Edith Marjorie Shrader

“Marge” Hentz Shrader, 80, died peacefully in her sleep Sept. 30, 2002, in Coupeville. She was born Oct. 24, 1922, in Hinsdale, Mont., to John and Gertrude (Adams) Hentz. Marge spent most of her youth in Coeur d’Alene, Idaho, where she was informally adopted and helped for many years by Florence and Oscar Olson. After marrying John Shrader in Yakima and graduating from North Idaho Junior College in 1942, she went on to Central Washington College of Education, Ellensburg. She taught in the Seattle Public Schools before returning to Ellensburg with her family in 1957. She was active in the United Methodist Church and other spiritual communities there. In 1980 she moved to Olympia, where she lived until moving to Whidbey Island in the late 1990s. Marge wrote songs about her love for Jesus and led a deep spiritual life anchored by her faith, study and prayer. Surviving her are a son, Stephen Shrader of Langley; two grandchildren, Sarah Shrader of Seattle and Stephen Cory Shrader and wife Kristen Darby of Monroe; a great-granddaughter, Zoe Sophia; two daughters-in-law, Christine Nyburg Shrader of Langley and Karen Cassell of Seattle; a brother, John Hentz, Hinsdale; a sister, Jean Minor, Ellensburg; and longtime friend and spiritual companion Wyoma May of Olympia. A memorial gathering will be held at 11 a.m. Wednesday, Oct. 23 at a private retreat center on South Whidbey. For directions call Stephen at 360-341-3473.