Marles Marie Moon, 92, passed away mid-morning at her home on Horse Heaven Hills, May 19th, 2021.
Marles was born on October 19, 1928, in Miller, South Dakota to John and Hazel Stone. During the huge drought of the 1930’s, her family moved west, and settled in Benton City when Marles was eight years old. She would reminisce of picking fruit, cutting wild asparagus, and walking from Benton City across the old wooden bridge to visit friends in Kiona.
Marles met the love her life, Shirley Moon, at a community dance in Benton City. They were married on September 12th, 1945. Marles and Shirl settled on Horse Heaven Hills where she helped build a dryland wheat farm business from the previously unsettled land. Marles cooked for the harvest crews, kept farm accounts, picked up repair parts as needed, drove wheat trucks, and raised six children with her husband.
She worked at Pev’s Apparel, LaHatt’s Jewelry, weighed numerous produce trucks for various farm businesses, and was a sprinkler operator (even though that job required her to check the scary dark area where the pumps were housed at the river in the very early mornings.) Her last and favorite job was with Hartley Farms, weighing onion trucks.
Marles was a volunteer at the Kiona-Benton City Schools helping her daughter, Dianna, complete hearing screenings, filing, and reading with young children.
Marles was a member of the Benton City Rebecca Lodge, as well as becoming a part of the Horse Heaven Community Club and Women’s Club, enjoying the monthly birthday parties as well as community parties. Marles loved family, babies, CB radios, traveling, little dogs, flowers, and socializing. She was not fond of winter and did not appreciate barn swallows at her house.
The focal point of Marles’ life was family, and she unfailingly loved each and every member deeply. She is and will be sorely missed. She is survived by four children, Mary (Mike) Kukes, Dianna Moon, George (Julie) Moon, Gladys (Bill) Troemel, and two daughters-in-law, that she regarded as daughters, Diane Moon and Connie Moon. Marles has 13 grandchildren and 18 great grandchildren. She was preceded in death by her husband, Shirley, her first and second children, Dennis and Sidney, and all of her brothers and sisters; Jay and Wayne Stone, Francis Fincher, Mae Schoonover, and Valda Reynolds.
Viewing will be held on Wednesday, May 26, from 4:00-7:00 at the Prosser Funeral Home, and services will be held on Thursday, May 27, at 2:00 PM also at Prosser Funeral Home. Memorial contributions may be made to the Prosser Boys and Girls Club in her name. Messages for the family can be sent to www.Prosserfuneralhome.com.