Madeline DeFrees

I was in Madeline's classes 1976-77 in Missoula. Here's a picture in her garden - she was showing me her vegetables, how well they were growing -- peppers, green beans, yellow squash. Snapshot is by my mother, Joan Clark, who was visiting at the time. My mother died almost seven years ago. Now Madeline's gone too.

Thank-you dear person for being there for the some of us who felt a bit stranded in fish-heavy western Montana.

I am fortunate to know and work with Madeine and learned an
incredible amount from her. I met her in a workshop at Cannon Beach in 1976, and credit her with "launching" me into writing
seriously. My condolences to her family and the family of poets she fostered. Verlena Orr

To Madeline's family, please know that her legacy as creative artist, writing instructor, and editor is one that I intend to celebrate whenever the occasion presents itself. I count myself fortunate for her to regard me as her friend.

I took poetry from Madeline at UM in the early 70s. She was so gracious and a very at-peace person. Really a pleasure to have had her as a prof.

Madeline was the most open, inspirational, and generous mentor.
I owe a lot to her.
The bi-location saint, mentioned above, may have been St. Martin de Porres.

I had the honor of being a colleague of Madeline's at the University of Montana from 1970 until she moved on to U Mass. We have seen each other way too occasionally since. She was a great friend, marvelous colleague, and a very fine poet. I will miss knowing she is in our world, but her poems remain with us as well as memories.

Certain teachers appear in your life at the time you are poised to learn. And for me, Madeline was such a teacher. She read poems with a sympathy for their intentions and with a truly amazing sense of their precedents and their linguistic debts. She loved puns and double meanings. She introduced me to the the notion of bi-location -- the ability to be in two places at once. Not that she had mastered this elusive achievement but that she knew the name and story of the patron saint of...

I had the pleasure of being Madeline's niece. I was so lucky to have her in my
life and to be able to spend the last 5 1/2
years being with her. She was such a great
lady. She always made me smile. I will miss her so very much, but she will forever
be in my heart.