Marie Longfellow, age 86, of Cottage Grove, Oregon, passed away on April 24, 2026, in the town where she was born and spent her life, leaving behind a legacy of intelligence, passion, and deep connection to her community and family history.

Marie was born on June 1, 1939, in Cottage Grove, Oregon, to Reazen Harlen and Muriel Ermine (Young) Longfellow. She grew up in Cottage Grove and attended Cottage Grove High School, where she began building the foundation for a life marked by curiosity, dedication, and achievement. She later attended the University of Oregon, where she was a member of the basketball team, and went on to earn a Master of Arts in Education from Arizona State University in 1967.

Marie devoted her professional life to education and preservation. She worked as a school teacher, where she shared her knowledge and encouraged learning in the lives of many students. Her interests and talents also led her into museum work, where she served as curator of the Cottage Grove Museum and later as Director of the Bohemia Gold Mining Museum from 2003 to 2008. In each role, she brought care, insight, and a strong sense of purpose, helping preserve the stories and heritage of the region she loved.

She was known for her love of the great outdoors and for the thoughtful way she followed and documented her family history, tracing it from the 1800s to the present day. This lifelong interest reflected her appreciation for the past and her desire to preserve meaningful connections across generations. Those who knew Marie will remember her as an interesting, intelligent, and passionate woman whose life was shaped by learning, service, and a genuine love of history.

Her memory will remain with those who knew her and with the community whose history she helped preserve.

A memorial service will be held on Monday, June 1, 2026, at 2:00 p.m. at Magnolia Gardens Senior Living. 

Arrangements are in the care of Smith-Lund-Mills Funeral Chapel.