Marlene Cerita Brubaker

Marlene Cerita (Watson) Brubaker, 80, of Edmonds, WA, died at home on February 14, 2021. Marlene was born on June 17, 1940 in Spokane, Washington, to Asa Emerton Watson and Dorothy ---- Hatch. She married her sweetheart, Bill Brubaker, on April 20, 1963 and had two daughters, Terianne and Kathryn. Marlene graduated from Spokane’s Lewis & Clark High School, and went on to receive her Bachelor of Arts in Fine Arts at Washington State University. Marlene later received her Master’s Degree at Trinity Theological Seminary and soon after began Stillwaters Counseling. She was also a Charter Member of the American Association of Christian Counselors. For 17 years, Marlene was a member of the Jean Stewart Gordon Guild for Children’s Orthopedic Hospital. She was coordinator and commentator for “Ski Fascination”, a fashion show featuring local television personalities and sports figures to raise money for the hospital. Marlene was involved with the Edmonds Art Festival for 10 years, and served as co-director of the Artists in Action participation in the festival. Marlene also served as a member of the Arts Advisory Board of Edmonds. For over 20 years, Marlene was also involved with P.E.O. (Philanthropic Educational Organization), whose primary focus was providing educational opportunities for female students worldwide. Marlene’s faith was of utmost importance and she and Bill were involved in church life and ministry throughout their entire marriage. During her children’s elementary school years, Marlene was known at Edmonds United Methodist Church as “The Puppet Lady” where she performed bible stories for children with puppets she made herself. Marlene and Bill were on the board, and personally involved with, The South County Breakfast Club, founded by a hospital chaplain, to reach those not connected to any faith and assisting those needing financial, emotional, and spiritual support during critical times. For 15 years they taught young people to water ski at a summer camp at Sun Lakes with Seattle Area Youth for Christ. They both served as delegates to the U.S. State Department’s 2nd Annual Ministerial Conference on Religious Freedom, and studied at Yad Vashem’s International School for Holocaust Studies. Marlene also helped develop a ministry of prayer at Westgate Chapel called “The Listening Post”, as well as serving as a personal crisis counselor at Eastside Church. She and Bill hosted a small home church group (affectionally called the “Homies”) for over 30 years. Marlene is survived by her two daughters, Terianne and Kathryn, her sister Lavonne (Watson) Bren, and her two step-grandchildren, Brandon and Rachelle Delija, who delighted her heart. Marlene and Bill were happily married for 57 years. Marlene’s life purpose was to minister to those in emotional, spiritual, and physical pain. She always had a listening ear, a prayer, and a hug to give anyone who needed it. Holidays at the Brubaker home were always open to anyone who did not have family to spend them with. She exemplified what it meant to serve others. When Marlene said she’d pray for you, it was never as a passing comment, and her dozens of prayer books were filled with the names of those she encountered, and prayed for. We cannot even begin to count the number of people whose lives were touched by Marlene. She will be missed beyond measure.