Marjorie Rowland-Coe
August 13, 1935 - October 22, 2009
Obituary
08/13/35 – 10/22/09
Marjorie Rowland Coe – Marge to most and “Boo” to her family – passed away on October 22, 2009. She and her husband, Stan, express gratitude for the tender and skilled care provided her by the Ballard Swedish Campus, the extraordinary specialists that treated her – Dr. Michael Milder, Dr. Martin Siegel and Dr. Rex Ochi – along with the wonderful nurses and staff of the 12th and 11th floors of Swedish First Hill Campus. Marge was an absolute gem to us – and they all treated her as such. When she decided to stop her struggle against the symptoms of leukemia and reclaim a sense of control, it allowed her peaceful time with her family and friends and to pass with the grace and dignity with which she lived.
Marge was the first born and was raised along with her brother and sister in Pocatello, Idaho. Her parents, Ben and Opal Rowland had a family owned dairy farm there and they all thrived with extended family all around. She filled the role as oldest beautifully serving as a mentor, role model, teacher, “mother,” best friend, and advisor to her two younger siblings over the years and she was nothing short of a shining star to her proud parents. She graduated first from Pocatello High School as an Honor’s Society member and went on to receive her bachelor’s degree in Home Economics from Washington State University in 1957. While attending school there she met her husband to be – a veterinary student at the time. They quickly realized that they had formed a rare and beautiful bond and were married in Pocatello later that year. That bond would last for the next 52 years and beyond.
Marge contributed in many ways to many causes – but her greatest concerns and energies went toward children and animals. She volunteered her time and talents to various school organizations over the years and served as President of the Washington State Veterinary Medical Association Auxiliary. She was a supportive and vital partner of her husband in his practice at Elliott Bay Animal Hospital for well over 40 years. Her home was home to a wide variety of recovering or abandoned animals over the years and her doors were always open to a friend that might need a great meal or a time to heal. It seemed she knew how to make everybody feel better.
She obtained her real estate license and her eye for detail and comfortable style served her well in that career for over 30 years. Her real estate partner, Linda Johnson, grew to be so much more than just a friend and business associate that she and her husband, Mark, are considered family by all of us.
Marge had a flair that filled the room and a sense of style that sparkled. Her creative talents seemed absolutely boundless. Her culinary skills and expertise as a seamstress were well known by the time of her graduation from college. During her lifetime she tried her hand at a countless number of crafts and skills, but no matter what the endeavor – be it stained glass, furniture building and upholstery, pottery, needlework, interior design, sketching, molding, painting, or knitting – the end results were nothing short of exquisite. Her attention to detail, quality, and perfection made every product she produced one of exceptional standards.
Marge had a strong presence and an even stronger character, making her a memorable figure throughout her life in Pocatello, Pullman, Magnolia and beyond. Her wise counsel, compassion, integrity, and generous sense of humor drew people to her for all of her life. She was “mother” to many beyond her two children, Cindy Zaring, of Pullman, and Rusty Coe of Seattle. She was a cherished friend to daughter-in-law, Jacque Coe, of Seattle. She was “grandmother” to many others besides her three grandsons, Zach and Austin Zaring of Pullman and Blake Coe of Seattle. She was a close friend and confidant to an extraordinarily large circle of friends and family and her spectacular style for entertaining wrapped around many of them over the years. Her generosity has left many of us with heartfelt memories along with the treasures created by her loving and talented hands. We are all feeling the giant void left by Marge’s passing, but our hearts are filled with the love and good fortune we are feeling for having been a part of the spectacular life that she led.
Marge is survived by her husband, Stan, her daughter, Cindy and her sons, Zach and Austin Zaring, her son and his wife, Rusty and Jacque Coe and their son Blake Coe, by her sister Marilyn Rowland Locander of Boise and by her brother, Bob Rowland of Pocatello, by numerous nieces and nephews and great nieces and nephews, along with her beloved kitties, Ferguson and Chilly.
A celebration of her life will be held after the holidays. The family wishes to thank all of you who have shown care and concern for Marge and all those whose love helped her during these tremendous challenges. The many expressions of sympathy serve as a wonderful reminder of the great number of generous and loving people with whom she was surrounded.
Marge’s favorite animal causes were:
The Doney Memorial Pet Clinic; 4351 29th Ave W; Seattle, WA 98199
WSU Foundation; c/o Lynne Haley; Director of Development, Pullman, WA 99164-7010; 509-335-5021
Best Friends Animal Society; www.bestfriends.org; 435-644-2001 Ext. 4801
Or donations may be made in her memory to:
The Leukemia and Lymphoma Society; www.leukemia-lymphoma.org; 800-456-5413
Swedish Medical Center Foundation; www.swedish.org; 206-386-2738
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