Frances D. Marum

Frances D. Marum of Walla Walla passed away Sept. 24, 2013, at her home at the age of 89 years with her family by her side.

Frances, daughter of Glenn & Lidwinn Moulton, was born on Feb. 8, 1924 in Vancouver, WA. Following moves to Robinwood, OR and Lewiston, ID, she completed her last two years of high school in Walla Walla graduating from Wa-Hi with the class of 1942. Her parents and sister moved back to Milwaukie, OR while she stayed on in Walla Walla to attend St. Mary’s School of Nursing. She graduated with the class of 1945 and married Bryan Watson that same year.

Frances & Bryan began raising their family in Walla Walla before transferring to Pendleton, OR in late 1958 with his employer, The Carnation Milk Co. He was killed during a work-related delivery accident June 2, 1959, so she moved back to Walla Walla during that summer to continue her nursing and be near family and friends.

She met Thomas Marum after her move and they were married Oct. 7, 1961. Together, they blended their two families of two boys & one girl each to become “The Brady Bunch” of their time. Frances was diagnosed with colon cancer in 1965, but through an amazing surgeon, Dr. Peter Brooks, lots of prayers and her faith in God she survived to see all of her children become adults and raise their own families.

After her recovery and having her youngest child well into grade school she returned to nursing. She thoroughly enjoyed and spoke fondly of her many years of work, especially for Dr. Robert Schaeffer in pediatrics and Dr. Donald Roser at The Walla Walla Women’s Clinic. Her husband, Tom, passed away in Nov. 1994 and she moved from the family home to The Country Estates in College Place. She enjoyed meeting her new neighbors and attending the occasional club house coffee hour. In her latter years, her part-time caregiver, Mary Ellen Nordheim of Seniors Helping Seniors highly encouraged it to keep her active and involved.

With a beautiful smile, Frances had spent her entire life volunteering her time and nursing talents, whether it was a colon cancer survivor needing a bit of counseling or an elderly family friend needing a bit of TLC. She volunteered at Assumption Catholic Church as a greeter and Eucharistic Minister and especially enjoyed volunteering her time by calling in grocery orders to Harvest Foods for the area shut-ins.

Preceding Frances in death were her parents, husbands, Bryan Watson and Thomas Marum; and her sister, Donna Miller in 2012. Surviving are her six children, Scott Watson (Dawn) of College Place, WA, Jeff Watson of Walla Walla, WA, Mary Patterson (Bruce) of Yakima, WA, Jim Marum of Moxee, WA, Mike Marum of Kelso, WA, and Tracey Rambo (Rick) of Milton-Freewater, OR. Also surviving are her 8 grandchildren, Jon Watson, Ryan Schoonover, Meghan Maves-Watson, Caitlin Birkland, Meghan, Kelsy and Hailey Rambo, and Anna Marum.

Rosary services will be recited at the Chapel of Herring Groseclose Funeral Home Thurs., Oct. 17 at 6 p.m. Her life will be celebrated at a Catholic Mass at St. Francis Catholic Church, 722 W. Alder St., Walla Walla at noon on Oct. 18, 2013. A private family interment will be held at the Mountain View Cemetery in Walla Walla. In lieu of flowers, please consider volunteering your time to a cause close to your heart or making a donation to the St. Mary’s Regional Cancer Center Special Needs, Blue Mountain Humane Society or charity of your choice through the Herring Groseclose Funeral Home, 315 W. Alder, Walla Walla, WA.

We would like to thank her wonderful neighbors, caregivers, Dr. Eric Ball, and especially Jackie Jacobson for their special attention, care, and love shown to our mother and grandmother.