Marcella Mae Pfeifer

Marcella Mae Pfeifer

Marcella was born to Walter and Henrietta Richards in March of 1929, she and her big brother Ralph lived on a farm and raised sheep and goats in Suver, Oregon. On September 17, 2023, Marcella passed away surrounded by her loving family after suffering from Dementia.

Marcella rode her horse to the one room schoolhouse that she was one of three students when she graduated eighth grade. She attended Corvallis High School then went on to attend Oregon State College (OSU), majoring in Business.

On a blind date, she met her ‘lifetime soul mate’, Alfred Pfeifer. Al’s friend, Calvin Massee set up the date at the AZO pledge dinner. Marcella would say afterwards, she was scared stiff and for some time afterwards.

Al and Marcella were married September 3, 1949. they spent their honeymoon in Victoria, BC. This was Marcella’s first trip to Canada which sparked her love for traveling, starting with annual two-week summer family vacations; after their kids left for college she and Al started traveling the world.

She had a thirst for knowledge and she was never afraid to ask questions to satisfy her own curiosity. She enjoyed volunteering at the Willamette Heritage Museum where she catalogued intake information to be entered into the modern computer system, she also enjoyed knitting for the needy with a lovely group of ladies at the South Salem Seniors.

For Marcella’s 85th birthday, she and her son Chris went up in a hot air balloon. She enjoyed floating high above the fields and streams. Sharing the adventure with Chris made the ride extra special.

During the ‘Pfeifer Christmas name draw,’ we all hoped Marcella would draw our name because she would make a batch of cookies every month for whose ever name she drew. Such a treat! She was also famous for her banana cream pies.

In 2007, Al succumbed to Parkinson’s Disease. It is said, as one door closes, another door opens. In July of that same year, Marcella welcomed her first great grandson.

Preceding her death are her parents, her brother and her husband.

Survivors are her children; daughter Becky Bradshaw, grandson Mike Bradshaw (Kim), great grandchildren Mason and Kenley Bradshaw, daughter Pam Bunch (Rick), grandson Brian Bunch, granddaughter Ashley Robbins (Curt), great grandchildren Steggy and Juniper Robbins, son Chris Pfeifer (Mona), grandson Trever Pfeifer (Stefanie), and great grandchildren Henry and Evelyn Pfeifer.

The family would like to thank the staff of Windsong at Eola Hills a memory care facility for taking outstanding care of Marcella. We could not have asked for a more professional, loving, thoughtful, kind and unique set of caregivers. They were truly a gift from God!