Anna Lea Kennedy Marsh Chonzena passed away at her home after a battle with cancer June 27, 2013. Anna Lea was born to Lacey Moore and Octavia (Knowles) Kennedy in Bennington, Okla., Aug. 16, 1928. When Anna Lea was only two years old, the Kennedy family moved to Hemet, Calif. The summer of 1944, Anna Lea met Gordon Marsh (a Marine in uniform). She graduated from Hemet High School in 1946 and married Gordon two days later. Anna Lea shortened her name to Ann, and with her husband started a small dairy farm in the Corning/Orland area of Northern California. Three children came their way (Curtis James, Peggy Ann and Louis Lee (Spike) Marsh). In 1959, the Marshes sold their dairy herd at auction and moved to the Yakima Valley in Washington State. Back in the dairy business, the Marsh family lived in the Sunnyside/Outlook/Grandview area where Ann and Gordon served as 4-H leaders for the Outlook Grow’em & Show’em Dairy 4-H club. They moved their dairy herd to Pasco in 1972. In addition to feeding calves on the farm, Ann worked as a bookkeeper and as a school cook. In 1976, they sold their dairy to son Spike and retired to Deer Park, Wash. After a few years in Deer Park, Ann and Gordon moved to Nampa, Idaho where Gordon drove school bus and Ann was a ride along school bus aide, transporting “at risk” students. In 1996, the Marshes retired again and moved to Napavine, Wash.
While raising a family, operating a dairy farm, and working, Ann developed her own cake decorating business. She baked and decorated cakes for all occasions. Ann offered cake decorating classes and just recently came across one of her students from 40+ years ago.
Gordon passed away in 2004. In 2008, Ann married John Chonzena, a longtime friend and neighbor. John presented Ann a bouquet of roses every month on their anniversary. John passed away in 2012.
Ann was preceded in death by her parents; husband of 58 years Gordon Marsh; infant sister, Joyce Kennedy; sister, Virginia Young; son, Louis (Spike) Marsh; niece, Charla White; and husband of 47 months, John Chonzena. Ann is survived by son, Curtis (Suze) Marsh of Curtis, Wash.; daughter, Peggy (Larry) Marshlain of Lincoln, Wash.; grandchildren, Dave (Heather) Marsh of Olympia, Wash.; Trisha (Helgi) Douay of Chehalis, Wash.; Michael Marsh of McMinnville, Ore.; and Beth (Daniel) Ray of Cope, Colo.; and 5 great-grandchildren.
Memorial services will be at the Boistfort Community Church, Monday, July 15, 2013 at 1:00 p.m. Ann will be laid to rest with private family services alongside husband, Gordon and son, Spike at the Boistfort Cemetery.
Arrangements are under the direction of Cattermole Funeral Home, Winlock.
