Marie StephensMarch 13, 1918 - March 14, 2017Salem - Marie Anna (Billig) Stephens passed away peacefully surrounded by loving family on March 14, 2017.She was born on March 13, 1918 on the family farm outside of Sealy, Austin County, Texas to Henrietta and Eduard Claude Billig. She was one of 10 children in a large, extended family of German-Americans. She, along with the other children, helped on the farm picking cotton, raising vegetables and tending animals. She attended a two-room school in the nearby community of Mixville, Texas. Wanting a way to explore the world, as a young adult she found her way to New York City in 1939 by taking a job there caring for a child. She was able to see the World Fair and surrounding areas. She wrote home to the local Sealy, TX newspaper about her experiences. After leaving this position, she attended two years at St. John's College in Winfield, Kansas, working her way through school. Her dream was to have a career as a journalist. Though she did not accomplish this goal, she honed her skills and became an excellent writer. She kept in touch with college friends for decades through a "Round Robin" letter exchange and reunions. In 1942, she traveled to St. Louis, stayed in a Lutheran women's hostel, and found a job in an office. In St. Louis she met Paul Stephens and they married in December. In early 1943, they moved to Portland, Oregon, to work in the shipyards. She was an electrician's assistant, preparing cable routings on ships and worked there until August 1945. After the war, Paul found employment in Salem, Oregon. The family moved there and had two children. Marie was a homemaker, worked at various office jobs and eventually hired on with the State of Oregon, Highway Division. There she was able to advance her own position. Her assertiveness for her rights at work also helped women in general in the workplace. She bought her own home in Salem in 1962 and lived in it for 54 years. She hosted many happy gatherings over the years there including Christmas celebrations that included extended family. Her home was open to her traveling family and friends when they were in the area. She nurtured a garden full of beautiful landscaping of her own design, flowers, and a productive vegetable garden. Her green thumb ranged from starting vegetable plants from seed to house plants and landscaping. An accomplished seamstress, she sewed for herself, her children and grandchildren, and for the home. She was skilled at preserving food, canning vegetables and fruit from her own garden and produce from Willamette Valley farms.After retirement in 1981, she took many interesting trips with family and good friends, exploring Oregon and other states, US National Parks, Canada, Guatemala, Puerto Rico, and frequently visiting family in Texas and New Jersey. She was appreciated as a good traveling companion who discovered delightful side trips and scenes.She volunteered for many years at the Salem Visitors Center, Friends of the Salem Public Library, Red Cross, and Helping Hands. She was a long-time member and supporter of St. Mark Lutheran Church in Salem.She was thrilled when grandchildren came into her life; she visited the four in NJ as often as she could and kept in close touch. She was very involved with caring for and enjoying her daughter Margaret's only child (Charlie): the two formed a strong bond and close relationship that lasted throughout her life. Viewing and collecting fine art ranging from painting to ceramics, mostly from local and regional artists and craft persons, was a great pleasure for her. She attended classical, opera, and pops music concerts regularly, was an avid reader, and enjoyed nature and birdwatching. She was a life-long learner, taking classes in professional development and cultural interests and joining Toastmasters. She became interested in the stock market and helped found an investment club which met at her home. Preceded in death by her parents and eight of her siblings, she is survived by her brother Leon Oscar (Mike) Billig and sister-in-law Virginia Billig of Kosse, Texas; her two children, Sam Stephens (Bernard McMullan) of Trenton, NJ, and Margaret Stephens (Bob Rossi) of Salem; five grandchildren (Charlie Stephens of Berkeley CA; Zachary McMullan, Nathaniel McMullan, Naomi McMullan and Rachel McMullan of Trenton, NJ); four great-grandchildren; and many nephews and nieces. She is greatly missed by family and friends.A memorial service will be held at St. Mark Lutheran Church on Saturday, May 13, 2017 at 10:30 AM with reception to follow. St. Mark is at 790 Marion St NE, Salem, OR 97301. To honor her memory, and support some organizations she cared about, please consider donating to Helping Hands ( helpinghands-salem.org), the Friends of the Salem Public Library ( salemfriends.org), the Aldea Foundation which assists rural Mayan Guatemalans ( aldeaguatemala.org), Nature Conservancy, Audubon, or St. Mark Lutheran Church ( stmarksalem.org).