Malina Irene Peterson

Malina Irene Peterson of Corvallis passed away peacefully on June 20, 2024, at Conifer House Memory Care following a long battle with Alzheimer's. Her husband, Gary, was at her side at the time of passing as was her beloved hospice nurse, Mary.
Malina Irene Ely was born on April 17, 1955, the first child of Lucille and Irl Ely, at Sacred Heart Hospital in Eugene. Her grandparents were George and Grace Wells and Henry and Avis Ely. Malina was later joined in the Ely family by sisters Freda, Deanna, and Mavis. The family lived on School Street in Oakridge during Malina's childhood and teenage years. It was during this time that Malina picked beans in the Springfield area in the summer and later worked at the Oakridge A & W to earn money.
Malina attended Oakridge Elementary School, Westfir Middle School, and Oakridge High School. She graduated in 1973 as an Oregon scholar recognizing that she was in the top 10 percent of all graduates in the state that year.
Malina married Carl Briggs in 1973. Malina and Carl had three children, Corey Briggs born on December 20, 1977, a stillborn daughter born on November 26, 1979, and Dana Briggs born on December 7, 1981. Malina and Carl divorced in 1994. Malina married Gary Peterson in 1997.
Malina started working as a teacher and office assistant at Oakridge Elementary School in 1987. She moved to Westridge Middle School as the library assistant in 1990 before becoming the school secretary a year later. From 1995 until 1998, she was the head secretary and bookkeeper at Oakridge High School.
Following Malina's marriage to Gary, she worked as the receptionist and maintenance secretary for the Sherwood School District. When Malina and Gary moved to Central Oregon in 1999, Malina worked for the Redmond School District as the secretary to the school to work program and in the district office processing accounts payable. When Gary became superintendent of the Redmond School District, Malina transitioned to the position of administrative assistant to human resources director at High Desert Education Service District. Following relocation to Colorado in 2007, Malina enjoyed traveling with Gary throughout the United States as well as a work-related trip to Egypt in 2012.
Malina was preceded in death by her parents. She is survived by her husband Gary of Corvallis; son Corey (Sandra) of Oakridge and daughter Dana (Eddie) of Cottage Grove; sisters Freda of Florence, Deanna of Creswell, and Mavis of Cottage Grove; and grandsons Josh, Trevor and Kenny Briggs, and Grimly Owens.
In lieu of flowers the family suggests donations in Malina's name to the Linn Benton Food Share. https://communityservices.us/linn-benton-food-share/
Please share your thoughts and memories for the family at www.McHenryFuneralHome.com.