Marlys Southard passed away January 10, 2026 at the age of 94. She was born in North Dakota to a farming family who moved to Washington for economic reasons during the Depression. They came to Cloverdale in the late 1940s when the Coastal Plywood mill opened.
Marlys graduated from Cloverdale High School where she met the love of her life, R. B. Southard, whom she married in 1952. Together they raised four children in Cloverdale where R. B. ran his auto-repair and tire business while Marlys worked in the lumber industry. In 1976 they moved to rural property near Yorkville where they spent their retirement.
Marlys enjoyed music and played violin and piano from an early age. She shared with her husband a love of gardening, dancing (every week), and traveling across the country in their classic cars. She prepared many champagne brunches for high school reunions and to raise money for the American Cancer Society’s Relay for Life. Among family and friends she was known for her pies and homemade ice cream.
R. B. died in 2024 and two of their children, Diane and Dave, predeceased them both. Marlys’ love and presence will be missed by her remaining children, Jan and Paul Southard, daughters-in-law Melanee and Juli Southard, grandchildren Jake, Ryan, Brandon, Brett and Angela and eight great-grandchildren. A private remembrance will be held at the family ranch. The family suggests donations in Marlys’ memory be made to the National Ovarian Cancer Coalition (ovarian.org).
