Parades, bands, and fireworks heralded the arrival of Marylee Tucker. It was the 4th of July 1921. Born in Twin Falls, Idaho to Leonard and Edna Tucker, she spent her childhood on small farms in Nampa, Idaho.

While attending Nampa High School, Marylee met her future husband, Ed Hiemstra, and they were married on August 25, 1939. She attended Sterling College in Sterling, Kansas and excelled in basketball and track. She was an Army Air Corp wife in WWII, moving from base to base with her husband. During the war years, she gave birth to their daughter, Patricia. After moving to Kellogg, Idaho, a daughter, Theresa was born.

While in Kellogg, Marylee was a member of the Federated Church, where she was active in women’s groups, the church choir, taught Sunday and Bible school, and volunteered in the church’s thrift shop. She served as a Girl Scout leader for both of her daughters’ troops.

Marylee was graduated from North Idaho Junior College with an Associate Degree in Teaching and served as a substitute teacher for many years.

For the last 36 years, she and Ed have resided in Heppner, Oregon. She enjoyed her job as a school secretary as well as looking out for the students at Ione School, Ione, Oregon, retiring in 1985.

Retirement allowed her to follow her grandchildren in their sporting events. She was involved at the Heppner Senior Center and also at the Heppner Methodist Church. She spent many enjoyable hours with her fruit, vegetable, and flower gardens. She expressed her love of music through many hours of piano playing. She never tired of long drives to the mountains to look for deer.

After a brief illness, Marylee went home to her Heavenly Father on November 19, 2002 while listening to music with her family by her side.

Marylee was a loving mother and wife, humorous, appreciative, sensitive, gentle, giving, humble, a person full of traditions and creativity, a beautiful spirit, and a child of God. She will be deeply missed by her family and friends.

Marylee was preceded in death by her parents; a sister, Laurel; and her granddaughter, Trisha Maxam Lemire.

She is survived by her husband, daughters Patricia Bob Frick and Theresa Hershel Griggs, grandchildren Becky Dan Haverfield, Scott Frick, Wendy Frick, and April Josh Artzer, and great grandchildren Sierra, Savanna, Cheyenne, Jordyn, Caden, and Scott. Also surviving are her sister, Anna Mae Conyers and numerous nieces and nephews.

God saw you getting tired, When a cure was not to be So He closed his arms around you And whispered, Come to me You didn’t deserve what you went through And so He gave you rest. God’s garden must be beautiful, As He only takes the best. And when we saw you sleeping So peaceful and free from pain, We would not wish you back To suffer that again.

God be with you until we meet again, Marylee, Mother, Grandma, & GiGi.

A memorial service was held at the Heppner Methodist Church, Heppner, Oregon on Saturday, November 23.

A celebration of her life will be held at Einan’s Funeral Home, Richland, Washington on Saturday, November 30 at 3:00 PM. Inurnment will be at Sunset Memorial Gardens.

In lieu of flowers, donations may be made in her name to the charity of your choice.