It is with great sadness that I need to let you know that our beloved Program Coordinator, Marilyn Goodman, passed away on Friday, August 15th. She did her best to hide that she has been battling with cancer over the last 10+ years and she continued to fight down to the last minute. She only wanted people to witness her joy and love for life. This is the 3rd season that Marilyn Goodman has been our Program Coordinator. Within her first year, it was immediately clear that she was exactly what our Market needed, as the Market and our mission of healthy living was near and dear to her heart. Since we hired her, she has eaten, slept and dreamt about the Market and her tireless efforts have paid off tremendously through the years. She has been able to take our Market to a level that we have been longing for since it was founded. Even though she has been one of two part-time paid staff for a portion of the year, she additionally spent countless volunteer hours during the off season working on her vision for the Market, because she loved the Camas Farmer’s Market. By her second year, she had the entire season planned out in detail months before the Market opened. Marilyn had training as a social worker and genuinely cared about the well being of all involved in the Market, from our sponsors, to our vendors, our volunteers, our customers, and our many special guests. We will remember her as the bright light she was in our world in general and specifically in our Market. We will forever be grateful for what she was able to do for our Market and how she touched our lives. Our hearts and prayers go out to her her husband, Bryan, her son Jhestin, her extended family, and her many friends.
The family has planned a memorial service (“Marilyn: Honoring a Beautiful Life”) at the Wood Village Baptist Church on Sunday, August 24th, at 2:00 PM, with a reception following. The address is: 23601 NE Arata Road, Troutdale, OR 97060. The family encourages everyone to dress casually & comfortably (no suits or ties). Feel free to wear bright and vibrant colors, rather than black, in order to honor Marilyn’s bright and vibrant spirit.
The Executive Board of the Market is planning a memorial within the Camas Farmer’s Market on Wednesday, August 27, at 5:45 PM. There will be a reception following at Journey Community Church, located at 304 NE 4th Avenue, Camas, WA 98607. Please help us to honor Marilyn’s life and work by wearing University of Oregon gear, green, and/or yellow this Wednesday and especially the following Wednesday, August 27th, as she was very fond of the Oregon Ducks.
Here’s the schedule for August 27th:
-3pm: photo books will be available to sign for Marilyn’s family in the expanded Market area
-5:45pm: balloons will be available to sign in the expanded Market area (for a group balloon release in the middle of the Market)
-6:15pm: brief celebration of Marilyn and balloon release in the middle of the Market
-6:30pm: walk/drive to Journey Community Church (304 NE 4th Avenue, Camas, WA 98607) for a reception
-6:45pm: reception begins at Journey Community Church, with some words from Pastor Frank Lednicky
In lieu of flowers or gifts, Marilyn requested donations be made to:
-Ovarian Cancer Alliance of Oregon and Southwest Washington
-Children’s Home Society in Washougal, Washington
-Camas Farmer’s Market
Marilyn’s spirit will forever live on in our hearts and in the heart of our Market!
Take good care,
Shannon Van Horn
President
Camas Farmer’s Market Executive Board