Maryon Whitten Greenough, 95, of Gearhart, died on March 20, 2015. Maryon was born in Portland May 20, 1919, to William and Marea Whitten. She spent her childhood in Portland, graduating from Grant High School and moving on to Oregon State College, where she graduated with a degree in home economics. It was there that she met Harrison Greenough, whom she married in 1942.
Beginning their life together in Seattle, Harrison worked for Boeing and she at Crescent Spice during World War II. While at Crescent, Maryon had a radio show as "Maryon Bell," where she offered creative cooking ideas that dealt with wartime rationing. After the war, Maryon and Harrison moved to Gearhart, where they spent the rest of their lives. Harrison worked for the E. H. Carruthers Co. as they raised their children; William, Mary and Thomas.
Maryon's great joy then, and throughout her life, was cooking for family and friends and all the neighborhood kids. She loved crossword puzzles, and had considerable success at winning contests of the era that required clever writing of slogans and the like. After the "nest emptied," Maryon began a career as a home economics teacher at Seaside High School, where she spent 17 of her happiest years devising new classes and truly enjoying her students, who remember her fondly to this day. She used her summers to gain a master's degree and, for several years assisted chef and author, James Beard, with cooking classes celebrating Oregon's bounty.
Maryon was a member of Calvary Episcopal Church and Saint Anne's Guild in Seaside for almost 70 years. She worked with the League of Woman's Voters, was a Cub Scout den mother and was on the board of directors of the Seaside Library. She also volunteered with United Way, SMART and, with Harrison, Meals on Wheels. Maryon was a longtime member of the Astoria Country Club, where she enjoyed occasional golf, bridge and especially lunching with a group of friends nicknamed "The Desserters."
Maryon Greenough was preceded in death by her husband Harrison, and her eldest son William. She is survived by her daughter Mary and husband Jack Kerwin, son Thomas and wife Donna, and grandchildren Jennifer, Nathan, Nicholas and Sue, great grandchildren Alejandro, Mateo and Sean, and great niece Joey.
Services will be held at 11 a.m. April 11 at Calvary Episcopal Church, 503 N. Holladay Drive in Seaside.
In lieu of flowers, Maryon wished that donations be made to the Seaside Library, Calvary Episcopal Church or the Seaside High School Culinary Arts Department.