As an amazing "coincidence" with all the comparisons throughout her life on her resemblance to the "Queen", Queen Elizabeth actually passed on the exact same day (8 Sep) 2 years after Marie passed.

Everywhere she went, mom was always getting the comment " you look just like the Queen".  When she was young she greatly resembled Princess Grace (Grace Kelly - see picture in photo album). Even in the backwoods of Wyoming at a dude ranch, three British ladies finally approached her, stating they thought she was the Queen Mum but didn't see any security detail.  Check out the Queen Elizabeth picture below for comparison. We all laughed as mom was wearing a flannel shirt, jeans, and boots as we were preparing to head out on a 4-hour horseback trip into the Grizzly Bear Basin camp site for the week.

A few years after my dad had passed, mom was getting bored.  My husband and I asked her to join us on our annual NASA ski week trip.  Little did we know we ended up creating a snowmobile fanatic! The faster she could go, the higher she could get a jump, the better. She quickly got over her "worry" about helmut hair, declaring it was well worth it for the fun. She went with us on every ski week after that, until in her late 80s, when we went to Park City, UT.  She and my husband were heading home with the group when her machine strut hit a rock and went out of control. Showing her quick thinking and reflexes, she jumped off just before it went over the edge. Her ankle was fractured but all she was concerned about was that she was going to miss our horseback riding trip the next day.  When we took her on these trips, my brother had always stated "you break her, you keep her". So needless to say, I headed home with her for a few weeks, where she was already talking about the next trip.

Mom was one of few women hunting in those days. She and my dad would hunt around the world together. One of my favorite stories I remember hearing from my family when I  was young was from one of the annual hunting trips my parents went on in Reno, NV every to visit the Griswold's. One day, they had spotted a large buck way above and across a ravine. All the men proceeded to take their turns trying to hit it. All missed. Mom finally said "are you boys done?" She proceeded to take her single shot. The buck dropped. They jokingly asked "so where did you hit it". She replied "in the neck of course". When Ivan got to the other side of the mountain where the buck was, sure enough, it was in the neck. Ivan stated "I wanted to shoot it in the butt! so we didn't look so bad".  Go Mom!!

I wish I could be with you all today to remember and celebrate the life of a woman I call Grammie. To me, Grammie was a loving grandmother who really nurtured me into who I am today. I always would love to look at the animal mounts Grammie had in her wonderful home. every time I would point to a mount and ask her about it, she would tell me a wonderful story. My favorite things were always animals, as I am studying animal science today at Cal Poly. She knew how much I loved these beautiful creatures. She would save National Geographic magazines just for me, so that we could spend hours together going through them, finding my favorite animal pictures in them, cutting them out, and gluing them all together to make a collage.
She would share stories of the animals on the farm and tell me about her hunting trips. She truly nurtured me and helped me grow into the person I am today. She also kept some of my favorite DVDs, including Tom and Jerry, which is a show that my mom didn't like, but I loved and Grammie kept it there for me to watch with her for our movie days. 
I really do cherish these times that I had with her and am so grateful for her loving heart towards me growing up. Grammie helped me flourish into who I am today, helping animals in need, just as she had done countless times.
While Grammie's life on this physical earth is gone, the cherished memories of time with her will stay with me for my whole life.

Some of you have known our mother longer than I have, and others more recently in the latter, more difficult part of her life. So, as we give fair wells and celebrate who Marie was, as she would like to be remembered, we need to look past the last several years of surviving the challenges of life she faced, and recall the years she lived life.
The last years of her life were not easy or comfortable to say the least. She endured the best she could and found strength in the kindness that surrounded her. From the staff that cared for her on a daily basis, to the friends that would rejuvenate her with a phone call or surprise visit. In her worst moments, she found strength in the compassion from those around her, making the difficult days a little easier. 
She often felt regret and the need to ask forgiveness following times when the pain or difficulty of the moment overwhelmed the person and personality she wanted to be. But now that this part of her journey has come to an end, let's remember only the best as we all hope to be remembered when our journey comes to this point.
Remember her as a women of strength. She raised a family as a working mom; survived the loss of her oldest son, and later her husband years before either should have been called to God; endured the debilitating pain of 4 spine fractures, 1 hip fracture, and a life threatening infection that lasted for weeks. This and much more, yet she endured it all.
Remember her as a woman of compassion, helping others when they were in need. But most of all, remember her as a woman of adventure. She excelled in so many areas, including hunting, horseback riding, wine tasting, and even snowmobiling into her 80's. Let us remember Marie as she was at her best, as God sees us, and wish her peace and happiness, with Him, for this final journey.

Dear Kim, Chris and families,  Regretfully, I am too sick to attend Marie's service. However, I would like to share a few Marie stories with you, from my days on Marie Court.
    Marie and Ruthie were already acquainted through Ruthie's work at the  Hospital.  It wasn't until her new home was  finished, that she and I got to know each other.  The first story involved our little dog,  Francis.  When he saw Marie walking to the mail box, he would immediately go over to her,  get his pat on the head and then walk with her to the mailbox .  Francis became so used to Marie , that when her name was mentioned, he would turn and start toward her home., expecting us to follow him up to her front door.
   One day Marie and I were talking about a car which had been vandalized.  She told me , with a little smile on her face, that if she saw this happening, that the intruders had better be quick or they would feel the pain of buck shot from her shotgun.
    One Christmas season, before Joel and Abby arrived to live with us,  I was climbing a 20 foot extension ladder putting up lights.  As I was reaching out, I heard this voice telling me to get down off the ladder.  She said, "If you don't get down, I am standing right here holding this thing until you do."  I got down! 
    My last memory is when Abby was 4 and designated to take the Christmas jam gift up to Marie's.  Francis, of course, heard Marie's name mentioned and he was off. They both were up the street and knocking at the door before I even got to the driveway.  When Marie opened the door, she had to wait to let me in. 15 mins later, Francis is exploring, Abby is looking at the tree and I am sipping the  Famous Reuter Family Christmas drink. 
    She was a good friend and fondly remembered.  Russ Burgess 

OBITUARY

Marie Frances Reuter

28 November, 1926 – 8 September, 2020

Mount Vernon Memorial Park & Mortuary

Show your support

Add a Memory

Share Obituary

Get Reminders

Services