1918-2017
Marwayne, unique name, unique woman, was called Home to join the Lord on January 17, 2017. Marwayne was born August 25, 1918 to Edwin and Ideala Foster, hard-scrabble ranchers who made their home on the unforgiving prairie of Wainwright, Alberta, Canada. When Marwayne was 4, the family, which now included 2 younger children,Warner and Lavigna, moved west to another farm in British Columbia where the climate was more hospitable and there were apples and pears still on the trees!
Eventually Ed Foster was able to land a job as a saw filer with Weyerhauser so the family moved to Longview, Washington where Marwayne graduated from Longview High School in 1936 at the top of her class. She headed for the big city of Los Angeles after graduation and quickly got a job as a stenographer.
She met and married Stig Christensen in 1937 and had her first daughter, Lynn.When the marriage ended, she remarried Anker Borg and had son Peter in 1944. When that marriage ended, Marwayne, now with two kids in tow moved back to Longview to regroup. She found a job in Seattle where she met and married James Leipzig who became a wonderful father to her children. They lived for awhile in Lake Forest Park along with Ideala , now a widow and sorely needed to look after the children while Jim and Marwayne worked hard at their business, Olympic Tool and Supply Co. In 1955 daughter Christine was born. In 1965 Marwayne took up the study of astrology. This became her passion and avocation and eventually she became quite well known as an astrologer and eventually teacher, author, and lecturer.
In 1967 the family moved to rural Lynnwood to “The Farm”. On 4 ½ acres, there was a small barn, a small house for “Granny” Ideala and a big old roomy farmhouse. Jim and Marwayne put in a full size swimming pool, a big deck and hot tub. Life was good. Christine’s horse Kerry Girl was in the corral and there was a pony, Bootsie for Lynn’s children, Lisa and Dana when they came to visit. The farm enjoyed people coming and going all the time because Marwayne loved people and wanted to help any and all anyway she could. Many were astrology students or clients and some came to stay for awhile. Marwayne had found a way to connect and help lots and lots of people. If visitors arrived unannounced they were always welcomed to stay for a swim or a meal or both.
She was much loved by many, many people as she embodied the true Christian spirit. Marwayne’s other passion was bridge and she was a formidable opponent. Later in life she turned her talents to writing “The Little Red Barn”, a children’s story, and painting lovely pictures using pastels. In 1987, much to everyone’s delight, Christine gave birth to twins Monica and MariaLynn. Marwayne was preceded in death by husband James Leipzig, son Peter Borg, brother Warner Foster, and sister Lavigna Slack. She is survived by daughters Lynn Christensen and Christine Olsson, granddaughters Lisa Dodge-Johnson (Ted), Dana Dodge, Monica Olsson and MariaLynn Olsson, niece Sharon Foster-Lewis (Ken), Nephews Gregory Foster and James Slack (Jane) and all her great nieces and nephews in Texas. She is very much missed.