Marie was the first of three children born to parents George Michael and Jennie Anna (Decker) Peters. Her childhood was spent in Spokane, Washington. Her parents both had close German roots.
Her father was a simple laborer with few skills. He found work where he could, but the family had little. George was also a heavy drinker who would come home drunk and beat up his wife. Everyone learned to jump out the window and hide in the woods when they heard him coming home in that condition. It was not a happy childhood for Marie. About 1912 George left the family. Marie's mother had a hard time supporting herself and her children after he left. She began a relationship with a man who helped the family. Marie had three half-siblings from that relationship, with one of them dying as a young child. This man married her mother ten years later. By 1918 the family could no longer afford to live together. Marie was sent to live with an aunt and uncle in North Newport, Washington.
Marie enjoyed her time with her aunt and uncle, Martha and Arthur Houchins. She attended the Wolfred one room schoolhouse from 1918 (or sooner) to sometime after 1920. Her teacher was Isabel Paynton. In December 1918 her teacher gave her two photos, one of the teacher inside the school, and one of the outside of the school, as Christmas presents. Marie kept these photos all her life. Marie attended school through the 10th grade.
It is unknown why Marie moved to Portland, but that is where she met her first husband. Marie married Chester Vincent Turnidge on July 20, 1924 in Willamina, Oregon. Chester's grandfather, a Civil War veteran and Primitive Baptist Minister, married them. They lived in Portland for about five years. Marie found work in a bread store while Chester was a salesman for The Oregon Journal newspaper. By 1930 they had moved to Los Angeles. Chester was employed as a sales manager for a distilled water company and Marie was working as a cook in a tea room. She had many miscarriages, but finally son Warren was born in 1935, her only child. By 1940 the family had moved to South Gate, California. Chester began working as an insurance salesman for the National Life And Accident Insurance Company . After a time, Chester became abusive towards Marie, so the marriage finally ended in divorce in December 1944.
After the divorce, Marie opened and operated a restaurant called Giggle, Gaggle, Gobble and Get, located in Los Angeles. She did this for several years. Marie loved ballroom dancing, and decided to become an instructor. She also supported herself and her son by becoming a "bookie" for horse racing in the 1950's. This was very profitable for her, and she even had part-ownership in a racehorse at one time.
Marie made many lifelong friends while she was dancing. She enjoyed going to the Diana Ballroom in Los Angeles with her friends. She also kept in close contact with all of her siblings, making trips to Washington to see her brothers, and to Tucson to see sister Mayella. She was a member of various groups, including the "Camera Club" that her and her friends began.
Marie met Doug Merrell at one of the ballrooms she attended. He played bass, guitar and steele in a big band part time. She married Benjamin Douglas Merrell on August 10, 1952 at the Arlington Avenue Christian Church in Los Angeles, California. Doug was a wonderful man and he made her very happy. They were the perfect couple and never quarreled. The two of them were kind, loving grandparents to her grandchildren, Shelley and Scott. She thoroughly enjoyed being a grandmother, and a great-grandmother.
Marie had a strong, domineering German personality. She was the matriarch of her family, always ready with a helping hand for all of her siblings and their children.She was generous to a fault. Everyone who knew her loved her. She is greatly missed every day.
Her father was a simple laborer with few skills. He found work where he could, but the family had little. George was also a heavy drinker who would come home drunk and beat up his wife. Everyone learned to jump out the window and hide in the woods when they heard him coming home in that condition. It was not a happy childhood for Marie. About 1912 George left the family. Marie's mother had a hard time supporting herself and her children after he left. She began a relationship with a man who helped the family. Marie had three half-siblings from that relationship, with one of them dying as a young child. This man married her mother ten years later. By 1918 the family could no longer afford to live together. Marie was sent to live with an aunt and uncle in North Newport, Washington.
Marie enjoyed her time with her aunt and uncle, Martha and Arthur Houchins. She attended the Wolfred one room schoolhouse from 1918 (or sooner) to sometime after 1920. Her teacher was Isabel Paynton. In December 1918 her teacher gave her two photos, one of the teacher inside the school, and one of the outside of the school, as Christmas presents. Marie kept these photos all her life. Marie attended school through the 10th grade.
It is unknown why Marie moved to Portland, but that is where she met her first husband. Marie married Chester Vincent Turnidge on July 20, 1924 in Willamina, Oregon. Chester's grandfather, a Civil War veteran and Primitive Baptist Minister, married them. They lived in Portland for about five years. Marie found work in a bread store while Chester was a salesman for The Oregon Journal newspaper. By 1930 they had moved to Los Angeles. Chester was employed as a sales manager for a distilled water company and Marie was working as a cook in a tea room. She had many miscarriages, but finally son Warren was born in 1935, her only child. By 1940 the family had moved to South Gate, California. Chester began working as an insurance salesman for the National Life And Accident Insurance Company . After a time, Chester became abusive towards Marie, so the marriage finally ended in divorce in December 1944.
After the divorce, Marie opened and operated a restaurant called Giggle, Gaggle, Gobble and Get, located in Los Angeles. She did this for several years. Marie loved ballroom dancing, and decided to become an instructor. She also supported herself and her son by becoming a "bookie" for horse racing in the 1950's. This was very profitable for her, and she even had part-ownership in a racehorse at one time.
Marie made many lifelong friends while she was dancing. She enjoyed going to the Diana Ballroom in Los Angeles with her friends. She also kept in close contact with all of her siblings, making trips to Washington to see her brothers, and to Tucson to see sister Mayella. She was a member of various groups, including the "Camera Club" that her and her friends began.
Marie met Doug Merrell at one of the ballrooms she attended. He played bass, guitar and steele in a big band part time. She married Benjamin Douglas Merrell on August 10, 1952 at the Arlington Avenue Christian Church in Los Angeles, California. Doug was a wonderful man and he made her very happy. They were the perfect couple and never quarreled. The two of them were kind, loving grandparents to her grandchildren, Shelley and Scott. She thoroughly enjoyed being a grandmother, and a great-grandmother.
Marie had a strong, domineering German personality. She was the matriarch of her family, always ready with a helping hand for all of her siblings and their children.She was generous to a fault. Everyone who knew her loved her. She is greatly missed every day.
Marie was the first of three children born to parents George Michael and Jennie Anna (Decker) Peters. Her childhood was spent in Spokane, Washington. Her parents both had close German roots.
Her father was a simple laborer with few skills. He found work where he could, but the family had little. George was also a heavy drinker who would come home drunk and beat up his wife. Everyone learned to jump out the window and hide in the woods when they heard him coming home in that condition. It was not a happy childhood for Marie. About 1912 George left the family. Marie's mother had a hard time supporting herself and her children after he left. She began a relationship with a man who helped the family. Marie had three half-siblings from that relationship, with one of them dying as a young child. This man married her mother ten years later. By 1918 the family could no longer afford to live together. Marie was sent to live with an aunt and uncle in North Newport, Washington.
Marie enjoyed her time with her aunt and uncle, Martha and Arthur Houchins. She attended the Wolfred one room schoolhouse from 1918 (or sooner) to sometime after 1920. Her teacher was Isabel Paynton. In December 1918 her teacher gave her two photos, one of the teacher inside the school, and one of the outside of the school, as Christmas presents. Marie kept these photos all her life. Marie attended school through the 10th grade.
It is unknown why Marie moved to Portland, but that is where she met her first husband. Marie married Chester Vincent Turnidge on July 20, 1924 in Willamina, Oregon. Chester's grandfather, a Civil War veteran and Primitive Baptist Minister, married them. They lived in Portland for about five years. Marie found work in a bread store while Chester was a salesman for The Oregon Journal newspaper. By 1930 they had moved to Los Angeles. Chester was employed as a sales manager for a distilled water company and Marie was working as a cook in a tea room. She had many miscarriages, but finally son Warren was born in 1935, her only child. By 1940 the family had moved to South Gate, California. Chester began working as an insurance salesman for the National Life And Accident Insurance Company . After a time, Chester became abusive towards Marie, so the marriage finally ended in divorce in December 1944.
After the divorce, Marie opened and operated a restaurant called Giggle, Gaggle, Gobble and Get, located in Los Angeles. She did this for several years. Marie loved ballroom dancing, and decided to become an instructor. She also supported herself and her son by becoming a "bookie" for horse racing in the 1950's. This was very profitable for her, and she even had part-ownership in a racehorse at one time.
Marie made many lifelong friends while she was dancing. She enjoyed going to the Diana Ballroom in Los Angeles with her friends. She also kept in close contact with all of her siblings, making trips to Washington to see her brothers, and to Tucson to see sister Mayella. She was a member of various groups, including the "Camera Club" that her and her friends began.
Marie met Doug Merrell at one of the ballrooms she attended. He played bass, guitar and steele in a big band part time. She married Benjamin Douglas Merrell on August 10, 1952 at the Arlington Avenue Christian Church in Los Angeles, California. Doug was a wonderful man and he made her very happy. They were the perfect couple and never quarreled. The two of them were kind, loving grandparents to her grandchildren, Shelley and Scott. She thoroughly enjoyed being a grandmother, and a great-grandmother.
Marie had a strong, domineering German personality. She was the matriarch of her family, always ready with a helping hand for all of her siblings and their children.She was generous to a fault. Everyone who knew her loved her. She is greatly missed every day.
Her father was a simple laborer with few skills. He found work where he could, but the family had little. George was also a heavy drinker who would come home drunk and beat up his wife. Everyone learned to jump out the window and hide in the woods when they heard him coming home in that condition. It was not a happy childhood for Marie. About 1912 George left the family. Marie's mother had a hard time supporting herself and her children after he left. She began a relationship with a man who helped the family. Marie had three half-siblings from that relationship, with one of them dying as a young child. This man married her mother ten years later. By 1918 the family could no longer afford to live together. Marie was sent to live with an aunt and uncle in North Newport, Washington.
Marie enjoyed her time with her aunt and uncle, Martha and Arthur Houchins. She attended the Wolfred one room schoolhouse from 1918 (or sooner) to sometime after 1920. Her teacher was Isabel Paynton. In December 1918 her teacher gave her two photos, one of the teacher inside the school, and one of the outside of the school, as Christmas presents. Marie kept these photos all her life. Marie attended school through the 10th grade.
It is unknown why Marie moved to Portland, but that is where she met her first husband. Marie married Chester Vincent Turnidge on July 20, 1924 in Willamina, Oregon. Chester's grandfather, a Civil War veteran and Primitive Baptist Minister, married them. They lived in Portland for about five years. Marie found work in a bread store while Chester was a salesman for The Oregon Journal newspaper. By 1930 they had moved to Los Angeles. Chester was employed as a sales manager for a distilled water company and Marie was working as a cook in a tea room. She had many miscarriages, but finally son Warren was born in 1935, her only child. By 1940 the family had moved to South Gate, California. Chester began working as an insurance salesman for the National Life And Accident Insurance Company . After a time, Chester became abusive towards Marie, so the marriage finally ended in divorce in December 1944.
After the divorce, Marie opened and operated a restaurant called Giggle, Gaggle, Gobble and Get, located in Los Angeles. She did this for several years. Marie loved ballroom dancing, and decided to become an instructor. She also supported herself and her son by becoming a "bookie" for horse racing in the 1950's. This was very profitable for her, and she even had part-ownership in a racehorse at one time.
Marie made many lifelong friends while she was dancing. She enjoyed going to the Diana Ballroom in Los Angeles with her friends. She also kept in close contact with all of her siblings, making trips to Washington to see her brothers, and to Tucson to see sister Mayella. She was a member of various groups, including the "Camera Club" that her and her friends began.
Marie met Doug Merrell at one of the ballrooms she attended. He played bass, guitar and steele in a big band part time. She married Benjamin Douglas Merrell on August 10, 1952 at the Arlington Avenue Christian Church in Los Angeles, California. Doug was a wonderful man and he made her very happy. They were the perfect couple and never quarreled. The two of them were kind, loving grandparents to her grandchildren, Shelley and Scott. She thoroughly enjoyed being a grandmother, and a great-grandmother.
Marie had a strong, domineering German personality. She was the matriarch of her family, always ready with a helping hand for all of her siblings and their children.She was generous to a fault. Everyone who knew her loved her. She is greatly missed every day.
