On August 11, 2022, Marie Helen (Camenzind) Meek passed peacefully and is now
dancing the polka at the Big Swiss Picnic Grounds in the sky. In addition to kids,
grandkids, great grandkids, and numerous nieces and nephews, Marie leaves
behind the love of her life and husband of 68 years, Alfred “Bud” Meek.
Marie was born March 30, 1934, in Lebam. Her mother passed away when Marie
was a baby. At the time, Clem and Mary Ulrich took her in. Her childhood was
spent attending every Swiss picnic, Schwingfest, Oktoberfest, and any Swiss
“Doings” that came along. Her Swiss culture was very important to her. Marie
was a proud graduate of Willapa Valley High School, and she was a cheerleader
there as well.
In 1954 Marie married Bud Meek. They purchased a pink house in Menlo, WA,
and raised 3 children, Karen, Ron, and Dean. While raising 3 children Marie
worked a variety of jobs such as bundling cedar shakes at a mill in Lebam,
shucking oysters in South Bend, gathering and selling fir cones, AVON Lady, and
picking blackberries. When the family moved to Raymond Marie worked at Sears.
And in 1975 she and Bud purchased Bayview Lumber Company in South Bend,
WA, and renamed the business, Bud’s Lumber Supply. Marie became the
bookkeeper and was also tasked with persuading folks to pay their outstanding
bill at Bud’s, a job she didn’t relish. She didn’t shy away from hard work and
would do anything to help Bud support and provide for their family.
In her retirement years, Marie enjoyed spending time at their float house on the
North River. There, Bud and Marie would fish, cut firewood and just watch the
peaceful river flow by. They also purchased a motor home and were snowbirds
for a few years until they purchased a small residence in California where they
enjoyed the sunshine and warm water. Her golden years were spent with family
and friends at their home in Raymond. Marie was most known and famous for
her concoction of “Moose Milk” which she would make and share with family and
friends every Christmas Holiday season. Not for the timid…….
Marie was preceded in death by her father, Xavier Camenzind, mother, Eliza
Camenzind, Brothers Louie, Frank, and Albert, and nephews Bobby and Doug
Camenzind.
She is survived by her husband Alfred “Bud” Meek, daughter Karen (Steve)
Clements, son Ron (Vicky) Meek, and son Dean (Cristina) Meek.
She is also survived by her grandchildren Tom (Ayesha) Clements and great-
grandson Brooks Clements, Rob (Mary) Clements and great-granddaughters Cady
and Rory Clements, granddaughter Cassie (Tiffany) Lynn and granddaughter Tori
(Chris) Yokom and great-grandkids Solomon, Lincoln, and Vayda Lynn Yokom.
Surviving nieces and nephews are, Steve, Mike and Pat Rogers (George and
Dorothy Rogers), Louise (Camenzind) Bales, John and Michael Camenzind (Louie
and Twyla Camenzind), Gina (Camenzind) Kolhage, Cindy (Camenzind) Stallard,
Dawna (Camenzind) Robinson, Lori (Camenzind) Mcguire (Frank and Berniece
Camenzind).
As per Marie’s wishes, there will be no service. Instead of flowers, Marie asks
that memorial donations in her honor be sent to the Lewis Pacific Swiss Society
C/O Patti Gwerder, 331 Elk Prairie Road, Raymond, WA 98577
Visits: 135
This site is protected by reCAPTCHA and the
Google Privacy Policy and Terms of Service apply.
Service map data © OpenStreetMap contributors