Marvin "Marv" Stanley Jamerson

Marvin Stanley Jamerson, 89, passed away on June 7, 2026. He was born on June 4, 1937, in Toppenish, Washington, to Othal and Mabel Jamerson, the youngest of five children: Opal, Wayne, Lawrence, and James.

Marv spent his early years in Yakima before the family moved to Eatonville, where they lived on 500 acres of rugged land. There, he learned the value of hard work — horse logging, climbing trees to peel bark, and helping with the daily demands of farm life. He graduated from Eatonville High School, where he played fullback on the football team, and later attended Centralia Junior College, excelling in both football and track.

He served for several years in the Washington National Guard. In 1961, he married Peggy Willis in Seattle, and together they raised two sons, John William Jamerson and Jay Willis Jamerson. In 1964, Marv and Peggy built a home on the Rochester farm, raising Black Angus cattle and thousands of chickens.

Marv’s work life was as varied as it was industrious. He served as a fire commissioner for the Rochester Fire District and later owned and operated Jamerson Gravel Company, delivering gravel, repairing Mack trucks in the garage, and building roads throughout the area. Over the years, he also owned a retail plumbing store in Rochester, operated a used car lot in Centralia, managed a rock quarry in Olympia, and worked as a plumber in Dalles, Texas, and Redding, California. In his late twenties, he worked as a reefnet fisherman on Lummi Island.

He spent several years as a heavy-duty diesel mechanic at the Centralia steam plant before founding Amalgamated Construction, building homes and commercial structures across Lewis County. Marv and his second wife, Iva Mae (Lake-Scott) Jamerson, whom he married in 1982, traveled to San Francisco, Amsterdam, and other parts of Europe doing missionary work. He served as an Elder at Centralia Community Church for many years and played a key role in organizing volunteers during the construction of the Centralia Christian School. Iva passed away on July 4, 2017, after a long battle with Parkinson’s disease.

In 2018, Marv married Ruth (MMN: Peters) Forrest, a longtime friend, and together they made their home in Centralia. Marv and Ruth enjoyed their time together, relaxing and doing some traveling.

Marv’s interests were wide-ranging and reflected his curiosity and hands-on nature. He loved following the Seattle Mariners and Seahawks, reading Louis L’Amour novels, fixing anything mechanical, raising Labrador dogs (Mac and Cobra), and studying history — especially World War II.

He is survived by Ruth Jamerson, Peggy Jamerson, his sons John and Jay Jamerson, and many extended family members and friends who will remember his work ethic, resourcefulness, and unwavering commitment to his community.

A memorial service will be held at 1:00 PM on July 25, 2026, at Harrison Square Presbyterian Church, 1227 Harrison Ave, Centralia, Washington. Cookies and coffee will be served. All are welcome to bring memories and stories to share.