Margaret Fritz Cheesman

Margaret (Marnie) Cheesman died peacefully in her sleep August 17th surrounded by her daughter and son. Marnie grew up in Cathlamet Washington and spent a lot of time with friends and family. She was considered a “tom boy” as she spent so much time outside and in nature. Marnie was the queen of the Wahkiakum County Fair in 1954 and graduated from Cathlamet High School in 1955. There she played on the tennis team and played piano in the school orchestra.

She received a Bachelor of Science degree from the Herrick School of Medical Record Librarians at Mill’s College in California. She was a pioneer for women in the field and of executive roles in the workplace in the 1960s and 1970s. Her first job in her chosen field was at Ballard Hospital in 1960 as a historian. During this time, she met Hugh Cheesman, and they were married within a year. She helped open Steven’s Memorial Hospital (Now Swedish Edmonds) in 1963 as Director of the Medical Record Department and finished her long and distinguished career in public health with Snohomish County, retiring in 2003.

Marnie was an avid sports fan and could be seen jumping up and down and screaming in the stands at a Washington Huskies football game or even (this is real) in front of the television watching the Seahawks. She took pride in knowing all the players names and where they came from. Due to her enthusiasm, she was even an honorary coach at her son’s soccer game when the coaches were out sick.

Marnie Cheesman was born October 29th, 1937 in Multnomah County Oregon to Harold and Margaret (Peggy) Fritz and raised in Cathlamet Washington. She is survived by her sister Beverly Allen-Hill, daughter, Currin Brummett, son Will Cheesman (Kendal), and grandchildren Jackson Brummett, Brooklynn Brummett, and Liam Cheesman.

In lieu of flowers, memorials may be made in Margaret Cheesman’s name to: Sound Foundation for Snohomish County Public Health (soundfoundationph.org)