Lynden resident Marion M. DeKoekkoek, age 79, passed away with her husband by her side on Dec. 11, 2016.
She was born on March 31, 1937 in Blaine to John and Eva (Kandler) Baldwin. She had three brothers. Marion attended Bellingham grade schools, then transferred to Meridian High School where she graduated. Marion was a competitive roller skater at the local skating rink.
After high school she worked in the office of C.V. Wilder Construction Co. She met a nice young man, Gerard, at the lunch counter of the skating rink. They were married on Oct. 8, 1960 at her parents’ home. Marion and Gerard dairy farmed for 40 years on the Oat Coles Road where she raised five children while managing farm accounts.
She was an active member of Covenant Grace Church on the Loomis Trail Road. She loved to sew, tole paint, crochet, baking and big family dinners. Gerard and Marion traveled around the world and enjoyed travel in their trailer throughout the United States, including driving the Alcan Highway to Alaska.
Marion was preceded in death by her parents, an infant brother, and brothers Jack L. Baldwin and James L. “Bud” Baldwin.
She is survived by her husband of 56 years, Gerard; children Brian (Leslie) DeKoekkoek, Susan (Tim) Dykstra, Keith (Michelle) DeKoekkoek, Scott (Diane) DeKoekkoek and Gail (Dan) Bailey; 13 grandchildren and one great-grandchild; sister-in-law Beverly Baldwin; and numerous nieces and nephews.
You are invited to join the family for a time of visitation at noon Saturday, Dec. 17, in Gillies Funeral Home, followed by a 1:15 p.m. graveside committal in Monumenta Cemetery and then a 2 p.m., memorial service in Covenant Grace Church, 1227 Loomis Trail Rd., Lynden, with Pastor Allen Van Dyke officiating.
In lieu of flowers, please consider a donation to Seattle Children’s Hospital, 4800 Sand Point Way NE, Seattle, WA 98105: or Gideons Whatcom Camp, P.O. Box 882, Lynden, WA 98264.
You are invited to share your condolences and memories in the online guestbook at www.gilliesfuneralhome.com.
Arrangements are entrusted to Gillies Funeral Home and Cremation Services of Lynden.
