Marsha A. Sweek

Published 5:18 am Thursday, June 3, 2004

May 21, 1949-June 1, 2004

HEPPNER – A memorial gathering for Marsha A. Sweek will be held at 11 a.m. Saturday at the Don and Tammy Sneddon residence, 53802 Highway 74 (behind Willow Creek Golf Course) in Heppner.

Mrs. Sweek, 55, of Heppner, died Tuesday, June 1, 2004, at her home.

She was born May 21, 1949, at Santa Barbara, Calif., to William and Nona Howell Sowell. The family moved to Oregon when she was 5 years old. She started and attended school in Heppner, graduating from Heppner High School in 1967, then headed to Pacific University to study theater. She graduated from Pacific University in 1972 with honors, majoring in drama. Following graduation she moved to Alaska where she worked at the Anchorage Museum and acquired her pilot’s license. While working in the museum she accompanied the curator as assistant on a grant to research the museums in France, Germany, Austria and Denmark.

In 1974, she returned to Heppner and went to work for Kinzua Corporation.

On March 31, 1979, she married Greg Sweek.

She was employed at Kinzua until 1980 when her son, Ian, was born, then worked at Winters and Sweeney, Attorneys at Law, for several years. Her daughter, Tai, was born in 1983.

Mrs. Sweek became director of the Morrow County Museum where one of her greatest accomplishments was assisting the History Channel in filming the chronology of the 1903 Heppner Flood. She was invited to Baltimore, Washington, D.C., and Atlanta to address Smithsonian groups in on rural museums,

She home schooled both of her children and pursued her ongoing love of arts and crafts. Because of her love of art, she created a local artists on line Web site.

Survivors include her husband, Greg Sweek, son, Ian, and daughter, Tai, her mother, Nona Grace and stepfather, Ray Grace, all of Heppner.

Memorial contributions may be made to the American Cancer Society, Oregon Division, 0330 S.W. Curry, Portland, OR 97201.

Sweeney Mortuary of Heppner is in charge of arrangements.