Our current elders share a beautiful photo and a short biography of their lives!
Ann O’keefe
Most folks know that Ann was an accomplished artist and owned a very popular antique shop in Portland for years. What might not be so well known is what a supportive and accepting mother she was. Despite disliking reptiles, Ann allowed her son to have an Iguana, Indian Python, Reticulated Python, Anaconda, Alligator and other snakes and lizards in cages in his bedroom. When John would go away on a ski trip with his dad, Ann would be responsible for feeding them. She took to wearing tall boots when she’d go in his room and one time when she believed there was a snake loose, told the boys she just opened the bedroom door and threw in the mice while they were gone. What an amazing lady!
Patricia Selby
Patricia Selby grew up outside of Salem Oregon on a berry farm with her parents and two younger brothers. Patricia danced ballet, coached High School gymnastics, and taught High School Spanish. In the 70s Patricia and her husband settled in the Seattle area to raise their family. Patricia had two children, Kate and Zack. She was known as a “fun mom” who always had delicious food in the house and a warm welcoming energy. She was an inspired cook, a magnificent entertainer. Her home was a popular stop for all the neighborhood kids. Patricia loved woodworking and building with her hands; she built a designer doghouse. She shucked oysters off the beach on the Hood Canal and hosted clambake parties. In the early 2000s she owned and operated a destination toy store on Bainbridge Island. She traveled around Europe numerous times, spent time in Japan, bicycled across the Yucatán Peninsula to celebrate her 50th birthday, and most recently lived in Alaska. Patricia is loved by many, especially by her children and 3 grandchildren.
Eunice Marchbank
Eunice moved to the Methow Valley in 1968 with her husband who was drawn here by the mountains. Eunice & Gary settled in and raised their three daughters on the banks of the Methow River. Eunice worked as a nurse for local hospitals and the Home Health Care Agency, visiting patients in their homes to provide care. Over her many years in the valley Eunice has been an active community member serving on the board of Jamie’s Place and The Cove and was instrumental in starting the Guardian Angels program through The Cove. She’s a talented writer, seamstress and quilter who loves flowers and enjoys growing African Violets.
Sandra Clarke
Sandra, born in Honolulu, Hawaii 1942, relocated to California in 1946 where her father continued his career as a professional wrestler and in the film industry. Her childhood was filled with monkeys, trick-performing dogs, a piano-playing duck, and a python. After her graduation from Hollywood High, she embraced a hippie lifestyle in New Mexico, living offgrid. At the age of 28, she married the love of her life and embarked on a nursing career. The couple later settled in Eugene, Oregon, where she served as a trauma team ICU nurse. In 2001, Sandra initiated a volunteer program, No One Dies Alone, which has since gained international recognition. Her passions include cooking, caring for her dog Rio and the chickens at Jamie’s Place
Gene Starcher
Genie weenie is how he’s know by friends, a heart of gold he’ll love you ‘til the end. He’s a pilot, known as Chelan’s Goldsmith, Hawaii tv and radio broadcaster, Ruby Theater and 25 mile creek projectionist, father of four and grandpa. He likes to go on long walks, read books, talk about airplanes and their Doppler effect. He's smart and sweet! The things he says are neat. Like,
"You're cute, your fat, I like you just like that”
“Hi Gene how are ya?”
“I look good, what happened to you?!”
He’ll keep you on your toes, smart and witty. He took care of Bob the family kitty. He learned snowboarding with his kids at 62! Musically inclined, flute, drums, and a world famous whistle too. Do you know tumbao? How to tie knots? Create a successful lost wax cast? Gene does, and could teach you! That’s just the tip of the iceberg of the story of Gene’s great life, born August 8, make sure to serve ice cream with that cake! He’s a loving, caring and dedicated father and friend who loves to swim in lake Chelan.
Janet Boughton Fry
Janet Fry was born in 1934 in Bloomfield, NJ. She grew up in the shadow of New York City and spending time at the Jersey Shore. Her mom Christine was a bookkeeper and her father ran a service station. Janet attended Temple University for her bachelors and masters degrees in Microbiology/Medical Technology graduating in 1956. She worked in Philadelphia for a number of years until she met Louis Fry on a ski trip to Aspen, CO and decided to move to Seattle in 1965 where he worked for the University of Washington. Janet enjoyed downhill skiing and hiking throughout her life. While living on the east coast she skied in Vermont and New Hampshire, belonging to the Mad River Glen Ski club. In Seattle, Janet taught in the Med Tech program at the University of Washington, became a master gardener and worked with Girl Scouts, besides lots of skiing with her family. Janet has been enjoying her time in Winthrop, with its natural beauty and lovely mountains.
Gary Marchbank
Gary moved to the Methow Valley with his wife, Eunice, and together they raised their three daughters near Winthrop. During his 56 years in the valley, Gary found satisfaction in a variety of career paths, including working for Outward Bound, as a schoolteacher & counselor, timber faller, and as an electrician owning and operating his business, West Fork Electric. Gary was drawn to the Methow Valley by his love of the mountains and spent time climbing, mountaineering, backpacking, hunting, and running. He’s made many friends and connections along the way! Gary is proud to serve as a school board member and you can almost always find him at a Liberty Bell sporting event. He’s always happy to enjoy a cup of coffee and visit friends. As Gary says, in 1968, he “Moved to the Methow Valley for the mountains, and stayed because of the community.
Dorothy Ortolf
Dorothy grew up in a rural farming community called Toppenish. Her father was a successful local farmer raising corn, beet, and hops. She met her husband Jack in grade school and were married. After living as part of the Navy Air Corps during WW2 and the Korean War they settled in Seattle where she was a credit manager for The Bon Marche for over 20 years. Jack worked in the timber business selling round logs to Japan and Korea. She and Jack traveled throughout SE Asia for business and pleasure. They retired in Manson, WA.
Rod Wheeler
Rod was raised in the Seattle area, graduated from Bothell High School, and attended the University of Washington, where he met Joanne, his future wife of 70 years. They raised their 2 daughters in Bellevue, while Rod worked at Boeing until retirement. He enjoyed fishing, rock and mountain climbing, and especially sailing. He and Jo would spend several weeks cruising around the San Juan Islands each summer and often meet up with other "boating couples". He also spent some time racing his sailboat on Lake Washington, Puget Sound, and even competed in the annual Swiftsure Annual Yacht Race in Victoria Canada. He has always been interested in history, and the latest space news, and likes to watch the Seahawks. Rod often says he has led the most remarkable life, and he is lucky to have the most wonderful family, good friends, and good health.
Stuart Read
Stuart grew up in Washington State on the Olympic Peninsula during the boom timber industry of the 1930s. He is an avid lifelong learner who has operated restaurants, managed real estate, returned to school as an adult, and lived across Washington, California, and Hawaii. He is glad to be a new resident of Jamie’s Place where he can be closer to his relatives Peter Polson, Peter’s wife Shannon, and their boys Samuel and Jude.
Marlene Ford
Marlene’s mom Cece flew from Sitka Alaska to Bellingham WA to give birth to her on May 28t,h 1938. She lived with her parents in Sitka for a short time until they moved to Elma WA. From Elma, she moved to Lynnwood WA with her husband Darrell raising a family of 4. They purchased land in the Methow when the kids were small, moving to Mazama after they were grown. She ran the Chokecherry Inn a bed and breakfast for 20 of the 35 years they resided in the valley… serving homemade breakfasts of french toast, granola, home-canned fruit, and chokecherry syrup.
Marlene enjoyed cross-country skiing, book club, and volunteering at the Mazama community club serving countless “ World Famous” pancake breakfasts! She has many fond memories of family and friends while living in the Methow Valley.
Stephen Plott
Stephen Robert Plott born Nov, 16, 1948 in Washington D.C. His parents John and Mabel Plott and a 6 yrs. older sister, Barbara. John was comptroller of the Navy and worked at the Pentagon. Steve grew up in Arlington, Va. He rowed crew in high school and his team rowed at Henley his senior year. He attended college at U. of Va. and started a men’s crew program there.
He graduated in 1970 and spent 6 years in the U.S. Army in Germany. He used the GI Bill to get a second BA at Cameron U. in Oklahoma and went on to graduate school in international management at AGSIM in Glendale AZ There he met Susan, a resource librarian at the college and they married in May 1979. Caterpillar recruited Steve and he began his 30+ year career in Peoria, IL.
Daughter, Emily, was born in April 1980 and a year later they were sent to Santiago, Chile where sons Ben, Sam, and David were born. The family moved back to Peoria after 7 1/2 years in Chile and Steve continued to travel to S. America regularly for the rest of his career with Cat. Steve and Susan lived in Peoria until the move to Seattle in June of 2023