Marilyn J. (Power) Lee

Marilyn J. (Power) Lee, 90, died peacefully at Salem Hospital on December 5, 2022. She was born on July 28, 1932 at the General Hospital in Salem, Oregon. She was the only child of Dr. F. Kenneth and Catherine E. Power of Salem. She attended Washington Grade School, Parish Junior High School and was proud to be of the Class of 1950 from Salem High School. While in high school, she was active in many activities and was the editor of the school paper, The Clarion, her senior year. She spent her entire lifetime in Salem, except for her early college years at the University of Oregon in Eugene. While there, she pledged Kappa Alpha Theta sorority. She married our dad, Richard D. Lee, then left school when their first daughter (Julie) was born and became a stay-at-home mom, going on to help raise four children. At age 46, she decided to finish college and earn her degree. She attended Chemeketa Community College, Linfield College and Willamette University, ultimately obtaining a Master’s Degree in Psychology. She taught Psychology at Chemeketa from the early 1980’s until she retired in 1995. Marilyn was an avid reader, enjoyed sewing, liked to travel and loved music - later in life becoming part of the “Just for Fun Singers”, a singing group of seniors in Salem. She also thoroughly enjoyed seeing her high school classmates at various functions over the years. She spent her final years at Bonaventure Assisted Living in Keizer, where she was active in many activities including choir, bingo and painting. Marilyn is survived by her four children and eight grandchildren: Daughter Julie Kelly of Salem and her two sons, Casey and Brian Wiebe; son Richard D. Lee, Jr. of Salem, his wife Sara, and their three daughters Erika, Kelsey and Samantha; son Michael of Keizer and his wife Brenda; and daughter Patricia Vaughan of Eugene, her husband Scott, and their three sons Logan, Lochlan and Hayden. Her first cousin, Jeannie Williams, and her family also survive her. Her service will take place on Friday, December 23rd at 11:00 AM at Virgil T. Golden Funeral Home in Salem followed by a graveside service. Interment will be at City View Cemetery in Salem, close to her parents. The family wishes to thank the staff at Bonaventure of Keizer for taking care of mom as a resident and helping her during the final few years of her life and the staff at Salem Hospital for their caring of our mother as well. Donations can be made to the charity of your choice.