MARLENE M. SMOOTS
Marlene Elizabeth (Tengelin) Smoots, 65, of Pleasant Ridge, passed away Thurs., June 18, 2009, at Josephine care facility in Stanwood, with her husband and family at her bedside.
Marlene was born Oct. 5, 1943, in Everett, WA, the daughter of Axel and Astrid Tengelin of Camano Island. She grew up on the Tengelin farm with her brother, John, and sister, Nancy. Marlene attended Stanwood schools and graduated from Twin City High School with the class of 1961. That fall, she started college and graduated from Washington State University in the summer of 1965 with a B.A. in Education.
Marlene lived in Oregon for several years but returned to Camano Island with her daughters, Shanna and Julie, in the early 1980's. She made her home at Juniper Beach.
She taught at Church Creek Elementary School from November 1983 until 2000, during which she earned her master's degree from City University in 1995. When the Utsalady Elementary School opened in 2000, Marlene taught there until she retired in 2003. She made many friends among students and colleagues during her teaching career.
Marlene met Philip Smoots in 1960, and they dated during her senior year in high school. She was re-acquainted with Philip in 2002. After 42 years apart, they married Aug. 24, 2003 at the Tengelin Farm. Marlene and Philip enjoyed their retirement traveling, boating, socializing and working on the family home they built together at Pleasant Ridge.
She is survived by her husband, Philip of their home on Pleasant Ridge; daughters, Shanna Murphy of Tacoma and Julie Schilling-Thibodeaux of Puyallup; step-daughter, Marie Burger and her husband Todd of Burlington; step-sons, Edward Smoots and his wife Bobbi of Lake Stevens and Josh Smoots of San Dimas, CA; grandchildren, Mariah Schilling of Puyallup and Kyle Schilling of Everett; step-grandchildren, Anthony and Timmy Burger of Burlington, Alexis Smoots of Lake Stevens; Marlene's mother, Astrid Tengelin of Stanwood; brother, John Tengelin and his wife Brenda of Mount Vernon; sister, Nancy Tengelin of Camano Island; nephews, Robert and Scott Tengelin of Lynnwood; niece, Karin Yost of Mount Vernon; and numerous cousins in the United States and Sweden.
Marlene was preceded in death by her father, Axel Tengelin, of Camano Island.
Visitation hours will be held at Kern Funeral Home Thurs., June 25, 10 a.m. to 8 p.m., and Fri., June 26, 9 a.m. through the service. Funeral services will be Fri., June 26, 1 p.m. at Kern Funeral Home Chapel in Mount Vernon, with Pastor Bill Wayland of Camano Chapel officiating. Interment will follow at Hawthorne Memorial Park in Mount Vernon.
The family suggests memorials in Marlene's name be made to Skagit Valley Hospital Regional Cancer Care Center, PO Box 1376, Mount Vernon, WA 98273 or Josephine, 9901 272nd Place NW, Stanwood, WA 98292.
Funeral arrangements are under the care of Kern Funeral Home. You may share memories and offer condolences online to Marlene's family at www.kernfuneralhome. com.
