Peggie “Marie” Weeks, 83, of Medical Springs, died May 15, 2009, at her home, with her daughter, Beverly, at her side.
Her memorial service was May 20 at Harvest Church. Pastor Monte Loyd officiated.
Marie, an accomplished pianist, played and taped her favorite music 22 years ago and the tape was played at her funeral.
She was born in Seattle, Wash., to Lester and Aleta Dye Gaddy. When she was 2, her mother, unable to care for her four children, left them at a Seattle orphanage. She and her sister, Dottie, were adopted by their aunt, Inez Burghardt of Boring, who was a schoolteacher. They traveled with their adoptive mother as she taught at rural county schools and were educated in those schools.
She married John Weeks on Feb. 22, 1946, at Boring where they made their home until his retirement in 1989 when they moved to Medical Springs. John died in 2006.
Marie was wonderful homemaker and a gardener, but playing the piano was her favorite occupation. She performed at United Service Organization (USO) shows when she was young. She could play a wild boogie-woogie, but loved playing hymns for the glory of the Lord. Her children all have fond memories of falling asleep to the sound of her piano playing.
Marie also loved her animals. She bred and raised Australian cattle dogs and quarter horses. She was the perfect horse show mom, and support for her daughter, Bev, through years of showing horses. She couldn’t wait to see the new foals each spring and hated to see them go.
Survivors include her daughters, Pam Benjamin of Gresham, Peggie Hoffman of Beaverton and Beverly Mason of Baker City; son, Mike Weeks of Clackamas; sister, Jean Bennett of Pondosa; brother, Sheldon Burghardt of Wilsonville; 10 grandchildren; and eight great-grandchildren.
She was preceded in death by her brother, Les Gaddy; and sister, Dottie Soulsby.
Memorial contributions may be made to Harvest Church, 3720 Birch St., Baker City, OR 97814. Gray’s West & Co. Pioneer Chapel was in charge of arrangements.
Used with permission from: Baker City Herald, Baker City, Oregon, June 10, 2009
Transcribed by: Belva Ticknor