Marie Arlene Shallenberger

Marie Arlene Snider was born in Boise, Idaho, 4 days after Christmas in 1923. She grew up during the Great Depression and times were hard. Every year her mother, Ruby, handmade Christmas presents for the kids: Leland, Marie and Eddie. In Marie’s own words, "I was a small, quiet little girl. I had a favorite doll named Betty and a doll bed and blankets and a lot of doll clothes. My mother made my dresses and coats. I wished for a dress made of plain material because I associated the print materials with aprons.”

In 1929, her father Oscar, raised produce and sold it out of his truck. During harvest times, he had to sleep in a tent in his field since many hungry people tried to steal the produce. In 1932, the family inherited money from an uncle and they bought an 80-acre ranch in the Boise River Valley. Moving to the ranch also brought lots of work for the family with milk cows, pigs and sheep to take care of. Her brothers worked in the barn and in the fields with horses to do the heavy work. Marie, at 9 years old, learned cooking and housekeeping. Alfalfa was grown and harvested to feed the animals. Milk was sold to the local creamery.

Marie attended Eagle High School in Boise and was the editor of the school paper and yearbook. She was also on the girls’ basketball team. She loved going to church camp and to her youth group called the Baptist Young Peoples Union. After high school, Marie attended the same business college that her mother had 20 years before. Marie learned accounting and her first job was with Arrowhead Freight Lines. She carpooled to work during the war years.

Marie met and dated Corporal John Shallenberger, even traveling by train to Pittsburgh to meet his parents. She decided he was “too young” and returned home without an engagement ring. That was not the end of John in her life, however.

In 1946 Marie moved to Ballard and lived with her aunt. There she went to church where a young man saw her and said to his friend, “see that girl there in the white coat? She’s for me!” She married Melvin Wedman 6 months later. Melvin owned Mel’s North Park Grocery Store on 102nd & Aurora and the couple lived in a duplex near Market St. in Ballard. Marie felt too shy to work in the store, so they hired a full-time woman to help. Marie and Mel had two daughters, Sharon and Elaine for whom she loved to sew and made all their clothes.

After 14 years in the grocery business, Mel sold the store and became a realtor. Mel died of a heart attack in 1967. Marie had to go to work. Passing the Civil Service Exam, she worked for the government at Sand Point Naval Base for one year until all the employees were let go as the base was closing. In the early 70’s a job at the University of Washington Housing Office gave Marie “on the job” computer training. This office handled housing for the students. She was there until 1978, and….

She met John Shallenberger again! John, working for Allstate Insurance Co, became the agent for Marie’s son-in-law who told him Marie was widowed. John had been married, was now single and had raised 4 kids. He called her and things went from there… they were married in February 1978. John asked Marie if she would consider quitting her job, because he said “I need lots of care!”, so she left her job. They lived in her house near Haller Lake and then in 1984 they moved to the condo at Lake Ballinger Estates. Marie and John had season tickets to the Husky football games and she enjoyed the Mariners, learning the names and numbers of all the players.

John retired in 1988 and then they traveled. For 17 years in a row, during the months of November and December, they met with friends and spent time in Hawaii. They also went on 7 trips with Stan Boreson Tours; to California, Nevada, Canada, New York City and Washington D.C.

John died in 2003 and Marie lived alone in the condo until the age of 88, when she decided that senior living would be helpful, and moved to Gig Harbor to live near her daughter Sharon.

Marie was a member of Lake City Presbyterian Church since 1960 where she served as a deacon, was a member of circles, wedding helper, Sunday school teacher, nursery worker, and president of the Women’s’ Association and was honored as a National Honorary Life Member in UPW.

Marie lived in Gig Harbor for 10 years, until she passed away August 16, 2022 at the age of 98. She was a beloved wife, mother, grandmother and great-grandmother and a lovely Christian example to all who knew her.

A graveside service for Marie will be held Thursday, September 1, 2022 at 12:00 PM at Evergreen Memorial Park. Following the graveside service will be a reception in the celebration hall of Evergreen Washelli Funeral Home, 11111 Aurora Ave N, Seattle, WA 98133.