Obituary: Marks, Elaine Marie
Age 84
(Wilson) Justice.
In her youth she resided with her mother and sister in Utah and Colorado.
She began high school at North Central in Spokane.
Later, while living with her aunt and uncle in Deer Park, WA, she attended Deer Park high school.
In 1945 while at a dance in Spokane, she met an injured soldier.
He was receiving medical care at Baxter (now the V.A.)
hospital while awaiting discharge from the U.S. Army.
On July 1, 1946 at age sixteen she married that soldier, Edwin L. Marks, a man twelve years her senior at St. John’s Lutheran Church.
Shortly thereafter, Edwin received his discharge notice and the young couple moved to St. Paul, MN.
It was here that their first child (Edette) was born on July 31, 1946.
The next year Ed’s father died while farming.
The young family relocated to Willow City, ND to live on and help Ed’s mother “work” the farm.
The couple had three more children by the end of 1956.
In the fall of 1957 the family moved to Spokane and in 1961 purchased a house just five houses away from Elaine’s childhood home.
During the 60s Elaine worked for the Crescent Dept.
Store.
She was a longtime member of Pilgrim Lutheran Church.
Elaine is preceded in death by her parents, her husband, several cousins and a nephew, Mark Clark.
She is survived by her sister Sally J. Clark (Deer Park, WA); a half-sister Pamela Farley (Sharpsburg, GA); four children, Edette S. (John) Mitchell (Auburn, WA), Darrel E. Marks (Mead, WA), Dwight L. (Carla) Marks (West Fargo, ND) and Rebecca A.
Marks (Spokane, WA).
She is also survived by five grandchildren, numerous great and great-great-grandchildren; seven nieces and nephews; and her former daughter-in-law, Donna P. Marks (Spokane, WA).
Elaine chose to discontinue hemodialysis on February 22nd and died peacefully at home of end state renal failure on March 2nd.
Rebecca would like to thank Hospice of Spokane for their brief but invaluable assistance.
Elaine wished to convey her “thanks” to the following businesses and individuals; Wheelchair Transport/Quality, Dr. James Bingham (an excellent physician and equally important, a really decent man/human being!
), the Group Health nurses, support staff and pharmacy staff at the Riverfront Campus.
Finally, thank you to Cindy Hval, Stefanie Pettit, Cheryl-Anne Milsap and Doug Clark who, through their writing, touched her heart, transported her to far away places and constantly amused her!
A funeral service will be held at Heritage Funeral Home on March 12, 2013 at 11 am.
In lieu of flowers, please make a memorial contribution in Elaine’s name to the Spokane Union Gospel Mission or the Salvation Army.