Marilie Rice McMullen
April 29, 1919 – January 7, 2011
Marilie Rice McMullen died peacefully at her home on Bainbridge Island, Friday afternoon after a short illness. Her daughter Elizabeth was with her along with her care-giver, Marty. Her daughter Heidi and her son Craig had visited her only days earlier.
Marilie was born in New York City and moved to San Francisco as a toddler. She grew up in Belvedere, California, and attended boarding school in Switzerland for three years where she became fluent in French and developed a love for travel. Upon moving back to the United States, Marilie attended Castilleja School for Girls prior to moving to Marin County. She graduated from Tamalpais Union High School in 1937. After graduation she attended Stanford University from which her grandmother had graduated in the Pioneer class. Marilie’s connection to Stanford remained strong until her death and she was not happy when they converted from the politically incorrect Indians to the more universally accepted Cardinals. You could often hear her chanting “give them the ax” during the football season.
World War II put the brakes on Marilie’s formal education and she went to work for the war effort becoming a journeyman ship fitter. She was very proud of her accomplishments in this area and would often regale her family with stories complete with photos of “her” ships. There she met her first husband, Henry Charles Helbig. They married and had two children, Elizabeth and Heidi. After her divorce in 1957 she moved to her beloved Bainbridge Island and remained there until her death. When she arrived on the Island, she lived in a rental while her house was being readied. The rent in 1957 was $50 per month and the house was new and on the water!
Marilie met her second husband, Walter (Buster) McMullen on Bainbridge Island. They married and had a son, Walter Craig McMullen (Craig). Prior to her marriage, Marilie and her girls had moved to a small farm near Fern Cliff which, ironically, had been Buster’s childhood home years before. As Craig got nearer to school age, Marilie decided to move to one of the newer subdivisions so that they would have neighbors. After her second divorce, she moved to her home at Wing Point in 1995 where she resided until her death.
Marilie Rice McMullen was unique. She loved the Mariners and rarely missed watching a game. She loved Peanuts cartoons. She traveled the world from Helsinki to Australia and often returned to Europe. She was passionate about helping others and had volunteered all her life. Organizations that benefited from her energy ranged from Sunny Hills Services in California and Commodore Elementary School on Bainbridge Island to Hospice of Kitsap County. Saint Barnabas Episcopal Church was perhaps her most loved. She was deeply involved over many years in every aspect of Church life, from Altar Guild to Acolyte Training, and Wedding Planning to Supper Club. Her Priest, Dennis Tierney, said it best in an all Parrish email “Saint Barnabas has lost one of its pillars for Marilie was an extraordinarily dedicated member of the parish, a champion of so many charitable activities and organizations, a dear friend to so many people, and a fiercely loving mother, grand-mother and great grand-mother. She was a force to be reckoned with”. In recognition of her many ministries within Saint Barnabas, Bishop Vincent Warner awarded Marilie the Bishop’s Cross in 1997, her proudest accomplishment.
Marilie is survived by her children, Elizabeth (Dr. Richard Grossman), Heidi (Michael Fitzmaurice) and Craig (Debbie McMullen), her grandchildren, John (Sasha Larson) and Michael, and five great grandchildren (Katherine, Will and Lily Larson and Azita and Bobby Tsuda), her beloved cat, Abigail, and many nieces and nephews and countless friends. She is also survived by her brother, Frank Booth Rice (Liz).
In lieu of flowers, donations may be sent to: Saint Barnabas Episcopal Church – Music Ministry 1187 Wyatt Way, Bainbridge Island, WA 98110-2722. (206) 842-5601.
A Memorial Service in celebration of Marilie’s life will be held at Saint Barnabas Church on March 5th at 3pm.
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