Obituary of Marie Read

Death ends a life, not a relationship. -- "Tuesdays with Morrie" by Mitch Albom Marie Graber Read, 95, died Sept. 8, 2009, at the William Childs Hospice House in Palm Bay, Fla. She was born June 15, 1914, in Harrisburg to Christian and Johanna Hauter Graber. Marie's parents emigrated from Alsace-Lorraine to the United States, and settled in Oregon in the early 1900s. Marie lived in Salem until her marriage to Mark William Read on June 1, 1940. She was a longtime resident of Corvallis, where she was active in the Masonic Lodge (Eastern Star, Beauceant and Amaranth) for many years. She also belonged to the Corvallis Lady Elks, the American Legion Auxiliary Unit 11, and the Lady Moose. After surviving a stroke, Marie moved to Florida last year to be near her daughter, Marcia Read Sawczyn. She is survived by her daughter, Marcia R. Sawczyn; one son-in-law, Kenneth Sawczyn; five grandchildren; and eight great-grandchildren. Marie was preceded in death by three siblings, John Graber, Katie Graber and Ann Graber Harrelson; a husband, Mark W. Read; two daughters, Karen Read Kerns and Lt. Col. Joyce L. Read; and one son-in-law, James C. Kerns. Per her request, her body will be cremated, and her cremains will be interred at Crystal Lake Cemetery in Corvallis next to those of her husband, Mark Read. In lieu of flowers, Marie requested donations be made to Shriners Hospitals for Children Home, Shriners International Headquarters, 2900 Rocky Point Drive, Tampa, FL 33607, or Hospice of Health First, William Childs Hospice House, 381 Medplex Parkway, Palm Bay, FL 32907.