Obituary of Marilyn Medsker Hashagen

Marilyn Medsker Hashagen, beloved wife, mother, grandmother and friend passed away March 15, 2013. Marilyn was born in Brownsberg, Indiana to Laurel Jeannette Nichols and Thomas Berdette Nichols January 8, 1937. She and her family moved to western Washington in 1942. She lived in the Renton highlands until her father, with the help of the whole family, finished building their brick house at 812 Sunset Blvd. Marilyn met her future husband Jim in the bean fields and married him October 21, 1955. She and Jim lived next to his parents in Kent where he ran the family's dairy farm and she worked at Sears part time. Her daughter Jean Lynn was born the next year. Her second daughter Kathy Dawn was born in 1959. The family lived on the farm until 1966. They then moved to their home in Auburn. She continued to work at Sears for 18 years; beginning in Renton and then in the catalog store in Auburn. She also worked for a few years for the Navy Exchange office in Auburn. These are the facts of Marilyn's life - but though they provide a framework, they don't define her. Marilyn was an artist with oils, water colors, charcoals and pastels. She took many art classes. Later, she took what she learned and taught painting at the Maple Valley Senior Center for many years. She valued the arts and made sure her daughters had the chance to learn music and crafts. Marilyn was a consummate seamstress. She made everything from baby clothes, to bridesmaid dresses and barbeque covers. She also used her sewing skills when she and Jim recovered furniture. Later she quilted and many of her family sleep safely under her quilts today. She not only fed her family and friends, she baked bread, made great pies, and canned fruit that was a summer time treat all year long. Marilyn and her family went on a trip each year to see something new and explored much of the Western US. Later in life, she and husband drove to Alaska and repeatedly crossed the continent in their motor home. She enjoyed the travel as well as the fellowship with others in their motor home group. Marilyn's family was important to her and she enjoyed watching it grow over the years. She is survived by her husband Jim Hashagen; her two daughters Kathy Dawn Hashagen and Jean Lynn Farrington (Larry); her grandchildren Michael Ryan Farrington and Julie Marie Marsh (Zack); and three great grandchildren Alivia Jean, Camille Marie, and Parker Dean Marsh. Marilyn's brothers Bill Nichols and Don Nichols also mourn. People liked Marilyn and she liked them. She enjoyed conversation and was a great listener. Marilyn worked hard and took satisfaction in what she accomplished. She had an adventurous spirit and loved to learn new things. Marilyn loved generously, forgave easily, gave of herself each day, and taught us how to live in the world gracefully and with joy. We will miss her with every breath we take but are rich with what she taught us and are blessed to have had her in our lives. Marilyn's laughter, smile, love and joy will be remembered at a Celebration of Life on Saturday, April 6 at Auburn United Methodist Church. In lieu of flowers, please make donations to the National MS Society Greater NW Chapter (http://www.nationalmssociety.org/chapters/WAS/index.aspx), as Marilyn believed in their cause.