MARION LEYRER

Marion Jean Kierzek Perryman Leyrer Passed away earlier this year from complications following surgery. Today would have been her 91st birthday. Born in 1923 in Minneapolis, Marion Jean traveled at the age of one with her parents, John and Louise Kierzek, to settle in Corvallis, Oregon, where she lived until 1945. She grew to love swimming and canoeing in the Marys River in the company of her beloved childhood friend, Annette Laslett, and during her teen years became a counselor at Camp Kilowan, located in the foothills of the Oregon Coast Range. Marion attended Oregon State College (later OSU) and graduated with degrees in education and journalism. She was the editor of the 1945 OSU yearbook, The Beaver, and matriculated with honors. Marion was a member of Mortar Board (Service and Honor Society for outstanding Senior women), Theta Sigma Phi (National Honor Society for women in journalism), Kappa Kappa Alpha (local honor society for women students in Art), Kappa Delta Pi (International Honor Society in Education), OSC Publications Board, and the Kappa Kappa Gamma sorority. She found a career with the Clover Park School District, initially as a substitute teacher and librarian, and eventually retired as Director of Libraries in 1977. Fiercely independent, Marion lived almost to the end in the same home that she and her husband, Julian (Joe) Perryman, purchased in Lakewood in 1954 and where they raised their two children. During Joe's years of service with the U.S. Army, assignments took them to live in California, Washington, Japan, and Utah. Following Joe's death in 1975, Marion married E. William (Whitey) Leyrer. They spent the next 20 years traveling the world, stopping at home "just long enough to do the laundry". They loved to play bridge, golf and spend time with friends and acquaintances met on their many journeys. While heartbroken after the deaths of both Whitey and her son, Mike, Marion managed to create a new life for herself over the next 20 years filled with photography, travel with friends and time spent on the Oregon coast. Marion was a proud matriarch who never complained about failing vision and health concerns. She was strict and tough with her family but staunchly loyal and supportive on all counts. Her departure from our lives has created a void and we miss her deeply. Marion's family express heartfelt thanks and gratitude to her caretakers: Bethany, John, and Monica. Without them, the quality of life she maintained in her final years would not have been possible. She leaves behind daughter Jo (Klaus), stepchildren Bill and Libby, grandchildren Maureen (Matt) and Michael (Binh), step-grandchildren Sarah, Amy, Morgan and Alex, and most precious great-granddaughter Madalyn.