Marlys Sue (McGarvey) KETCHUM

KETCHUM, MCGARVEY, DROESSLER, FRAZIER, VESTWEBER

Posted By: Sarah Thorson Little (email)
Date: 11/20/2013 at 12:33:31

January 22, 1934 --- November 8, 2013

Marlys Sue (Mickey) Ketchum passed away November 8, 2013 in her home in Jacksonville, Ore. She was born January 22, 1934 on a farm in rural Blackhawk County, Iowa. She was the first child of Leo and Rose McGarvey. Marlys grew up on that farm and attended a one room county school through eighth grade, then attended high school in Hudson, Iowa, graduating in a class of 13 in 1951. She went on to attend Iowa State Teachers College (now Northern Iowa University) in Cedar Falls, Iowa. She graduated in slightly over three years with a BA in education. Teaching was a life-long love, second only to her family. She taught in three states; Iowa, Washington, and Oregon. She started her career in Belmond, Iowa teaching business and typing. It was there that she met her future husband, Ron. They were married October 19, 1957 at Blessing Roman Catholic Church in the country near Hudson, Iowa.

They moved to Darrington, Wash. where Ron had an appointment with the U.S. Forest Service. She taught junior high and their first two children, Kathy and Scott, were born there. She and Ron moved frequently to accommodate his career. A hiatus in her teaching career came when they moved to the remote Tieton Ranger Station, Wash. in 1962. They were blessed with their third child, Tim, while at that location. She took in college foreign exchange students for the summers. In 1966 they moved to Prairie City, Ore. and she was able to expand her career and took a position in the John Day School District. She taught art, business law, and business. In 1971 they moved to Sisters, Ore. and she worked at the Bend School District, first as a junior high math and science teacher, then later at Mountain View High School where she returned to business courses. They lived on a 17 acre "ranchette" where they were able to give their children a taste of growing up in a farm setting. She was a 4-H leader in the small, rural community. The last move came in 1980 to the Medford, Ore. area. She worked for the county Educational Service District in an alternate high school for "at risk" kids. This work turned out to be the most satisfying of her long career. She continued to work with disadvantaged or special needs kids the rest of her career with Jackson County and Phoenix School District.

She retired in 1993 but continued to work as volunteer for children and families under various county programs. She was very active in the League of Women Voters and American Association of University Women until health problems required her to cut back in 2011.

She is survived by her husband, Ron of Central Point, Ore.; daughter, Kathy (Terry) Ketchum Droessler of Monmouth, Ore.; son, Scott (Sharon) Ketchum of Colville, Wash.; son, Tim Ketchum of Eugene, Ore. and his two sons, Cory and Nick Ketchum. She is also survived by her brother, Dick (Donna) McGarvey, and their three children, Maura (Kevin) Frazier, Rick (Michele) McGarvey, and Erin McGarvey; and sister-in-law, Mary Jane (Garold) Vestweber of Belmond, Iowa. She was preceded in death by her parents, Leo and Rose McGarvey.

Visitation will be held from 5:00 p.m. to 8:00 p.m. Friday, November 15, 2013 at Memory Gardens Mortuary. A funeral Mass will be held at 11:00 a.m. Saturday, November 16, 2013 at Sacred Heart Catholic Church. Interment will be in Memory Gardens Memorial Park with a reception to follow. In lieu of flowers donations may be made to Kids Unlimited, 821 N. Riverside Avenue, Medford, OR 97501, in her name. Memory Gardens Memorial Park & Mortuary are in care of arrangements.

Mail Tribune - Medford, Oregon
November 2013