Marie Ann Buck

Marie was born on August 3, 1927 in New Douglas, Illinois to Albert and Mathilda (Boehme) Ernst. She was the fourth of seven children in her family who would affectionately refer to themselves as one plus a half dozen. They prided themselves on working hard on the family dairy farm. On January 2, 1943, Marie’s brother invited his best friend, Dale Buck to join him and sister to the movies. This meeting would change the destiny of Marie’s life. She and Dale would marry on March 2, 1947 while he was in the Coast Guard. The first year of their marriage Dale would serve on an ice breaker in the Great Lakes, so when he received an offer to attend college to be a teacher he took the offer knowing it would allow him more time with his wife. In addition they began to start their family. After college and working one year in Illinois, he and Marie would move to Oregon in 1952. Dale took a job as a school teacher in the Toketee Falls area of Oregon on the North Umpqua river. It was a 3 room school house 65 miles from the nearest town. There were roughly 25-40 children at any time attending 1st through 8th grades. Marie would work side by side with Dale, as his teacher’s aide and really doing whatever work needed to be done to help her husband and their students. All four of Marie and Dales children attended this school. Marie was a talented seamstress who would make hers and her children’s clothing; also making her daughters their prom and other formal dresses. Marie could also crochet and cross stitch all sorts of projects; including Christmas stockings with their names for all four of her children, their spouses, her grandchildren and their spouses and the great grandchildren. She also loved to read to her grandchildren and great grandchildren. She and Dale wanted their children to have lots of life experiences even though they lived in such a remote area. They would drive to town weekly to be involved in their church and socialize. They also made many trips on different routes back to Illinois and they loved Oregon taking many trips to visit all 36 counties. Although, quiet at times, Marie was very social and preferred to have one on one conversation with people. She enjoyed getting to know others and was an exceptional listener. Marie also loved to help Dale out in the large garden they had at Toketee. On June 15, 1985 she and Dale retired starting a new chapter in their lives. They moved to Sun River, followed by Palm Dessert and began to RV, visiting 49 out of 50 states. They also visited all national parks but 1. At age 80 they decided to move from Southern California to Wilsonville, Oregon. After a beautiful life filled with love, Marie passed away on May 31, 2019 at age 91 in Wilsonville, Oregon. She is preceded in death by her parents and siblings, Albert Ernst, Lonita Braundmeier, Irma Clayton and Vernon Ernst. Marie is survived by her husband of 72 years, Dale B. Buck; children, Cheryl (Joe) Allen, Lana (Gary) Simning, Debi (Ken) Carpenter, Jordan (Barb) Buck, siblings, John Ernst and Iona Kline; 12 grandchildren and 6 great grandchildren. A service will be held on Saturday, June 15th at 11:00 A.M. at Community of Hope Lutheran Church in Wilsonville, Oregon. In lieu of flowers donations can be made to the church at 27817 SW Stafford Road, Wilsonville, OR 97070.