Margie L. Metcalf

Margie Louise Metcalf, of Naselle, passed away on Sept 25th in Portland, OR. Margie was born on August 30, 1923 in Astoria, OR to Finnish parents, Waino Erik Rinell and Laina Marie (Hokkanen) Rinell. She was the granddaughter of Andrew Rinell (AnttiRiippa) who homesteaded in Salmon Creek in 1879. She lived her entire life in the Salmon Creek valley of Naselle. She spoke only the Finnish language until she started school at the Maple Grove Grade School in upper Salmon Creek. Her father died when she was 12 years old and she helped her mother with the raising of four younger siblings. In 1939 she married a “Tennessee CCC Boy” Lattie Metcalf, and they made their home in Salmon Creek. During the war years of 1944-1945 she raised her two oldest sons alone while Lattie was in the Army. In the early 1950’s they bought Naselle Valley Electric and Margie operated the store for over 40 years while Lattie was building, plumbing, and wiring homes in the Naselle-Grays River area. He passed away in 1990.

Margie was active in the VFW and the American Legion Auxiliaries. She loved her flower garden, her cats, feeding the birds, her old-fashioned wood stove and cooking. Making fish head mulligan and cardamom bread for her grandchildren was a delight for her. She was proud of her Finnish heritage and enjoyed speaking the Finnish language with the old timers. Her “sisu” allowed her to maintain her own home until three years ago when she moved to the Clatsop Retirement Village in Astoria. There she made many new friends and enjoyed her “new” home.

She is survived by three sons and their wives, Lattie, Jr, and Cheryl of Yelm, WA; Keith and Marlys of Naselle, WA; and Myron and Yvonne of Winlock, WA; as well as 10 grandchildren and numerous great and great-great grandchildren. She also leaves behind sisters Bernice Rinell and Beulah Nikula along with many nieces and nephews in the Northwest and in Tennessee. Her parents, sister Rachel Liukko and brother Ernie Rinell preceded her in death.

At her request, no funeral services will be held. A graveside service is planned for October 11th at 1:00 at the Salmon Creek Cemetery. A coffee hour will follow at the Appelo Archives in Naselle. In lieu of flowers, any donations may be made to the Deep River Pioneer Lutheran Church or to the Appelo Archives Center. An online guestbook may be signed at http://www.OceanViewAstoria.com.