Mostly Clear, 49° F
(May 12, 1933 - March 2, 2011)
After a courageous five-year battle with cancer, Marlys Sather Mangold Gere, 77, died peacefully at her home in Colville, Wash., on March 2, 2011 with her husband L. Ron Gere by her side. Marlys was born on May 12, 1933 to Oscar and Gertrude Sather in Chinook, Mont.
She was the mother of Powell Mayor Scott Mangold.
After graduating from Chinook High School in 1951, where she cheered for the varsity sports teams, “Go Sugarbeeters,” she married Edward Mangold in 1952.
Marlys and Ed raised their five children in their homes in Havre, Mont., Fargo, N.D., Great Falls, Mont. and eventually Everett, Wash., where Ed passed away from cancer in 1998. Marlys married her best friend, L. Ron Gere, in 2000 and they split their time between homes in Colville, Wash., and Phoenix, where Marlys loved the dry and warm winter climate.
Marlys will forever be remembered and adored by her five children, Danny Mangold (Jane) of Seattle, Kim Falcon (Dan) of Great Falls, Scott Mangold of Powell, Edward Mangold of Colville and Lisa King (Jack) of Great Falls. Marlys adored her 10 grandchildren and Autumn, Ian, Scott, Grayson, Adam, Shea, Natalie, Mackenzie, Isabella and Sam will miss their “Gramma Marnie” very much.
In addition to her role as a homemaker and wonderful mom to her kids, Marlys worked in Great Falls for the Center for Mental Health and later in Everett became president of Danny’s Music Inc., dealing in rare and antique musical instruments to famous and “near famous” musicians. Her incredible gift of grace, humor, charm and love made her a favorite among music’s biggest celebrities, who always asked for her by “mom” or “marnie.” Although she had sold instruments to the likes of The Rolling Stones, Paul McCartney and Nirvana, one of her biggest sources of pride was looking after the countless students from the local high school, located a block away. She called them the “Rock and Roll Latch Key Kids” and they loved her deeply in return.
Marlys was preceded in death by her parents, her sister Harriet Kerns Drummond and her beloved husband Ed.
Marlys is survived by her husband, L. Ron Gere of Colville, Wash., her five children, 10 grandchildren and three great- grandchildren.
A celebration of Marlys’ life will be in May in Great Falls, Mont., where her ashes will be interred next to Ed’s in the Columbarium at the Episcopal Church of the Incarnation.
Condolences may be posted online with memorials made to Gift of Life Housing at the Sletten Cancer Institute.
