Marcelyn Marcy Belle Thompson Knowles

Longtime Tigard resident Marcelyn Belle Knowles (Marcy), age 85, passed away on Tuesday, May 17, 2011 at St. Vincent’s Hospital in Portland, Oregon after a short battle with a very aggressive and rare form of bile duct cancer.

Marcelyn was born on June 15, 1925 in Webster City, Iowa to a proud David Arthur Thompson and Mable Belle Thompson-Ludlow. In her youth, she liked to play softball and basketball. Marcy also had a great love for music, especially evangelical music and hymns. She had several siblings, Don Thompson, David Thompson, Joanne Pagel, Wendell Thompson, and Marge Thompson.

After graduating from Van Meter High in Iowa, Marcelyn moved to San Francisco, California and worked for the FBI until she met her husband. Marcelyn was married to Dale Edward Knowles on June 16, 1951. Marcy also received her LVN Degree (Licensed Vocational Nurse) in 1974. Dale and Marcy traveled extensively as Dale’s teaching job took them to places such as Maj-oral in the Marshall Islands and many more of the South Pacific Islands before returning to Eugene, Oregon. There they had a son, Kevin Marshall Knowles. After moving again, Marcy gave birth to Jeffery Lynn Knowles in Willits, California. Later on, Marcelyn gave birth to Cheryl Anne Knowles and Brian Keith Knowles in Soap Lake, Washington. Her family, still travelling quite extensively, lived in Guam and the Philippines before coming back to both Pacifica, California and Sacramento, California. Finally settling in Tigard, Oregon, Marcy resided for more than thirty years, raising her family, caring for Dale before he passed, fostering several children over the years, and working over seventeen years with her dear friend Elizabeth at the Tigard Convalescent Home as a nurse’s aide.

Marcy touched so many people’s lives in such a wonderful way! She was thoughtful loving and kind. She unselfishly gave of her time and whatever she had for the betterment of all those around her. Marcelyn bravely fought a tough battle with an enemy that had no mercy and even when times were very hard for her, she did not complain. She was determined to live her life her way and that was exactly what she did.

Marcelyn leaves behind Jeff, his wife Jeanne and their daughters Darci and Andie. Her daughter Cheryl Anne and her husband Morteza, their son Ron and her great granddaughter Aliyah. Brian, his daughter Courtney, and his girlfriend Amber. Her cat Rosy and her dove Homer will miss her dearly. And her friends from across the globe will also miss her greatly.