Marilee Crawford Scheer Fitzpatrick
January 16, 1932 – January 26, 2018
Marilee Crawford Scheer Fitzpatrick was born on January 16, 1932, and passed away peacefully of natural causes on January 26, 2018. She was known for her infectious laugh, her love of music and family and for her prodigious drive to contribute and make a difference in her world.
Marilee was born to Charles and Viola Crawford in Klamath Falls, and lived in Oregon her entire life. After graduating from Klamath Falls High School, she studied music at Lewis and Clark College, where she met and married Dale Scheer. For 22 years, Marilee and Dale lived in Vale, and had six children, five of whom survive her: Lorene and Steve (Portland), Mark and Bruce (Seattle), Shelley Lute (Happy Valley) and Marna Lee (died in infancy).
After her divorce, Marilee became a single mother who continued her college education at Northwest Nazarene College and University of Oregon, where she obtained advanced degrees in music and education. She taught music in the Eugene and Greater Albany School Districts, and was appointed to be the last full-time music administrator in the State of Oregon. She then served as principal of Millersburg and Periwinkle Elementary Schools in Albany. Her lifetime awards for community service included being selected by the Albany Chamber of Commerce for the Jim Linhart First Citizen Award for outstanding service to the community of Albany, her appointment by Gov. Vic Atiyeh to the Oregon Teacher Standards and Practice Commission (TSPC) in 1983, and her selection by peers as Oregon’s “National Distinguished Principal” in 1987, for which she was honored as a guest at the White House. Marilee retired in 1997, but remained professionally active by mentoring students and by continued service on the Oregon TSPC.
Marilee was inspirational in her passion for community engagement and helping others. She was active in the Rotary Club, library and school boards, bridge clubs, church, and student mentoring. She worked tirelessly to support underprivileged children and those who taught them.
Marilee married Michael Fitzpatrick in 1983 and was instrumental in keeping her large extended family connected. She and her siblings developed a legacy of family reunions, and Marilee continued that tradition with her own kids. Each year, she and her kids, 11 grandkids, 1 great grandson, and other relatives spent a week laughing and playing together during the winter holidays in Sunriver. Marilee proudly attended the 34th consecutive Christmas Sunriver gathering shortly before she passed away. She was a loving and generous soul, and will be greatly missed by her family and friends.
A celebration of life will be held on March 10, 2018 at 2-5 pm at Valley View Evangelical Church, 11501 SE Sunnyside Rd, Clackamas, OR. In lieu of flowers, please honor Marilee’s memory and follow her example by committing your time, energy and money to supporting young people in your lives to follow their passion. Alternatively, you might consider contributing to the following organizations that were dear to Marilee: Rotary International (www.rotary.org), or “Sing Here Now,” a community choir that Marilee participated in, a project of the Alzheimer’s Association of Oregon (www.alz.org/oregon/in_my_community_61437.asp). To RSVP for the memorial event and/or to view a photo album of Marilee and her extended family through the years, please visit this website: http://evite.me/YPaurFv4qJ.
Douglas D (Doug) Fulwyler
September 24, 1930 – February 18, 2018
Doug Fulwyler passed away at Nyssa Gardens in Nyssa on Feb. 18 at the age of 87.
He was born Sept. 24, 1930 to Doak and Esther (Upton) Fulwyler in Caldwell, ID. He lived in Homedale, Idaho, where he attended elementary school until age 11. His family then moved to Beaverton in the spring of 1942, where his dad was employed in the shipyards at the beginning of World War II.
The family later moved to Vancouver, Wash., where he attended school through the ninth grade. During this time, he and younger brother Bob received training in gymnastics and became professional acrobats. They performed at county fairs, rodeos and nightclubs (where they were guided in to perform and immediately guided out after their performance). They did an act in Tacoma, Wash., July 4, 1946, that had the Sons of the Pioneers on the same program.
Doug moved with his family in February 1947 to Vale, where he attended and graduated Vale High School in 1949.
He married the love of his life, Norma Hill, on Feb. 10, 1952, after a short courtship. To this union was born four children: Steve, Diane (Greenan), Ron and Dan.
Doug’s family meant more to him than anything in the world. He was very proud of all of them. He taught all of them good work ethics and wanted them to be good citizens. They all learned from him the ability of being able to fix anything and they can certainly do that.
Doug loved to team rope and brand with family, friends and neighbors. In the 1980s, he put on many ropings at the Vale arena. Doug attend every Vale rodeo since 1947 and competed in many of them. Doug was selected as the Vale 4th of July Rodeo Grand Marshal in 2014.
Doug is preceded in death by his parents, brother Joe, grandson Cody and great-granddaughter Caitlin. He is survived by his wife Norma, his four children, 10 grandchildren, and 12 great-grandchildren.
Services will be held at the Assembly of God Church at 477 Oak St. in Vale on Saturday at 11 a.m.
Short graveside services with a dinner to follow.
In lieu of flowers donations to Nyssa Gardens Assisted Living would be appreciated.