Roberta Marlow

Roberta Marlow passed away in her sleep on April 6th at Settler’s Park. She was born Roberta Ann Wendt to Otto “Dutch” Wendt and Anna C. Haffner in 1934 up Beavercreek, beyond the gate and moonshiners. In 1948 her family relocated to Durkee to a home that now the free runs through. While living there she graduated Baker High School in 1952, attended college in Portland, returned and worked for the Oregon Extension Office. She married Paul E. Marlow in a double wedding ceremony with her brother and sister-in-law, Carl and Barbara Wendt, on her and Carl’s mother’s 57th birthday, December 20th, 1955. Paul and Roberta were married over 58 years.

During her time in Durkee, Roberta and her family were of the first families to establish the now famous Durkee Steak Feed. In 1957, Roberta and Paul added Robert to the family. In 1960, the family purchased land and a home outside Baker. That same year Sherrine joined the family. With the move, Roberta added an active membership in the Missouri Flat Grange and Baker Church of God. When her brothers relocated from Hereford to Haines, she became involved in the Haines 4th of July Rodeo, preparing programs and helping with the concession booth. She then actively became a leader in 4-H and ran the Chicken Coop(food booth) a number years. In 1970, Roberta and Paul added their youngest child Sheila.

Roberta, pursued her education at Eastern Oregon State College, attaining a degree in English and Education. She taught in Baker at the High School in the 60s. She moved on to a new position, after completing her 5th year at EOSC, as a part-time English teacher/part-time Librarian in Prairie City, commuting with her children weekly from the farm in Baker to Prairie City until both Bob (1976) and then Sherri (1978) graduated high school. Also during those years, Roberta graduated from University of Oregon with her Maters in Library Science. She then took a librarian position in Stanfield, once again commuting with Sheila while caring for her mother until 1981. There she helped design and set up the library in their brand new high school, currently located on the hill toward Hermiston.

Roberta returned to Baker and the farm full –time in 1981, volunteering at the library and working part-time for the Chamber of Commerce. Roberta, once again on the ground floor of starting an annual event, helped in its early years establish the Miner’s Jubilee pushing it to become the annual event it is today. In 1985, Roberta returned to UofO learning to write computer languages. These skills took her to Knappa, Oregon, near Astoria teaching and running the school libraries. Roberta returned to Baker County in 1998, spending her retirement travelling about Oregon to stay and help care for her grand kids until 2007, when she settled near her daughters in Clatsop County. In 2014, Roberta returned to Baker to live her final years. She reconnected with friends from the early years who knew her parents, people she had worked beside, and acquaintances from her many endeavors, including past students.

Roberta was the most proud of her father who had received a medal of honor for saving Sheriff Delmar Dixon’s life; her purchase of a new 1954 Ragtop DeSoto at age 20; her completion of her Master’s Degree; and, at last after years of writing numerous stories, her self-published book The Copperfield Affair, a historical fiction about a time long gone.

Roberta was a rancher’s daughter, a wife, mother, educator, collaborator, supporter, and defender of those in need. She never back down from a fight and her innovation and creative nature aided in the establishment of many events people take part in today. Roberta was preceded in death by her father (1965), her mother (1986), her husband (2013) and her four brothers, Billy, Ronald, Carl, and Robert. She is survived by her children Robert, wife Laura (Bruland), Sherrine Marlow, and Sheila, husband (Leowayne Heino) and her seven grandchildren: Travis, David, Laura, Chandra, Andrew, Jasper, and Taylor and one great child, plus numerous nieces and nephews and their families. She was buried at the Haines Cemetery on April 12th surround in honor by her family next to her husband Paul. The family would like to thank the Haines Methodist Church for their donations of food for the reception.