe, 85, of Wenatchee, died Tuesday, July 24, 2012. Marcelene Deloris (Murren) Rowe was born at home, delivered by her father, January 1, 1927, in Benton City, Ringgold County, IA to Fern Everett and Jessie Elizabeth (Scroggie) Murren. She was the fourth child of five. Her family moved from Iowa to the Colockum area when she was seven years old. Marcelene attended grade school at Malaga, Rock Island and South Wenatchee Grade Schools, while her father completed their home on Fifth Street in Wenatchee. After they moved to Wenatchee, she attended Whitman, HB Ellison and graduated Wenatchee High School in 1945. Her first job was with J.M. Wade company, packing cherries in the summer, and Cedergreens, making cardboard boxes for frozen foods, which she soon found she did not enjoy, so she went to work for J.J. Newberry, which was a job she could work after school. After graduation, she worked for Sears Roebuck Company, which was more hours and more money ($.80/hour). November 11, 1945, she and Marvin Jay Rowe were married in Wenatchee. After Marvin returned from military service in Germany, they started their family and ranching, first on Marvin's parent's orchard, where their first two children were born, Marsha and Jerry. In 1950, they purchased an orchard of their own, starting a lifelong orcharding career. In 1955, their third child, Rebecca, was born and in 1960, Mark was born. Marcelene was an avid gardener and loved sharing the fruits of her labors with others. She was a wonderful homemaker, baker, loved sewing and upholstering. The Cove at Fish Lake was her favorite fishing hole and she cleaned every perch that she caught. She loved the mountains, where she picked huckleberries for pie or homemade ice cream, and mushrooming. In her younger years, she loved horseback riding. She enjoyed craft projects, including water and oil painting, crocheting, knitting and beading, and she loved cooking for family gatherings and writing poetry. She and Marvin made many trips to Reno, NV, where she enjoyed playing the "slots", and the Oregon coast, where she loved beachcombing near the ocean. She made two trips to Scotland to research her family heritage. She had many highlights in her life, including each time a new grandchild or great-grandchild was born, their 60th Wedding Anniversary and her last trip to the Oregon coast. She was a longtime member of the Wenatchee First Baptist Church. Marcelene was preceded in death by her parents; her husband of 63 years; and two brothers, Quentin and Harold Murren. She leaves her children, Marsha (Roger) Clute, Jerry (Sheila) Rowe, Rebecca (Ron) Baker and Mark (Bari) Rowe; nine grandchildren, Amanda Holaday, Steven Rowe, Jessica Tonseth, Corey Rowe, Heather Baker, Ryen Rowe, Stephanie Rowe, Ashlie Rowe and Melissa Baker; 12 great-grandchildren; one brother, Vergil (Gloria) Murren; one sister, Wanda (Frank) Berdan; and many nieces, nephews and cousins. A Memorial Service will be held at Jones & Jones~Betts Memorial Chapel on Friday, August 3, 2012, at 10:00 a.m. with Interment following at Wenatchee City Cemetery. Visitation will be held Thursday, August 2, 2012, from 2:00 to 7:00 p.m. at Jones & Jones~Betts Funeral Home in Wenatchee. Please express your thoughts and memories on the online guestbook at jonesjonesbetts.com. Arrangements are by Jones & Jones~Betts Funeral Home.

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Marcelene D. Rowe

January 1, 1927 - July 24, 2012