Alcie Marie Pickering, 82, passed away peacefully in her pretty purple robe on June 8, 2008 in Ellensburg, Wash. after a brief illness and with her two loving daughters at her side. The rest of her family will always love and appreciate her two daughters for taking care of her, so that she could continue to live in her own home.

Marie was born in Gering, Neb. on Feb. 11, 1926, the second daughter of Ernest and Martha Marlatt. The family lived on a homestead farm in Hawk Springs, Wyo. She went to the Hawk Springs schools for the first nine years, except for two years at Bayard, NE and one at Rawlins, WY. She made lifetime friends at Hawk Springs, including Barbara, Wilma, Joyce and Thaine. Then in July of 1942 the family moved to Oroville.

Marie attended Oroville High School for three years where she graduated valedictorian of her class on May 31, 1945. She soon was working as a bookkeeper for Cordell Apple Warehouse.

When the war was over and the boys came home, she met one of them. Kent won her heart and on Nov. 6, 1948 they were married at the United Methodist Church in Oroville. They went on a honeymoon through Canada and when they returned they made their home in their new house at Chesaw. Marie and Kent were blessed with two beautiful daughters: Loretta on April 28, 1951 and Kenna on Dec. 16, 1954.

Marie loved her life on the ranch. There were many family gatherings for holidays, summer picnics, fishing in Myers Creek and many other good times. They enjoyed camping trips to the ocean and forest, inviting nieces and nephews to come along. Marie was always prepared for company and kept her deep freeze filled with goodies for all the passed that way. Her chocolate chip cookies were very tempting for the kids that lined up by the score, with Smoky the family border collie always at the front of the line. Fishing was always an adventure. One time Kenna said, “Look mommy” and cart-wheeled into the creek. At picnics everyone checked the slope of the table before sitting down after Roger spilled his Kool-Aid once. Always the word “cattails” seemed to give the car more pep when it was going down the road.

In 1964 they left the ranch and moved to Yakima where Kent became a state driver’s license examiner. While there, Loretta and Kenna graduated from West Valley High School. In 1975 they moved to Leavenworth where Marie and Kent worked for the Leavenworth Fruit Company until his death on Aug. 6, 1986.

Marie then moved to Ellensburg to be near her daughters. She kept busy taking care of her home and garden. She liked doing things her way. She liked crafts, such as bead making, crocheting and making pictures. She was talented with writing and could take ordinary things and make you laugh. She kept all of us together with her letter writing. Marge would visit her and many times Loretta would take them on little trips. Marie would write poems and Marge would write stories about their adventures and misadventures. Kenna made a trip to Wyoming, allowing Marie to see relatives and friends she knew. One special friend was Thaine.

Marie loved baseball. The Mariners were her team. I’m sure they would do better if they had ever taken her advice.

She was preceded in death by her husband Kent, an infant grandson and her parents.

Survivors include her daughters: Loretta Ney of Ellensburg and Kenna Larson (Dan Kelly) of Walla Walla; her grandsons: Ryan Larson (Jamie), Matthew Ney (Shari McKay-girlfriend) and Jason Ney; her granddaughter, Stacey Ney-Jones; her great grandsons: Elric and Zackary Larson; her great granddaughter, Emily Larson; one very special young lady, Brittany; her two sisters: Margie Smith of East Wenatchee and Beth Owen of Oroville; her nieces: LeAnn Burns (Walt) and Kathy Larsen; her nephew Roger Owen; her grand nieces: Melanie Burns and Laura Larsen; her grand nephews: Brian Burns (Tamar) and David Larsen (Yvonne) and one great grand niece, Lexie Burns.

At her request, no services will be held. Memorials may be made to a charity of your choice.