Goodbye to Marion Read
Peggy Leech | Published on 2/27/2021
By Peggy Leech
We note with sadness the recent passing of Marion Read, after a long bout with cancer. She had moved to California last August to be with her 2 daughters, Laura and Diane, and their families. She died peacefully at her daughter’s home on February 6, 2021, at the age of 85.
Marion was very active in LWVBC, and seemingly everywhere. She was a co-leader for the Louisville Wednesday evening unit for several years, and she served a term on the board as Unit Meeting Coordinator. She often volunteered as an usher at candidate forums. In recent years, she worked the sign-in table at countless events and meetings, always greeting attendees with her warm smile and friendly conversation. It was often said: “Everyone loves Marion!”.
Marion was also instrumental in behind-the-scenes work for LWVBC. She served for several years on the Events Team, working to find new locations for Drinks and Dialogue meetings (such as St Vrain Cidery and Samples in Longmont, and The Gondolier in Boulder). She arrived early at events and meetings to set up and help with refreshments and decorations, and she often provided her home-baked gluten-free cookies. After listening to people at the sign-in tables at events, she came up with the idea for our Action Cards, which have contact information for our national and state elected leaders for Boulder County.
At the state league level, Marion served as an MLD coach (Membership and Leadership Development) for the Montrose and Chaffee County Leagues. She loved working with these smaller Leagues, passing ideas on to them and generally offering encouragement.
Marion was a naturalized citizen, having arrived in the U.S. from Canada quite some time ago. The vote was very important to her, and that was one last way that LWVBC could help her. Before she moved to California, she expressed her desire to vote in the November 2020 election, and Jeanine Pow worked with her to make that happen.
A member of LWVBC since 2004, Marion made many friends, in the League and in other parts of her life. She will be missed.