Margaret (Marty) Strong

Published 12:34 am Friday, May 22, 2015

1940-2015

Margaret (Marty) Strong was born in Jacksonville, IL, the daughter of Edward W. and Margaret Goebel Cleary. She spent her early years in Urbana, IL, attending University High School and the University of Illinois, where she became a member of Kappa Alpha Theta sorority. For her remaining three years of college she transferred to Stanford University from which she graduated with a B.A. in English in 1962. Shortly thereafter, she married John W. Strong, whose loving and dedicated wife she remained for almost 53 years until her death in Medford on May 2, due to complications of intestinal infection.

Due to her husband’s profession, Marty, as she preferred to be called, lived in several university towns, including Lawrence, KS, Durham, NC, Eugene, OR, Lincoln, NE, Tucson, AZ, and finally, in retirement, at the Rogue Valley Manor in Medford, OR. Forty years of summer residence at Black Butte Ranch, OR, gave otherwise lacking permanence. Despite her relocations, Marty found time to complete a Master’s degree in Education at the University of Oregon, after which she taught English and Special Education for many years, and in doing so impacted many young lives.

She always placed the needs of her family first, but when time allowed her favorite pastime was reading and discussing literature, and she read widely throughout her life. She also loved travel, which took her to many parts of the world, outdoor activities such as hiking and canoeing, and playing any game involving a racquet or paddle. Her role as a Fairy Godmother during her years in Medford, gave her great satisfaction and rewarding relationships with several promising young women. She was also a great lover of animals and the family had a dog almost constantly throughout her life.

In addition to her husband, she is survived by her two sons, Frank and Ben and their wives, Genie and Christina, respectively of McLean, VA, and Tucson, AZ; her two sisters, Judy Sibert of Alexandria, VA, and Ann Kearns of Amherst, MA; and her five grandchildren, Matthew, Katherine, William, Cameron, and Kenneth.

She will be interred in Ashland, OR, near her chosen favorite center of theatre and art. At her request no memorial service will be held. Contributions in her memory may be made to Southern Oregon Humane Society.

Marty Strong