When One Book Closes, Another One Opens

By Jillian Daley

Middle School Media Assistant Marie Jones will be retiring at the end of the school year after 24 years with the North Marion School District.

Jones took a moment to contemplate her upcoming retirement, after finishing her last Giving Tree event this week. She has been the organizer of the event at North Marion for 21 years, also as long as she’s managed the library. Each December, she sets up a tree with tags on it with gift ideas for families in need. After people bring in the gifts, Woodburn-based nonprofit Love Santa, Inc. distributes them to families.

Although Jones has spent more than four decades in the workforce, she said that it’s especially challenging to leave a place that has come to mean so much to her because of the unforgettable students and staff. She says she is both thrilled and filled with sorrow to be retiring.

“It’s very mixed,” said Jones, who graduated from North Marion High School, as did her husband. “You get so this has become such a home to my family and I. On the other hand, I’ve accomplished what I can do here, and I need to focus on other things.”

What Mrs. Jones Will Miss Most About North Marion

Jones may not teach students in a classroom, but she still has the opportunity to educate them about books and about life. She sees them when they pick up or drop off Chromebooks and paperbacks, or when they come by as a class for a small assembly in the library.

Jones has also guided dozens of student library aides over the years, who support her by decorating and by shelving books. (Fun fact, one of her aides is now going to be her son-in-law.)

Some of the students just come by to chat.

“I’ll miss the kids who come visit me almost daily,” she said.

She’s worked at North Marion long enough that she has gotten to know a student and then met their children, grandchildren, and even great-grandchildren.

“When you see them generationally, it’s just remarkable, I think, watching them grow up,” Jones said. “I’ve had kids come back years later and introduce their families to me. It’s just being a part of their lives.”

One student in particular struggled with disciplinary issues in school, and she saw him later as a doting father holding a little girl in his arms. She met him again as a worker who slipped her a note of greeting while at a job requiring that he wear a bear costume and remain silent. 

Jones said that she will miss not only these interactions with students (and former students who care so much that they risk a hello to her while on the job), but also the Giving Tree events that she has done with the support of students and staff. In addition, she’ll never forget how hard teachers worked to create lesson plans during the pandemic when students were learning remotely. Many of those staff members have also meant a great deal to her and were simply unforgettable.

“That’s something I’ll miss, too, is the uniqueness,” she said. “When you see a school, you see a village, and there’s all the characters playing their parts. Some of them are so different they stick out in my head.”

For (For example, during Sixth Grade Orientation, one quirky and fun teacher, Dave Paumier, donned a cowboy hat and wore a nametag that said “Little Cowboy” and rode a Razor-style scooter.)

North Marion Middle School Staff Members Praise Mrs. Jones

Jones has also made an incredible impression on North Marion Middle School staff..

"She has been an anchor at North Marion Middle School, and she will be greatly missed," Teacher Chelsea Landry said. "She has helped to cultivate a lifelong passion of reading in our students and is an incredibly kind, generous, diligent person. The amount that she has given to the community and NMMS through various labors of love like book fairs and The Giving Tree will never be forgotten. Her infamy will live on here, and we will miss her beyond words.  Happy Retirement Marie, you have earned it!!!"

Secretary Gwen Lang has known Jones from day one at the Middle School.

"I have known Marie for 25 years; we were hired the same year, in 1997," Lang said. "There are so many things that Marie does for our school, but her most amazing talent is decorating and putting on our book fairs! There is always a different theme, and her decorating skills are phenomenal. Marie is detail oriented, keeps a record of everything, loves technology, and is so artistic! NM will truly miss her!"

Teacher Kara Handran will also miss Jones, saying that Jones is helpful and does whatever she can to contribute to the community.

"Marie cares deeply about the community and does her best to bring kids the 'magic' into every holiday and book fair," Handran said. "She has taken time to allow kids to be a part of the annual Giving Tree by letting them decorate the tree, teaching them how to decorate the display case, and inviting them to load presents to distribute."

Teacher Amanda Kahle said that Jones does so much for the school, with beautiful Book Fair displays and amazing Giving Tree events. She also stated the importance of Jones's role for the past six years in the Technology Department.

"Her role over the years has changed, and it wouldn't be right to not recognize her efforts to expand her knowledge from her love of reading to website master and technology person for our building," Kahle noted. "She takes on new roles with grace and excels at what she does. She will be missed here at North Marion."

A Little More About Mrs. Jones

Jones has managed the library for 21 years, joining the Tech Department six years ago to offer her skills in audiovisual equipment. Prior to that, she spent three years as the In-School Suspension Supervisor, monitoring students’ behavior. 

But she didn’t always work in a library. Her husband spent 20 years in the Air Force, and she found a wide range of leadership roles on U.S. Air Force bases. For example, she trained and assisted in the volunteer program for the Chapel Office Secretarial. She instructed young professionals on business practices including general office work and confidentiality. The program was so successful that she received Outstanding and Excellence awards from the Air Force Inspector General's office, which were delivered by Major General Chaplain Donald Harlin, U.S. Chief of Chaplains.

She also had the opportunity to give back, asking the Air Force to establish a house for families in the community to have access to chapel staff. 

“That was one of my greatest accomplishments,” Jones said.

While she has worked, raised a family, and given back to the community, she also has taken the time to learn, studying Early Childhood Development. She has enrolled in professional development courses at Chemeketa Community College and studied Library Science through opportunities with the Willamette Education Service District and Follet, a company that provides educational materials to schools. She launched her education with a Certification in Legal and Executive Assistance from Western Business College.

What’s Next for Mrs. Jones?

Jones already knows what she wants to do during her retirement, and some of it will involve growing and learning, and some, simply spending time with her family, especially her husband of 43 years, Dale, whom she met at North Marion in 1975. He has lymphoma and is currently on leave from his Director of Facilities position at the Oregon State Hospital. She’s also excited to while away the hours with her two daughters and three grandchildren. 

Her youngest works at the Meadow Park Middle School library in the Beaverton School District, and Marie plans to volunteer in the library there. Her other daughter is a jeweler, creating artisan pieces. Jones has something in common with her other daughter as well, also enjoying art. She plans to draw and is learning watercolor painting. She also wants to visit with her father, now 83, who was a fixture in the community when he owned a gas station in North Hubbard frequented by area farmers.

She also plans to continue learning and has set an impressive goal.

“I want to spend more time learning new things and maybe write a book,” said Jones, who’s already been crafting some short stories. “It doesn’t have to be published; I just want to write it.”

She’ll be just a phone call away, planning to support the Middle School through the transition.

“If you can find me … I might be somewhere else,” she said and laughed lightly.

To share stories on the North Marion School District, email Communications Specialist Jillian Daley at jillian.daley@nmarion.k12.or.us.