Marlene Moore

January 5, 1940 – March 19, 2013

Marlene Moore was born Marlene Ann Gustafson on January 5, 1940 in Park River, North Dakota to Martin and Borghild Gustafson. The family, which included 13 children, struggled through many cold winters as gaining work and warmth was a challenge. In the early 1950s, her eldest brother moved the family to Silverton, Oregon; a place that always held many fond memories for Marlene. In 1956, Marlene met the handsome young man, Ben Moore, who had just returned from serving in the Korean War, at a community dance. They quickly fell in love and married. In the early years, Marlene worked in a tent maker shop while Ben was in college, and later worked at Safeway bakeries in Salem and Alaska. Ben’s work and homebuilding business took them to many different locations. In the 60s and 70s they lived in Oregon in several of the beautiful homes Ben built and where their 4 children were born. When times were tough, Marlene was thrifty and could make every dollar go far for her family. She loved to sew and kept her girls in the latest fashions with her thrift store remakes. The girls were often surprised with a new outfit Marlene had sewn for them waiting when they came home from school.

In the early 80s, Ben moved the family to Alaska, where they experienced the beauty of the vast landscape and enjoyed the abundant outdoor activities. Marlene and Ben love to go out dancing and spend time with friends. Marlene also loved singing, so Ben purchased her an elaborate karaoke music system; she soon had family and friends singing along with her. No matter how they sang, she would always say they were good. In late 80s, Ben and Marlene moved back to Oregon and began to travel extensively around the country for Ben’s Millwright work with a large company. Marlene loved to travel and they spent their weekends exploring the nearby towns they were staying in. In 1994, they purchased a home in Arizona where they stayed between their business travels and planned to retire. Marlene loved Arizona, the constant sunshine, and a cool pool to lie by; a change from the Alaska’s cold weather. In her later years, Marlene moved back to Salem to be near her family.

Marlene loved her grandbabies. She was always ready with open arms to hold and rock and love on her babies. One of the last pictures taken was of her smiling at a baby. And, even as her Alzheimer began advancing, she could still remember her 4 babies; name them in order and the special things about them as children.

Marlene is preceded in death by her husband Ben, who passed away in 2008. She is survived by her 4 children; her daughter and son-in-law, Kim and Phil Crosbie of Beaverton, Oregon; her daughter and son-in-law, Terrina and Michael Gregory of Salem, OR; her daughter and son-in-law, Kari and Travis Towery of Salem, OR; and her son and daughter-in-law, Ty and Angie Moore of Stayton, OR; 12 grandchildren and 2 great grandchildren. She also left several special friends of many years.

Services will be at 11:00 a.m. Saturday, April 6 at Salem Heights Church in Salem, Oregon. Interment will be at Miller Cemetery in Scio, Oregon.

Arrangements by Howell-Edwards-Doerksen Funeral Home. Donations in lieu of flowers to Alzheimer’s Network of Oregon.