Marnee Smull passed away on June 16 at her home in Richland, Washington surrounded by her family, less than three weeks after being diagnosed with acute leukemia.

Marnee was born in 1952 in Portland, Oregon. She was the eldest of Charles H. and Virginia Sharkey Bleeg’s seven children. Marnee had an idyllic childhood in northeast Portland where she ruled the roost and attended The Madeleine grade school and Holy Child Academy. She graduated from Oregon State University in 1975 with a degree in Resource Recreation Management.

During her high school and college summers, she followed her love of horses to Joseph, Oregon to work at her cousin’s guide/outfitter post, and then to Boardman, Oregon to work on his farm. It was there that she met her true love and life partner, Rick Smull, at the Eastern Oregon Farming Company. Back then, Marnee was known for her ability to drive perfectly straight lines in all the farming operations without any landmarks on the horizon — a metaphor for how she navigated life. She cut her own trail and was a straight shooter.

Marnee and Rick married in November 1980 and lived first in Hermiston, Oregon, where they brought three sons, Paul, Carl, and Eric, into the world. They raised their boys in Irrigon, Oregon, and most recently moved to Richland to be closer to their sons and their families.

Throughout her career, Marnee worked in the alfalfa and land prep departments at Eastern Oregon; in accounting at Western Empire; in the lab at Logan International; and as the “irrigation chick” at Eagle Ranch, all the while volunteering in her kids’ schools. In retirement, she enjoyed travelling (especially to Hawaii) and spending time with Rick and their kids and grandkids. Upon receiving her devastating diagnosis, she burst into a flurry of activity to get her affairs in order and make her exit from this world easier on her family. Marnee was practical to the core. She handled her impending death with grace and humor.

Always gregarious, Marnee was also content being alone. She had a book-a-day reading habit and loved research. Both book smart and street smart, she could converse about any subject: current affairs, family history, and (her specialty) obscure facts and oddities. She was a confident woman who didn’t sweat the small stuff, and her wisdom made her a trusted adviser on life. She remained quick-witted and irreverent to the end. She was proud of her three boys and cherished her grandchildren.

Marnee is survived by her husband, Rick Smull; her sons and daughters-in-love Paul Smull (Marci), Carl Smull (Amy), and Eric Smull (Jamie); her grandchildren Georgia, Brock, Chloe, and Emily; her siblings Joan Bleeg, Ann Welch, Susan Bleeg, Chuck Bleeg, Paul Bleeg, and Sarah Morris; and numerous nieces and nephews.

Marnee will be laid to rest at Sunset Gardens in Richland, Washington — a spot she picked out on the drive home after receiving her diagnosis.