The daily Astorian. (Astoria, Or.) 1961-current, August 06, 2020, Image 21

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The daily Astorian., August 06, 2020, Page 21, Image 21

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Newspaper Page TextA5 THE ASTORIAN • THURSDAY, AUGUST 6, 2020 OBITUARIES For anyone who knew Marlene Mestrich, an Asto- rian for 60 years, they would know her as a very passion- ate, active and energetic community volunteer, home- maker, mother of three, and much, much more. Her love for most all things Astoria did not seem to have many if any bound- aries. Those who knew her well were very much aware of her fortitude in accom- plishing her goals, which often included her periodi- cally ignoring the boundaries around her. Marlene Ardys Ballew was born on Oct. 16, 1932, in Hot Springs, South Dakota, to Don and Blanche (Abel- son) Ballew. The ﬁ rst for- mative years of her life were spent in the beauty of the Black Hills, where she grew up in Hill City during the 1930s as the middle of three Ballew daughters. They were constantly seeking a bet- ter life than the depths of the Great Depression had thrown at them. After World War II broke out, the family moved, and moved and moved … and continued to move. Her father became a ﬂ ight instructor for Navy and Army Air Corps schools. She often shared the story of moving 13 different times in a single elementary school year. The family trav- eled across the western U.S., from Puyallup to Yakima to Prescott, Arizona to Idaho to Utah and various places in California and back to Washington. Following her father’s World War II service, the family made it to Puyallup, and a year later they jogged the short distance to Tacoma. That move marked the end of Marlene’s constantly revolv- ing schools, and it was there that she set down even more roots, attending Jason Lee Junior High School and grad- uating from Stadium High School in the Class of 1951. Marlene was proud of her Marlene Mestrich Merilyn Jean Jensen Astoria Oct. 16, 1932 — June 28, 2020 Astoria Dec. 16, 1938 — Aug. 2, 2020 high school, one of the most ternal organization that sup- stunningly beautiful schools ported the Astoria Regatta, in the entire U.S. It was orig- by hosting luncheons, the inally built as an Regatta Queen over-the-top hotel Coronation, the in the 1890s, and Anchor Tea, par- completed as a ticipating in the high school in the Regatta Parade and 1900s — a role it much more. By the continues to ful- 1980s she had held ﬁ ll to this day. their highest ofﬁ ce She was not only of skipper and oth- a popular student, ers, had been the but a member of court chaperone the “Tigeranna” Marlene Mestrich and then some. marching team and As organiza- the cheerleading squad. tions became more and more After high school, Mar- co-ed, it was a natural leap lene rose quickly through for her to join the Astoria the secretarial pool to assist Regatta Association Board, the Army leadership at Fort and eventually lead that orga- Lewis, and it was there that nization. And lead it, she did! she met the love of her life: Forging strong ties with the Christopher Paul Mestrich. Royal Rosarians, s hips u p When he asked Marlene for r iver to the Portland Rose her hand in marriage, and to Festival, the Northwest Fes- join him in their life’s journey tival Association and others, — she happily accepted. helping the festival to bloom. They married at Saint Pat- But her greatest love of the rick’s c hurch in Tacoma on Astoria Regatta was bringing April 11, 1953, then made in the Navy and Coast Guard their home in Astoria, where ships for the August event. Chris worked with his brother This was a skill; she was and father at Chris’ News. very good (and persistent) at. Marlene became the secre- There’s a great Daily Asto- tary at the Astoria Chamber rian story about a ship can- of Commerce, which was celing its 2003 Regatta visit conveniently located in the due to being called into secu- very same building as Chris’ rity operations off the coast at 14th and Commercial of California. streets. Marlene promptly hit As the 1950s came into the phones until she got the full blossom, and the 1960s results she wanted. To the began, Marlene focused on astonishment of the USS raising her family. After hav- Ford commander, the head ing their three children, and of the entire Third Fleet con- getting them off to school, she tacted him personally, redi- turned her sights on becom- recting the vessel to go ahead ing actively involved in the with its Regatta visit because community. In fact, for Mar- … “some lady had been on lene the term actively may the phone and …” just be an understatement! If she wasn’t work- Marlene’s love for pro- ing on something regarding moting all things Astoria led the community, you could to an active role with the always ﬁ nd her sharing her Astoria Chamber of Com- love of Astoria with every- merce as a volunteer a mbas- one she met while working at sador, as well as becoming Chris’ News. Her hard work a recipient of their highest and community involve- honor in 1989: the George ment culminated with being Award. honored by the American She was thoroughly Association of University involved with the Astoria Women for Astoria’s Bicen- Anchor Club, a women’s fra- tennial as one of 100 Women Who Helped Make Astoria Unique. Marlene will always be remembered for being a “Cheerleader for her commu- nity — an amazing woman who got things done!” Marlene’s husband of 58 years, Chris, passed in 2012; and in 2013, she left Asto- ria to be close to her chil- dren and care in s outhwest Washington. On June 28, 2020, Mar- lene passed peacefully in her sleep. After 32,033 days of life with us, she is now joy- fully reunited with her hus- band, Chris, her mother, father and sister, Bubs. Surviving Marlene are her loving children, Paul, Carol (Jerry) and Monica (Michael); her grandchil- dren, Sebastian, Harrison and Nathaniel; and her sister, De. A heartfelt thank you from the family to all the wonder- ful caregivers who touched Marlene’s life; especially to everyone at Fairgate Estate — we will forever be grateful to you for blessing her with so much love and compassion. If you would like to remember Marlene with a donation, the family would greatly appreciate directing it towards a local cause she very much embraced: The Clat- sop County Historical Soci- ety. Please mail the donation to the Clatsop County His- torical Society, P.O. Box 88, Astoria, OR., 97103, or make a donation over the phone by calling 503-325-2203. There is no celebration of life planned. Instead, once the COVID-19 pandemic has stabilized and is manageable, there is the hope and desire that reunions of the extended families can occur. Most importantly, if you love or loved Astoria, you would have loved Marlene, and the legacy she left. It would be her wish that you follow a similar pathway wherever you are at: Live your life to the fullest — and, like Marlene, don’t always take no for an answer! Jack helped more than 80 local business owners navigate the Small Business Administration’s Paycheck Protection Program, securing nearly $15 million in lending. Partner for Business! EQUIPMENT , INC. Jack Ficken VP/Relationship Manager, Commerical Loan Officer SALES • SERVICE • RENTALS (503) 298-2330 jficken@lewisandclarkbank. com 34912 HWY 101 BUS • ASTORIA 503-325-0792 • 1-800-220-0792 Lewis & Clark Bank Astoria | 988 Commercial Street SEVENDAY FORECAST FOR ASTORIA TODAY FRIDAY SATURDAY facebook.com/dailyastorian CLATSOP POWER Hats Off to You, Jack You truly are a Merilyn Jean Jensen involved in the Astoria passed away in Portland on Midsummer Scandinavian Aug. 2, 2020. Festival, the C rab, Sea- She was born food & Wine Dec. 16, 1938, F estival and the in Salem, Ore- Great Colum- gon, to Tony and bia Crossing. Lillian Hromas. She was a cruise She grew up on ship greeter, her family’s farm and enthusiasti- with her sib- cally shared her lings, Wayne and love of Asto- Marlys, attend- ria. She was ing elementary highly involved Merilyn Jensen school at a two- at First Lutheran room school- Church, in addi- house near Crabtree. tion to being a member of She attended Albany the Astoria Senior Cen- High School and graduated ter, the Clatsop County from Oregon State Uni- Historical Society and the versity, where she majored Columbia River Maritime in elementary education. Museum. Merilyn enjoyed golf- While in college, she was a member of the Delta ing, ﬁ shing, arranging Gamma s orority and Mor- ﬂ owers and was an avid tar Board. She began her gardener. She loved to teaching career in Beaver- travel, and enjoyed navi- gating on her and John’s ton, Oregon. In 1963 she married many road trips throughout John Jensen, and they the years. She enjoyed her made their home in Asto- bridge group and birthday ria with their son, Eric. group. She was an excel- Merilyn taught elemen- lent baker, and known tary school in Astoria for especially for her apple several years. She later pies and her cookies. Merilyn will be missed worked at Coast to Coast in by all who knew her. She Warrenton before retiring. Merilyn was very ser- is survived by her hus- vice-minded, and was band, John Jensen; son, involved in many local Eric (Sue) Jensen; grand- organizations during her children, Clairisa and Brett life. She is especially Jensen; brother, Wayne remembered for her kind, Hromas; and many nieces giving nature and always and nephews. Memorial contributions putting others ﬁ rst. She was in the Anchor Club, may be made to the Astoria PEO and she served on the High School Scholarships YMCA Board of Directors. Inc. , PEO Scholarship She served on the Ore- Fund or the First Lutheran gon State a lumni b oard Church. Due to COVID-19, a for six years, volunteered at the Astoria-Warrenton gathering will not be held. Caldwell’s Luce-Lay- Area Chamber of Com- merce for 25 years and ton Mortuary is in charge served on the Astoria Civil of the arrangements; please sign the online guest book Service Commission. Merilyn had been at caldwellsmortuary.com SUNDAY MONDAY TUESDAY WEDNESDAY REGIONAL FORECAST Shown is today’s weather. Temperatures are today’s highs and tonight’s lows. Seattle 68 53 Clearing 69 56 69 54 70 53 Sunny to partly Partly sunny cloudy Partly sunny 70 55 69 54 Low clouds Chance of a shower 68 53 Mostly sunny Aberdeen Olympia 67/55 70/55 Wenatchee Tacoma Moses Lake 72/49 ALMANAC UNDER THE SKY TODAY'S TIDES Astoria through Tuesday Tonight’s Sky: The Great Square of Pegasus is in the eastern night sky after sunset. Astoria / Port Docks Temperatures High/low ................................ 71/57 Normal high/low .................. 68/54 Record high .................. 92 in 2012 Record low .................... 43 in 1982 Precipitation Tuesday ................................... 0.00” Month to date ........................ 0.03” Normal month to date ......... 0.10” Year to date .......................... 38.49” Normal year to date ........... 37.29” Forecasts and graphics provided by AccuWeather, Inc. ©2020 Time High (ft.) Time Low (ft.) 3:15 a.m. 4:24 p.m. 7.6 10:05 a.m. -0.6 7.0 10:17 p.m. 1.7 Cape Disappointment 2:51 a.m. 4:01 p.m. Source: Jim Todd, OMSI Hammond SUN AND MOON Sunrise today .................. 6:04 a.m. Sunset tonight ............... 8:38 p.m. Moonrise today ........... 10:31 p.m. Moonset today ............... 9:03 a.m. Last New First Full 3:06 a.m. 4:12 p.m. Warrenton 3:10 a.m. 4:19 p.m. Knappa 3:52 a.m. 5:01 p.m. Depoe Bay Aug 11 Aug 18 Aug 25 Sep 1 2:03 a.m. 3:15 p.m. 7.7 9:16 a.m. -0.6 6.8 9:24 p.m. 1.9 8.0 9:33 a.m. -0.7 7.2 9:47 p.m. 1.8 8.0 9:49 a.m. -0.5 7.4 10:01 p.m. 1.8 7.8 11:06 a.m. -0.5 7.3 11:18 p.m. 1.4 8.1 8:44 a.m. -0.6 7.2 8:54 p.m. 2.3 City Atlanta Boston Chicago Dallas Denver Honolulu Houston Los Angeles Miami New York City Phoenix San Francisco Wash., DC Fri. Hi/Lo/W 89/70/s 83/69/pc 80/62/pc 98/79/pc 91/63/t 88/77/pc 95/74/pc 77/59/pc 92/79/t 82/69/s 109/82/s 71/56/pc 82/72/t 91/72/s 76/66/pc 83/66/s 97/79/pc 95/65/pc 90/77/sh 93/75/s 78/61/pc 91/79/t 80/70/t 110/84/s 72/55/pc 85/73/t Weather (W): s-sunny, pc-partly cloudy, c-cloudy, sh-showers, t-thunderstorms, r-rain, sf-snow ﬂ urries, sn-snow, i-ice. 86/57 Hermiston The Dalles 84/54 Enterprise Pendleton 76/42 80/49 77/55 La Grande 79/45 75/49 NATIONAL CITIES Today Hi/Lo/W 77/46 Kennewick Walla Walla 82/55 Lewiston 87/54 70/53 Salem Pullman 79/48 Longview 68/53 Portland 74/55 78/49 Yakima 85/54 72/49 Astoria Spokane 77/54 Corvallis 76/49 Albany 74/49 John Day Eugene Bend 78/48 74/39 80/47 Ontario 93/59 Caldwell Burns 83/40 91/55 Medford 83/54 Klamath Falls 78/40 City Baker City Brookings Ilwaco Newberg Newport Today Hi/Lo/W 82/42/s 68/52/pc 66/56/c 73/49/r 61/47/sh Fri. Hi/Lo/W 80/45/s 72/59/s 67/56/pc 79/53/pc 61/48/pc City North Bend Roseburg Seaside Springﬁ eld Vancouver Today Hi/Lo/W 68/52/pc 79/53/pc 67/54/c 75/48/c 72/52/r Fri. Hi/Lo/W 68/54/s 85/56/s 69/55/pc 82/51/s 77/56/pc