Marie Chaussee 1924-2011

CHAUSSEE FORTIN

Posted By: Connie Swearingen-Volunteer (email)
Date: 8/16/2012 at 13:55:18

Sioux City Journal
July 20, 2011

Marie Chaussee of Hamilton, Mont., formerly of Salix, went to her last sweet sleep on July 10, 2011.

Cremation has taken place with a future service to be held at St. Joseph's Catholic Church in Salix. Condolences may be left for the family at www.dalyleachchapel.com.

She was born Sept. 2, 1924, in Sioux City, to Gilbert and Helen Fortin. She was the oldest child of five siblings, three daughters and two sons. Her parents were farmers in Salix, a small town south of Sioux City. Marie spent her childhood in Iowa and at the age of 17 after attending a secretarial school, she went to California to live and work. She was a secretary for the Department of the Navy at the Port Hueneme Naval Base during World War II.

On Dec. 31, 1949, she married Harry Chaussee at St. Paul's Church in Los Angeles, Calif. and they were together for 56 years until Harry's death in 2006. She was the mother to four children, Micheline Doan of Vancouver, Wash., Harry C. Chaussee of Goldendale, Wash., Jean Chaussee of Hamilton, Mont., and Gilbert Chaussee of St. Helens, Ore.

The first year of marriage Marie spent in Saudi Arabia with her husband who worked for the Arabian American Oil Company. Upon their return to the United States, Marie and Harry settled in Minneapolis and later in Rochester, Minn., where Harry worked for IBM and Marie was a housewife caring for her children. In 1970, the family moved to Portland, Ore. After her children had grown, Marie returned to work as a secretary for the Federal Government Corps of Engineers from which she retired.

In 1989, Marie and her husband, both retired, moved to Vancouver Wash., where they lived until 2000 when they moved with their daughter Jean to live in Hamilton. Harry and Marie lived with their daughter until their deaths.

Marie is survived by her daughter, Micheline (Chaussee) Doan and husband, Mark of Vancouver, Wash.; her son, Harry C. Chaussee and wife, Alison, of Goldendale, Wash.; her daughter, Jean Marie Chaussee of Hamilton; her son, Gilbert Chaussee of St. Helens, Ore.; her grandchildren, Peter Romo and wife, Christy of Vancouver, Angela Radke and husband, Bill of Dodge Center, Minn., Kevin Chaussee of Portland, and Aimee Doan of Vancouver; her great-grandchildren, Brianna and Ryan Romo of Vancouver, Katie, Magen and Zachary Radke of Dodge Center, and Brandon Chaussee of Portland.

Marie was preceded in death by her husband, Harry M. Chaussee; her parents, Gilbert and Helen Fortin of Salix; her sisters, Luann Fortin of Salix, and Lucille Beran of Grand Island, Neb.; and her brothers, Gilbert Fortin Jr. of Sioux City and Donald Fortin of Salix.

Marie loved all of her family very much and they will miss her.