Sylvia May Marler Obituary (2023)

On Sunday, November 5, 2023, Sylvia M. Marler, 87, of Yakima, died on hospice care at Cottage in the Meadow. She is finally relieved of the chronic pain that affected her for decades. Born on October 15, 1936, in Wapato, to Philip Koch and Alma Irene Wertenberger Koch, Sylvia grew up in the Lower Yakima Valley. She attended Wapato High School where she was a cheerleader and, most importantly, met basketball player Don Marler, who she married on June 18, 1954. Sylvia and Don soon welcomed a son, Dirk, and Philip a couple of years later. Her sons, Bruce, and Douglas were tragically stillborn, but always remained in her thoughts. After several years of moving around from Wapato to Toppenish and short stints in Hebo, Oregon and Battleground, Washington, for Dons work with Pacific Power and Light, they settled in Yakima. They moved to Sunnyside in 1964, where they lived until 2000, when they moved back to Yakima. While in Sunnyside, Sylvia worked as a secretary for Bob Hall New York Life Insurance and the Shoemaker and Hart Law Firm. Famously, she was a dedicated Tupperware salesperson and Beauty for All Seasons consultant for decades. During their 69 years together, Sylvia and Don traveled to all 50 states, often with her sister, Dorthella Powell, and husband Dave, and usually accumulating new friends along the way. Sylvia is preceded in death by her parents, Phil Koch and Irene Koch (Moody), and sons Bruce and Douglas. She is survived by her husband, Don of Yakima, and sons, Dirk (Brenda) of Olympia, and Phil (Jane Targett) of Las Vegas, Nevada, sister, Dorthella Powell, and brother, Richard Koch (Jeanne) of Yakima, granddaughters, Danielle Bailey (Kris) of Yakima, Stephanie Qunell (Jess) of Bonney Lake, and Jordanne Brown (Caleb), grandsons, Josh Marler (Brittany Legnon) of Las Vegas, Nevada, Jeremy Marler (Casey) of Palm Springs, California, great-grandchildren, Lillian Bailey, Kyra Qunell, Zeke Brown, and Cecilia Qunell. A Celebration of Life will be held on Saturday, November 18, 2023, at 3:30pm, at the LDS Church (1414 S. 72nd Ave., Yakima). Brookside Funeral Home is caring for the family. Memories and condolences may be shared at www.brooksidefuneral.com.