Marion Ernesteen Simpson

1927 - 2022

Marion Ernesteen Simpson was a vibrant, creative, and fun-loving woman throughout her life. Marion, 94, a long-time Juneau resident, passed away on March 26, 2022, at Willamette View Retirement Community in Portland, Oregon.

Marion was born to Ernest W. Westgren and Vera M. Larson in Bremerton, Washington, on October 10, 1927. Her younger sister Dorie was born two years later. Marion's grandparents were immigrants from Sweden and owned a 150-acre farm. Eventually, Marion's parents settled on Bainbridge Island, Washington, at a place affectionately known as "the farm." For Marion and Dorie's children, the farm became a magical place of oak groves, fruit trees, homemade applesauce, blackberries, quilt making, rope swings, and a place to gather for traditional Swedish Christmas celebrations.

As a young woman, Marion was adventurous, choosing to go to college in the Midwest, working at the Grand Coulee Dam, deciding to live in Sweden for a year, and eventually moving back to Seattle to work as a portrait photographer at Frederick and Nelson's Department Store.

Marion met her future husband, Robert "Bob" Simpson, while touring Southeast Alaska. On their first date, they flew a ski plane up to the Mendenhall Icefield to have a picnic in the sun. It was a perfect day. They were married two years later in 1958 and eventually had three children: Kristina (Kris), Steven (Steve), and Lisa.

In 1965, Marion and Bob bought and renovated an older house on Fritz Cove Road. Over the next several years, it became a welcoming light-filled home, bustling with creative activity, house projects, great food, music, saunas, island camping preparations, and gatherings of friends and neighbors. Dinners were made with fresh-caught salmon, crab, black cod, pickled or dried fish, garden salads, and blueberry pies while enjoying the sunset over the Chilkat Mountains.

Marion enjoyed weaving tapestries, rag rugs, and spinning wool with natural dyes made of onion skins, roots, and berries. She was passionate about photographing and painting flowers from her garden. She spent hours drawing with her children and grandchildren, who have grown to love art in all its forms.

Marion and Bob enjoyed traveling to Mexico each winter, returning to Alaska after the snow melted to begin the annual work on the garden. Using their skiff, they would haul seaweed and shells from the local islands and add Alaskan beer mash to "feed" the soil. Marion's gardening was well-matched with Bob's composting skills. As a Master Gardener, Marion was an active member of The Juneau Garden Club, The Juneau Community Garden, and The American Primrose Society.

Bob passed away in 2012, and in 2018, at 90, Marion moved to Willamette View Retirement Community in Portland, Oregon. There she lived close to her son, Steve, and his family. She happily spent her days drawing with her grandchildren and enjoying the company of friends she made there, her warm sense of humor ever-present.

Marion is survived by her daughters Kris Kiernan (Brendan Kiernan) and Lisa Simpson (Paul Dzwonowski) of Juneau, Alaska, and son Steve Simpson (Laurie Gibbs) of Portland, Oregon; her grandchildren Katie and Sam (Kris) and Sophia and Nora (Steve), brother-in-law Paul Williams, and several nieces, nephews, and their families. She is preceded in death by her husband Robert Simpson, father Ernest Westgren, mother Vera Westgren, sister Doris Williams, and nephew Cory Dean Williams.

Marion's family is planting trees in Marion and Bob's honor. If you wish to contribute to organizations dear to Marion's heart, please consider donating to Jenson-Olson Arboretum, The Juneau Garden Club, The Juneau Community Garden, or to the charity of your choice.