Maria Marler Burrill
Maria Burrill peacefully slipped the bonds of earth on Saturday, August 13th, age 99 years, 6 months and 1 day. Maria Leonie Marler Burrill was born February 12th, 1912, in Harrison, Idaho, where her father owned a meat market with his partner, Gus Brass. Her parents were Fred Eggert and Clarice Tronquet Marler. Her father immigrated from Germany in his teens and her mother from France while a child. In 1917 the family moved to Colfax, Washington, where Marler and Brass owned a meat market, her father owned buildings and at one time, the Chrysler-Plymouth car dealership, and served as water superintendent for the city.
Maria graduated from St. Johns Academy and Colfax High School, class of 1930. While a student at WSC, her father wouldn't allow her to travel to the Rose Bowl game in California, claiming that she was too young. She complained that by the time the Cougs went again, she was too old! She graduated from Washington State College, class of 34', a life member of Mu Phi Alpha, national music honorary. Two favorite professors were Dr. and Mrs. Kimbrough, for whom the music building is named at WSU.
She taught five years in Troy, Idaho and one year in The Dalles, Oregon, before moving to Granite Falls, where she completed her teaching career in 1978. She earned post-baccalaureate credits at a number of schools, including the University of Idaho and University of Washington. She wrote the elementary music curriculum adopted by the state of Washington in 1952. When the Granite Falls School District levy failed in 1971 and music was cut from the curriculum, she retrained to teach Title I reading, a program which teaches struggling readers.
She married Henry Burrill in 1945, and he died in 1996. During her teaching career, she wrote twelve operettas and cantatas, plus many songs, as money was scarce for copyrighted materials. She helped establish the Granite Falls Alumni Association and raised funds for scholarships, including endowing a scholarship herself. Her philosophy was "No child should be deprived of the joys of listening to and participating in the music experience."
Her memberships included the Lady Lions, the Library Board, and Granite Falls Historical Society. She was a familiar figure in Granite Falls out for her daily walks, and she served as grand marshal of the town's Railroad and Reunion Days Parade twice. She "suggested" to the mayor that his restaurant feature early day photos of Granite Falls and surrounding small towns during the logging era, and it was done. She wrote and recorded much of the history of the Granite Falls area, and also rescued early photos of the city and surrounding area. She presented large framed photos to new grade schools in the town of the early day communities for which they were named. Maria also completed the Granite Falls Police Department Citizens Academy and participated in the Citizens on Patrol Program while in her eighties.
She moved to Pullman in 2010 to be closer to her brother, and her sense of humor kept her family group home amused.
Maria was predeceased by her husband of fifty years, Henry Burrill, her parents, Fred and Clarice Marler, stepmother Jennie Marler, and brothers Fred Jr. and Paul. She is survived by her sister Ruth Pierson, Bonita, CA, her brother Martin and Linda Marler, Colfax, and numerous nieces and nephews, plus her children of the heart, Peggy and Bill Murray. She leaves behind many friends and former students who enjoyed her fiesty spirit.
Maria's family would like to extend special thanks to Lorraine Fulfs and the staff of Whispering Hills for their thoughtful care of Maria.
Memorial mass will be celebrated at St. Patrick Church, Colfax, on Wednesday, August 17 at 10 AM. A gathering of friends will remember Maria in Granite Falls this autumn.
Memorials are suggested for the Granite Falls Alumni Association or Colfax Schools Foundation for scholarships.