MARIER, Dolores (Dee) Jean

The Daily Courier, Prescott, Arizona, Thursday, December 18, 2014 Dolores "Dee" Jean Marier, 87, passed away peacefully, Sunday, Dec. 7, 2014. She was surrounded by the love of family. Dee had recently been diagnosed with a condition called myasthenia gravis; her death was the result of complications in treating the disorder. Born on July 22, 1927, in Spokane, Washington, Dee was the only child to Kenneth Wilbur Kenney and Edith Laura Logan. She was adopted by Thomas Grant Ware, whom she considered to be her real father. After spending her early childhood in Spokane, Dee moved to Priest Lake, Idaho, where she attended a one-room schoolhouse. She returned to Spokane to attend junior high, skipping the seventh grade as a result of her advanced learning. Dee graduated from John R. Rogers High School in the winter of 1944. During high school, Dee met the love of her life, Tommy Marier; after graduation, the high school sweethearts married on April 10, 1944. Their loving marriage spanned 70 years and produced two sons and a daughter. Dee dedicated her life to her family, helping with the war effort while Tom was in the Navy, traveling with her husband from city to city while he played semi-pro baseball, living in student housing while Tom completed his degree, and sewing curtains for the dorm rooms to help pay for his tuition. In 1957, Dee and Tom moved to Medford, where they resided for 57 years. Fueled by knowledge, Dee had an unparalleled passion for her education and career. After working for US Bank for 16 years, Dee went back to school and obtained two bachelor of science degrees in psychology and general sciences. She graduated summa cum laude in June of 1981, and continued on to receive her master's degree in social science. Working as a mental health therapist in the crisis unit at Josephine County Mental Health, Dee's boss referred to her as "the most productive person here." In 2002, Dee was prestigiously recognized as Oregon's Most Outstanding Older Worker at the age of 75. She was treated to a week in Washington, D.C., where she met with congressmen and senators to convey the importance of seniors in the workforce. Dee also ran her own private-practice therapy business for over 30 years, continuing to counsel clients right up to the end. A direct quote from Dee sums up how she lived her life: "If you have the interest, compassion and respect for people you deal with and your mind still works, then you should keep going." For over 40 years, Dee spent her summers at Diamond Lake, fishing, sun bathing, reading and relaxing, with family and friends. Her deep appreciation for nature and its beauty started a tradition that will be treasured by her family for many years to come. Dee was preceded in death by her parents, stepbrother, stepsister and her husband, Tom Marier. She is survived by her sons Tom Jr. and Terry; her daughter Jaci Evans; loving son-in-law Jeffrey Evans; grandchildren Jennifer, Kaitlyn and Madilyn Evans, and Nicholas and Sara Marier; three great-grandchildren; special sister-in-law Marian Ware; her angels Rick and Denise Wickersham; and many treasured colleagues and friends. Dee lived life to the fullest and she will be dearly missed by all. Her love, drive and dedication to everyone she touched will benefit generations to come. A burial service for family and friends attendance will be held at 1 p.m. Thursday, Dec. 18, 2014, at Siskiyou Memorial Park in Medford, Oregon. A celebration in honor of Dee's amazing life will be held at 11 a.m. on Feb. 7, 2015, at Table Rock Fellowship. All are invited. In lieu of flowers, donations in her memory can be made to either of the following organizations: Kairos, http://kairosnw.org, or The Macular Degeneration Foundation, www.macular.org. Information provided by survivors.