Marie Luella Rodgers

Marie Luella Rodgers was born on November 26, 1926 in Kennewick, WA, and passed away on September 16, 2020 in Salem, OR, at 93 years of age. She was the first of four children born to Arch and Mamie Henderson. Most of her childhood was spent in western Washington but her early years were spent eastward while her Dad worked on the Grand Coulee Dam. Marie graduated from Issaquah High School in 1944 and attended Northwest Bible College for a short time after. During World War II, she proudly worked as a “Rosie the Riveter” at Boeing.

In February 1946 Marie met the love of her life, Robert (Bob) Rodgers, when he was on liberty from his ship in Seattle. They met in church where she sang at the evening service. Church was always a central part of their lives. After a whirlwind romance Bob mustered out of the Navy and, in June, they were married in his hometown of Compton, California. They set down roots in California for the next 40 years and built a life they loved including raising three wonderful children.

While much of the time Marie was a homemaker tending to the family while Bob travelled for work, she worked at Northrop during the first years of their marriage enabling Bob to follow his passion of attending photo school. When the children were older she returned to work as a loan processor for Wells Fargo Bank, where she later retired.

Marie loved to read and would often have her nose buried in a book. She had a passion for music, and loved playing the piano and singing in the church choir. Marie enjoyed staying connected to friends and family by writing letters and lots of conversation on the phone. Bob loved to drive, gas was cheap, and she loved to look at the scenery no matter where they traveled.

In 1988 she returned “home” to Washington to be near her mother and family, where she lived until 2010 when Bob passed away. Afterward, Marie lived close to her daughter’s family, spending time in Placerville, CA and her final years back in the Pacific Northwest, in Salem, OR.

Marie was preceded in death by husband Robert Rodgers, brother Bobby Henderson, sister Rea Youngblood, and brother Chane (Loreeta) Henderson. She is survived by children Steven (Judy) Rodgers, Valerie (John) Zentner, and Craig Rodgers, six grandchildren, and six greatgrandchildren.