Marlys Olsen Colville, 88, died on Saturday, Jan. 19, 2013 following a brief illness.
Marlys was born in Bowden, N.D., on Sept. 16, 1924 and had made Chattanooga her home since 1929.
She was preceded in death by her parents, Ole Conrad Olsen and Emma Thorstenson Olsen, who met and married after Ole journeyed from his native Norway to the U.S., eventually settling together in Chattanooga, drawn by the mountains and river that reminded him of home; by her devoted husband of 64 years, Eugene R. (Gene) Colville, Sr., who loved her all his life; and by her two younger sisters, Constance Olsen Wiggs and Lavan Olsen Mertz.
She is survived by her three children, daughter, Sharon Colville Stewart and husband, Fred, son, Eugene R. (Rick) Colville, Jr. and wife, Becky, and daughter, Susan Colville Prudowsky, all of Chattanooga; grandsons, David W. Stewart, Eugene R. (Richard) Colville III, and Zachary D. Prudowsky; granddaughters, Beth Stewart Gray, Kathryn Colville Perry, and Kim Colville Voss; and eight great-grandchildren.
She was a member of First Lutheran Church, attended the Lutheran School, and was a 1943 graduate of Central High, completing her senior year while her husband Gene served overseas. She was an outstanding scholar who never lost her love of learning, a caring wife and mother who worked fulltime while raising her children, and the ultimate grandmother who enjoyed every moment spent gathering and laughing with her family. Joining Trotter, Boyd and Keese insurance agency as a secretary in 1943, she worked her way up to head bookkeeper of AGA insurance before her retirement.
She was a passionate collector of antique glass and furniture, shared her father’s love of antique clocks, and never missed an opportunity to travel to shows, flea markets and auctions to find new treasures. For years, she arranged and enjoyed perfect weekends at the cabin, where all the family gathered and grew up in the woods by the lake at the First Lutheran campsite, surrounded by friends and laughter.
The family will receive friends on Monday, Jan. 21, from 5-8 p.m. at Chattanooga Funeral Home, East Brainerd Chapel. Graveside services will be on Tuesday, Jan. 20, at 11:30 a.m. at the National Cemetery, with the Reverend Mark McCrory officiating.
Pallbearers will be grandsons, David Stewart, Richard Colville and Zach Prudowsky, and great-grandsons, Sam Stewart, Jack Gray and Parker Gray.
Memorial contributions may be made to the First Lutheran Church Camp, 2800 McCallie Avenue, Chattanooga, Tennessee 37404.
Arrangements are by the East Brainerd Chapel of Chattanooga Funeral Home, Crematory & Florist, 8214 East Brainerd Road, Chattanooga.
Please share your thoughts and memories at www.ChattanoogaEastBrainerdChapel.com.